Christians Under Attack

The Rev Mahboob Masih, a Church minister, claims he was unfairly dismissed and that the action taken against him was a case of religious discrimination.

He had been host of a regular Saturday morning show on Awaz FM, a community radio show in Glasgow, for six years before the row with the station's management blew up.

After a lively religious debate, the radio station management took exception to the content of the discussion. The Rev Masih was accused of not being balanced enough on air. However, Awaz FM refuses to detail anything specific he said that might have offended its listeners.

The Rev Masih and his co-presenter Afzal Umeed were discussing the views of a prominent Muslim speaker, Zakir Naik, who the Rev Masih accuses of belittling the Christian faith on Peace TV, a digital channel.

The Rev Masih says that Mr Umeed asked Asif Mall, a Christian on-air guest, about Mr Naik's remarks. Mr Mall said Mr Naik's comments showed a lack of knowledge of the Bible and of the Koran.

In particular, Mr Mall disputed a claim by Mr Naik that Jesus Christ was not the only prophet to be "the way, the truth and the life".

The Rev Masih, 37, who is the minister in West Kirk, East Kilbride, says that he reluctantly made an on-air apology in an attempt to defuse the row. However, he says he refused a request from a senior station official to deliver an apology in person at the Central Mosque in Glasgow because he felt intimidated and his safety could have been endangered. He also insists he had nothing to apologise for to Muslims.

Initially, he and his co-presenter were temporarily suspended for breaching the station's code of conduct. The Rev Masih, who is married with two children, was later dismissed after sending a letter criticising his treatment to the station's management committee.

In the letter, he demanded "our immediate reinstatement to our radio show and a full apology".

He added: "Our comments were directed to 'insulting' and/or 'controversial' remarks made by Mr. Naik in relation to Christianity. This was no more than religious debate under the general principles of British law and within the Ofcom Code. No intemperate language was used on our show."

In a reply, Javaid Ullah, the director of the radio station, terminated the Rev Masih and his co-presenter's "voluntary agreement... with immediate effect". He said that they had "failed to remain neutral and as such allowed the guest to make comments which led in [to] offending various members of the community."

He added: "The comments made in your letter were inaccurate and not true. The tone of the letter was deemed offensive to the management of Awaz FM."

The Rev Masih told The Sunday Telegraph: "I am very distressed at the way I have been treated. I presented the show for six years and am sad to have been forced to give it up."

Awaz FM was set up in 2001 and went on air the following year after receiving a license from the radio regulator, Ofcom. According to the radio station's "mission statement" on its web site: "Awaz FM serves the Asian population (originating from Indian Sub Continent) in Glasgow, delivering entertainment, community information, local, national and international news broadcasting in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and English."

The website also claims: "Awaz FM will be the voice of Glasgow's ethnic communities and their respective faiths. A voice to let the people of Glasgow express their needs and desires. It will provide organisations an opportunity to use Awaz FM as a platform to deliver their aims and objectives. "

The Rev Masih says the station, which is operated by volunteers, is predominantly run by Muslims and concentrates on targeting Muslim listeners.

The Rev Masih has now instructed Paul Diamond, a barrister specialising in religious discrimination cases. As a result, the Rev Masih is taking the radio station to an employment tribunal over the dispute which led to his dismissal.

He has also lodged a complaint with Ofcom, the radio regulator, claiming that Awaz FM is in breach of the terms of its licence. It alleges "discrimination against members of Asian Christian Community by [the] Muslim management of Awaz FM."

Awaz FM is contesting the Rev Masih's claims – and it denies that he was asked to go to a mosque to apologise for his actions.

Awaz FM asked for question about the dispute to be put in writing, but then failed to answer any of the 14 points put to them.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/