Fireman Sam is embroiled in an unlikely Islamophobia row after a fireman appeared to tread on a page from the Quran in an episode of the popular children’s programme.
Channel 5 has pulled the offending show and dismissed it as an “unfortunate incident”, with a spokesperson from production firm HIT Entertainment apologising “sincerely” for any distress it may have caused.
The episode, appropriately titled “Troubled Waters”, was first broadcast in October 2014 but the scene has only just been drawn to public attention. It shows Elvis the fireman slip on a pile of papers which then fly into the air, “briefly depicting” a page from Islam’s main religious book.
Shocking – #Islamophobia in children's programme #FiremanSam.
Video shows character is made to step on the Quran. pic.twitter.com/5y0t69bCUo
— DOAM (@doamuslims) July 25, 2016
The scene has not gone unnoticed by the Muslim community, with Miqdaad Versi, secretary-general of the Muslim Council, tweeting that he was “baffled” by the decision to feature the holy text.
For those looking for the verse reference here, it is Surah Mulk (67), verses 13-26 (h/t @AssedBaig) pic.twitter.com/367xLWQFT6
— Miqdaad Versi (@miqdaad) July 26, 2016
HIT Entertainment has insisted that the Quran reference was not “malicious” but will “no longer be working with the animation studio responsible”.
“The page was intended to show illegible text and we deeply regret this error,” a statement on its website read. “We sincerely apologise for any distress or offence it may have caused.”
The firm, which is also behind Pingu, Thomas and Tank Engine and Bob the Builder, has taken “immediate action” to remove the episode from streaming sites and will be “reviewing content production procedures” to ensure it never happens again.
