Islamophobia Watch

Channel 4 has sparked fury by planning an "alternative" Christmas Day message delivered by a Muslim woman in a veil. Radical Khadija Ravat, who lectures on Islam, will appear on its screens while the Queen is giving her traditional afternoon speech on the other channels. Mrs Ravat's talk is expected to focus on the heated debate about the veil following the recent case of teacher Aishah Azmi losing her battle to wear it in the classroom.

Evangelical lobby group Christian Voice's Stephen Green said the alternative message will "put people’s backs up". He added: "The niqab is a veil of separation between Muslims and the indigenous Christian community. This will expose multi-culturalism for what it is – a bias against the Christian population."

Daily Express, 6 December 2006

Call me an old sceptic, but given Channel 4's past record in stoking up Islamophobia you do wonder whether this is the reaction they set out to provoke.

See also the Sun, 6 December 2006