Sharif Nazir (Marc Anwar)

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Originally Posted by alan45

Surely what someone says should not have any bearing on there employment unless they use their employers email addresses or mention their employer by name. If I post my opinion on twitter and it offends someone thats between me and them nothing to do with my employers. Its sounds Orwellian to sack someone because you do not agree with their political views. We have all came out with statements which may offend someone. None of us are perfect but its should not be a sacking offence to publish your views.

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Coronation Street almost certainly have a clause in all the actors contracts about not bringing them into disrepute. As far as I'm aware that's standard in the industry. No doubt there's plenty of detail in the contract about what that entails and he would have been well aware of it. It's not as if there's been no precedent of this kind of sacking at Coronation Street.

Plus the tweets were hateful rants not just an expression of political views. Would his Corrie colleagues (some of whom are of Indian descent) have even worked with him after this?

The right to free speech doesn't mean the right to speak without consequences.

And how would it look to all the Indian viewers if Corrie just ignored his racist rant. There is no such thing as complete freedom of speech. Some things like that are just not acceptable. Supposing he'd have said all gays are *******s and piss-drinking c****? Would that be ok? Or all women? Or all Jews? You just can't say things like that without consequences. In fact, what he said is illegal and could open him up to prosecution.

I think Corrie did exactly the right thing and gave the right message that that sort of ignorant racism will not be tolerated.

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Originally Posted by parkerman

And how would it look to all the Indian viewers if Corrie just ignored his racist rant. There is no such thing as complete freedom of speech. Some things like that are just not acceptable. Supposing he'd have said all gays are *******s and piss-drinking c****? Would that be ok? Or all women? Or all Jews? You just can't say things like that without consequences. In fact, what he said is illegal and could open him up to prosecution.

I think Corrie did exactly the right thing and gave the right message that that sort of ignorant racism will not be tolerated.

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also if i were an actor from indian decent, like the actor who plays dev is, i wouldn't feel comfortable working with an actor like mark anwar.

As a British born Pakistani with close Indian friends I find this shocking. Pakistan and India are always near the brink of something and we do not let it interfere with our friendships. Unfortunately our countries of ethnic origin are not run well and this leads to awful incidents. But you cannot blame all for actions of a few.

Obviously I am in the minority here and I have read all your posts in which you have given your views so eloquently. I am not a racist, homophobe or any other sort of bigot and indeed have been the victim of racist and bigotted attacks myself. My major gripe here is that a man should lose his job for his outburst which may have been made in the heat of the moment. I know thats no excuse for it but where do we draw the line between someones personal views and their job. Does that mean we sack all muslims who work in supermarkets who refuse to sell pork to customers or alcohol. Do we sack all chemists who refuse to supply the morning after pill to unmarried girls. Do we sack anyone who is employed and joins parties like the BNP or some radical islamic group. Of course that sounds ridiculous but is it really any different that these rantings by this man. Im sure there are none of us who have never uttered a racist or homophobic remark in the heat of the moment. Im not excusing him but surely the punishment should fit the crime and if we go around sacking people fro their political. or religious views then we are on a slippery slope.

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Originally Posted by alan45

Obviously I am in the minority here and I have read all your posts in which you have given your views so eloquently. I am not a racist, homophobe or any other sort of bigot and indeed have been the victim of racist and bigotted attacks myself. My major gripe here is that a man should lose his job for his outburst which may have been made in the heat of the moment. I know thats no excuse for it but where do we draw the line between someones personal views and their job. Does that mean we sack all muslims who work in supermarkets who refuse to sell pork to customers or alcohol. Yes, because that is their job. They shouldn't take the job in the first place.

Do we sack all chemists who refuse to supply the morning after pill to unmarried girls. See last comment.

Do we sack anyone who is employed and joins parties like the BNP or some radical islamic group. A harder decision. It depends whether their membership of said group or party affects their work or relationship with customers.

Of course that sounds ridiculous but is it really any different that these rantings by this man. Im sure there are none of us who have never uttered a racist or homophobic remark in the heat of the moment. Speak for yourself. I have never done such a thing. Being of Jewish descent, I am only too aware of where racist comments can lead to.

Im not excusing him but surely the punishment should fit the crime and if we go around sacking people fro their political. or religious views then we are on a slippery slope. They were not political or religious views. It was a completely unacceptable intolerant racist rant.

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See above for comments.

Coronation Street star Marc Anwar will face a police investigation for the racially offensive comments that led to his sacking from the soap.

The actor, who plays Weatherfield's Sharif Nazir, had his contract terminated by ITV at the weekend after posting a shocking rant about Indian people on his Twitter account.

The controversy has now escalated even further, with Greater Manchester Police launching an investigation after receiving a report from a member of the public.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson told Digital Spy: "On Sunday 25 September 2016 police received a report of a hate crime. Police have launched an investigation and enquiries are ongoing.

"Hate incidents will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester and should be reported to police on 101 or using the True Vision website www.report-it.org.uk or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111."

Anwar, who was born in Pakistan, branded Indians "b*****ds" and "p**s-drinking c**ts" in his Twitter rant on Friday. He made his remarks days after 17 soldiers were killed at a Kashmir airbase, sparking a clash between India and Pakistan.

Speaking to BBC News today (September 26), Anwar commented: "I cannot apologise enough for those remarks. I can't retract those. In future I can only try and do something that hopefully proves that I am not a bigot, a coward, a liar, a cheat and definitely not a racist."

After losing his job at Corrie and facing a public backlash, Anwar later posted a video on YouTube apologising for his comments.

"I'd like to offer my sincerest apologies to anyone I may have offended with my tweets on Friday evening – and especially people from India," Anwar said.

"This was never my intention. The language was unacceptable. I feel I've let a lot of people down – my family, my friends, and my former colleagues.

"This, I again very sincerely apologise for."

He added: "On Friday evening, I saw on the news children being pulled out of rubble, people being pelted with pellets, women mourning their dead in Kashmir.

"This upset me very deeply, and in a moment of madness, I ranted out, I vented my anger. Again, the language that I used, I sincerely apologise for.

"But my feelings were very sincere for the people of Kashmir. And I hope that everyone I've offended can find it in their hearts to forgive me."

Sharif will disappear from screens in Corrie later this year, as Anwar didn't film an on-screen exit before being axed.

The character will continue to appear in future Corrie episodes as his current storyline is too prominent to be scrapped altogether. However, producers will look to minimise his presence in episodes where possible further on down the line.

Digital Spy

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Originally Posted by alan45

Obviously I am in the minority here and I have read all your posts in which you have given your views so eloquently. I am not a racist, homophobe or any other sort of bigot and indeed have been the victim of racist and bigotted attacks myself. My major gripe here is that a man should lose his job for his outburst which may have been made in the heat of the moment. I know thats no excuse for it but where do we draw the line between someones personal views and their job. Does that mean we sack all muslims who work in supermarkets who refuse to sell pork to customers or alcohol. Do we sack all chemists who refuse to supply the morning after pill to unmarried girls. Do we sack anyone who is employed and joins parties like the BNP or some radical islamic group. Of course that sounds ridiculous but is it really any different that these rantings by this man. Im sure there are none of us who have never uttered a racist or homophobic remark in the heat of the moment. Im not excusing him but surely the punishment should fit the crime and if we go around sacking people fro their political. or religious views then we are on a slippery slope.

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I'm sorry but you can't compare what Marc Anwar did to Joe Bloggs who works in an office and who silently joins the BNP.

This incident will have been reported all over the world and seriously embarrassed ITV and been very concerning to the advertisers who fund it. As I've already said, he likely had some kind of clause in his contract regarding bringing his employers into disrepute (which he certainly has done) so they had every right to sack him.

I believe his onscreen wife is of Indian descent for goodness sake. Should she be expected to work with him after he basically publicly branded her a "p*ss drinking c*nt"?

I understand he was very angry and upset about the dire situation in Kashmir. Perhaps he'd been drinking and would never have said those things in another situation, let alone so publicly. But he did do it, and he's ruined his reputation and would have seriously harmed the reputations of Coronation Street and ITV if they hadn't immediately got rid of him.

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Originally Posted by parkerman

See above for comments.

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Thank you for you thoughtful response as usual. Glad to see that we agree on certain things.

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Of course that sounds ridiculous but is it really any different that these rantings by this man. Im sure there are none of us who have never uttered a racist or homophobic remark in the heat of the moment. Speak for yourself. I have never done such a thing. Being of Jewish descent, I am only too aware of where racist comments can lead to.

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As I said it was in the heat of the moment and it involved the bodies of women and children blown up for a so called political cause. It was an instant knee jerk reaction which obviously I regretted afterwards. Im not perfect.

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Originally Posted by Dazzle

I'm sorry but you can't compare what Marc Anwar did to Joe Bloggs who works in an office and who silently joins the BNP.

This incident will have been reported all over the world and seriously embarrassed ITV and been very concerning to the advertisers who fund it. As I've already said, he likely had some kind of clause in his contract regarding bringing his employers into disrepute (which he certainly has done) so they had every right to sack him.

I believe his onscreen wife is of Indian descent for goodness sake. Should she be expected to work with him after he basically publicly branded her a "p*ss drinking c*nt"?

I understand he was very angry and upset about the dire situation in Kashmir. Perhaps he'd been drinking and would never have said those things in another situation, let alone so publicly. But he did do it, and he's ruined his reputation and would have seriously harmed the reputations of Coronation Street and ITV if they hadn't immediately got rid of him.

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It was all done in the heat of the moment when he says he saw people being pelted with stones and pebbles after they were injured. He has issued an unequivical apolgy for his shameful action. A suspension from his job would have been sufficient punishment

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Originally Posted by alan45

It was all done in the heat of the moment when he says he saw people being pelted with stones and pebbles after they were injured. He has issued an unequivical apolgy for his shameful action. A suspension from his job would have been sufficient punishment

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Well that's a matter for the Coronation Street and ITV bosses. I'm sure their only concern at this point is damage limitation.

I haven't watched the video of Marc Anwar's apology but by all accounts he comes across as very sincere. I agree it's not fair for someone's reputation to be ruined over one outburst, and I think if people believe his apology to be sincere and the incident to have been out of character his acting career might survive - even though it's too late for his Corrie job.

As for your general view that people shouldn't lose their jobs over their political views: I agree in theory, but in reality these situations aren't usually so black and white. If someone hates immigrants and minorities enough to join the BNP, then surely that hatred will overflow into every part of their life, including their relationships with colleagues and customers. If trust and work relationships break down because of those political views then they'd likely end up losing their job because of them. I know I'd really struggle to work day in and day out with a member of the BNP, despite not being one of their targets myself and even if he/she was someone who didn't often voice their political opinions at work.

..

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Originally Posted by Dazzle

Well that's a matter for the Coronation Street and ITV bosses. I'm sure their only concern at this point is damage limitation.

I haven't watched the video of Marc Anwar's apology but by all accounts he comes across as very sincere. I agree it's not fair for someone's reputation to be ruined over one outburst, and I think if people believe his apology to be sincere and the incident to have been out of character his acting career might survive - even though it's too late for his Corrie job.

As for your general view that people shouldn't lose their jobs over their political views: I agree in theory, but in reality these situations aren't usually so black and white. If someone hates immigrants and minorities enough to join the BNP, then surely that hatred will overflow into every part of their life, including their relationships with colleagues and customers. If trust and work relationships break down because of those political views then they'd likely end up losing their job because of them. I know I'd really struggle to work day in and day out with a member of the BNP, despite not being one of their targets myself and even if he/she was someone who didn't often voice their political opinions at work.

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I have worked alongside people whose political views were tottally opposite from my own. In fact I would have regarded them as extremists. I still worked with them as their views did not affect their work or their ability to behave in a fair manner.

he was aggressive with his granddaughter tonight even if she was demanding money from him

good exit is he bites the dust in bed with bit on the side discovered by the wife who kicks her out by the hair

he was aggressive with his granddaughter tonight even if she was demanding money from him

good exit is he bites the dust in bed with bit on the side discovered by the wife who kicks her out by the hair

Agree if you work in a supermarket you have to deal with all items on sale. I had to give older people their night time sherry when I worked in a care home as a student. It was part of my job.

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Originally Posted by lizann

he was aggressive with his granddaughter tonight even if she was demanding money from him

good exit is he bites the dust in bed with bit on the side discovered by the wife who kicks her out by the hair

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I thought that too. Realistic reaction though if you are scared a big secret might be revealed and they want a lot of money from you to keep that secret ..

Meanwhile back to the imminent departure of this character. I have a feeling that he may commit suicide. Last night he phoned the bank to transfer money from the business account to his personal account this will impact on a lot of characters (a bit like his real life racist rant). When he realises how much his night of passion has cost him he could decide rather than take off in a taxi that the only way to redeem himself will be suicide.

I think there may be similar views in Muslim and catholic faiths re suicide . Not shared by me I may add. Hope they do some research if they go down this line

I don't claim to have a lot of knowledge on this just heard comments from people

Looks like he ha gone then . No Nazirs in sight today

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Originally Posted by swmc66

I think there may be similar views in Muslim and catholic faiths re suicide . Not shared by me I may add. Hope they do some research if they go down this line

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I believe it is a mortal sin for Catholics to commit suicide but it doesnt seem to stop people.

in catholic faith if u commit suicide you cant get into heaven

Some people say that in Muslim faith but I do not believe that. In both faiths I have heard people say God only gives you what you can bear.

Not one Nazir in sight. Some good editing

There's big drama ahead for the Nazir family on Coronation Street next week - and for once we mean on screen rather than off.

Marc Anwar's character Sharif Nazir will be disappearing from our screens soon after the actor was sacked, but before he goes, we'll still get to see his on-screen affair storyline come to a head.

Love rat Sharif has been cheating on his loyal wife Yasmeen (Shelley King) with family friend Sonia for seven years. The truth finally comes out next week when Yasmeen overhears Sharif talking to Sonia about their secret, suggesting that it's time to end their affair.

Although she's not usually one to shy away from an argument, a devastated Yasmeen decides to bide her time before confronting her cheating husband. However, she can keep quiet no longer when the family come together to celebrate Zeedan and Rana, who've just got engaged.

With their engagement party under way, Zeedan introduces Sharif and Yasmeen to Rana's parents, who are about to get a rather surprising introduction to Nazir family life when Yasmeen interrupts the party to make a shocking announcement.

Unable to contain her anger, Yasmeen tells everyone that Sharif has been cheating on her for years - much to the shock of the guests.

Qasim Akhtar, who plays Zeedan, revealed: "Zeedan reads out a lovely poem to Rana at the engagement party. He's not written it himself, but he does say that beforehand!

"He then says a massive thank you to his grandparents for always being there for him, and this breaks Yasmeen's heart as she has just found out that Sharif has been cheating on her. This spurs her on to let it out in front of everyone.

"Zeedan's initial reaction is rage and anger. Zeedan doesn't believe it actually and he doesn't want to believe it. He keeps telling himself that it is not true. He can't come to terms with it because he always thought his granddad was perfect."
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Rana Habeeb and Zeedan Nazir's engagement party turns sour in Coronation Street
© ITV
Asked how Zeedan feels when it's revealed that Alya already knew and used the opportunity to blackmail Sharif, Qasim replied: "This is on par with what his granddad has done, because him and Alya have had such a bond.

"I know from Alya's point of view that it is nothing personal towards Zeedan - she has done it for her own reasons for the embroidery machine that she wanted. But it hits him hard. It upsets him more than anything because he would have never, ever have expected this from Alya.

"He is feeling betrayal from both his granddad and his sister, so as of now, Alya is nothing to him.

"These revelations will definitely change Zeedan as a person. Looking at the things that have happened to Zeedan in his life and what he has been through, I can't see it going any other way than changing him - maybe for the better, maybe for the worst.

"It also throws up a whole load of trust issues with Rana. You may see Zeedan have cold feet. Does he want to go through with marrying Rana now?"
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Zeedan Nazir stuns Rana Habeeb with a surprise proposal in Coronation Street
© ITV
The dramatic scenes pave the way for Sharif to make an off-screen exit from the show without too much hassle or disruption to storylines.

Anwar had his Coronation Street contract terminated last month after posting racially offensive messages on Twitter.

Coronation Street airs these scenes on Wednesday, November 2 and Friday, November 4 on ITV.

Digital Spy

Good call not to have Sharif disappear off screen with no build up or conclusion to the affair storyline (though I can't say I'm sorry to have missed weeks of him and Sonia sneaking around behind Yasmeen's back).

Yasmeen's heartbreak
Zeedan finds a tearful Yasmeen clutching a letter from Sharif, announcing that he's left for good.

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Coronation Street will air Sharif Nazir's exit plot next week after Marc Anwar was sacked from the show back in September.

The rather fudged departure - which was cobbled together by the Corrie bosses last month - will come after the reveal of Sharif's on-screen affair this week.

Sharif has been cheating on his loyal wife Yasmeen (Shelley King) with family friend Sonia for seven years. Upcoming scenes will see the truth finally come out when Yasmeen overhears Sharif talking to Sonia about their secret, suggesting that it's time to end their affair.

A devastated Yasmeen subsequently decides to bide her time before confronting her cheating husband. However, she can keep quiet no longer when the family come together to celebrate Zeedan and Rana, who've just got engaged (and it's a good job seeing as they had to hurry the storyline along a bit!).

And it looks like we won't be seeing much of Sharif again after this explosive reveal as he sends a letter to his wife next week, informing her that he's left Weatherfield for good.

in the aftermath of Sharif's affair, and the fact that her granddaughter Alya has been far from honourable either.

Thankfully for Yasmeen, she has the full support of her equally outraged grandson Zeedan, who is furious to see Sonia still hanging around.

However, Zeedan is confused when Dev reveals Sharif hasn't turned up for work. Sure enough, he later finds a tearful Yasmeen clutching a letter from Sharif, who states he won't be returning. Who saw that one coming?
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Yasmeen Nazir is upset over a letter from Sharif in Coronation Street
© ITV
Although Sharif has gone for good, don't expect the drama for the Nazirs to end there. With Yasmeen floored by Sharif's cowardly desertion, and Zeedan determined to make Sonia pay for her role in his departure, you can be sure to expect some serious fireworks.

After Zeedan orders Sonia out of town, he turns his anger onto his sister Alya as he admits that she is dead to him.

And with it looking like Alya won't be getting forgiveness from Yasmeen anytime soon either, where does this leave the Nazirs?

Marc had his Coronation Street contract terminated last month after posting racially offensive messages on Twitter.

Coronation Street will air these scenes on Monday, November 7, Wednesday, November 8 and Thursday, November 9 on ITV.

Digital Spy

Is Sonia staying?

I hope not

I know it was rushed but it sounds a poor exit for him

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Originally Posted by tammyy2j

I know it was rushed but it sounds a poor exit for him

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What else could they do? They couldn't film any more scenes with him. I think they've made the best of a bad job really under the circumstances. In some ways they were lucky they had storylines building up that make his quick exit credible.

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Originally Posted by parkerman

What else could they do? They couldn't film any more scenes with him. I think they've made the best of a bad job really under the circumstances. In some ways they were lucky they had storylines building up that make his quick exit credible.

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I found the affair storyline for him stupid to begin with and now abandoning his family, home and business without a fight not very like Sharif

As he was fired quick there wasn't more they could film, I think I would have preferred him vanishing under mystery circumstances (instead of Caz faking a disappearance) or even recast or kill him off

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Originally Posted by tammyy2j

I found the affair storyline for him stupid to begin with and now abandoning his family, home and business without a fight not very like Sharif

As he was fired quick there wasn't more they could film, I think I would have preferred him vanishing under mystery circumstances (instead of Caz faking a disappearance) or even recast or kill him off

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I know what you mean, but perhaps they didn't want to turn Sharif's exit into a bigger deal than necessary by killing him off? Having him slink away quietly will cause the least fuss and grief for the other characters, and allow them to move on a lot more quickly than if he'd died.

:o

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Originally Posted by parkerman

What else could they do? They couldn't film any more scenes with him. I think they've made the best of a bad job really under the circumstances. In some ways they were lucky they had storylines building up that make his quick exit credible.

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I still wish they had just replaced him and kept the storyline going, was just getting interested in it ...

yasmeen kill him and feed him to the chickens :p

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Originally Posted by lizann

yasmeen kill him and feed him to the chickens :p

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:eek: :D