Channel 4 will air the Islamic call to prayer every morning throughout the month of Ramadan in a move that the broadcaster has described as a “deliberate act of provocation”.
Live
The three-minute call to prayer will be aired live at 3am for the full 30 day period of Ramadan which begins on 9th July.
The four remaining calls to prayer will be played automatically on the Channel 4 website.
Programs will also be interrupted four times on the first day to play a 20 second film reminding viewers of the upcoming prayer time.
Deliberate
Writing in the Radio Times, Channel 4's head of factual programming, Ralph Lee said: “Observing the adhan [Islamic call to prayer] on Channel 4 will act as a nationwide tannoy system, a deliberate 'provocation' to all our viewers in the very real sense of the word.
“The calls to prayer prompt Muslims to carry out quiet moments of worship, but hopefully they'll also make other viewers sit up and notice that this event is taking place.”
Each morning call to prayer will be preceded by a 2-3 minute film entitled “Ramadan Reflections.”
The film will “feature a range of voices, from imams to architects...each providing some serious Ramadan food for thought."
Facilitating
Criticising the decision, blogger Archbishop Cranmer said: “Let us be clear about what is going on here: this is Channel 4 simply facilitating Islamic worship. By sounding the adhan, they are fulfilling the function of a muezzin in a mosque.
“The objective is clear: it is proselytism.”
A spokesman for UKIP said: “This is a priceless piece of attention-seeking. I cannot believe that the majority of mainstream Muslims want to see this. It will inflame community tension.”
Expressing opposition to the move, Conservative MP Conor Burns said: “I find it extraordinary Channel 4 would pursue this politically-correct tokenism.”
Sources: