Perdita
02-10-2008, 17:30
The BBC has defended an EastEnders scene in which a Muslim character broke his Ramadan fast.
Masood Ahmed, played by Nitin Ganatra, was seen eating by Ian and Jane Beale during the day, which is prohibited during the holy month.
The scene broadcast in September on BBC One, prompted 107 people to complain.
The BBC said the scene was supposed to show Massod's "fallibilities" and did not "represent the entire British-Asian or British Muslim experience".
"Although Masood is a practising Muslim, he has his own fallibilities as a human being," it said in a statement.
"He's a fictional character with flaws who realises he has let himself down in a moment of weakness.
"We would like to assure viewers it was not our intention to insult Muslim or Islamic values."
Last month the BBC received more than 200 complaints about a character's relationship with his 15-year-old stepdaughter.
Despite its controversial storylines, EastEnders scooped the best soap award at Monday's Inside Soap awards.
There must be quite a few saddos around who have nothing better to do than whinge and complain - I certainly did not think that all Muslims do not adhere to Ramadan and eat during the day - I knew it was Masood giving in to a moment of weakness.
Masood Ahmed, played by Nitin Ganatra, was seen eating by Ian and Jane Beale during the day, which is prohibited during the holy month.
The scene broadcast in September on BBC One, prompted 107 people to complain.
The BBC said the scene was supposed to show Massod's "fallibilities" and did not "represent the entire British-Asian or British Muslim experience".
"Although Masood is a practising Muslim, he has his own fallibilities as a human being," it said in a statement.
"He's a fictional character with flaws who realises he has let himself down in a moment of weakness.
"We would like to assure viewers it was not our intention to insult Muslim or Islamic values."
Last month the BBC received more than 200 complaints about a character's relationship with his 15-year-old stepdaughter.
Despite its controversial storylines, EastEnders scooped the best soap award at Monday's Inside Soap awards.
There must be quite a few saddos around who have nothing better to do than whinge and complain - I certainly did not think that all Muslims do not adhere to Ramadan and eat during the day - I knew it was Masood giving in to a moment of weakness.