London, Dec 16 (ANI): After receiving a number of letters, some abusive, accusing her of trying to upstage the Queen, a Muslim woman who was going to deliver a 6-minute telecast over Muslim women's right to wear the veil on Channel 4 alongside the Queen's own thoughts on Christmas Day, has decided to drop the project.
Khadija Ravat, the Muslim woman was slated to deliver Channel 4's alternative Christmas message wearing a full veil, reportedly backed out yesterday after criticism from inside and outside her community.
Channel 4's message, which has in the past been fronted by the likes of Sharon Osborne and Quentin Crisp, is meant to offer a controversial alternative to the Queen's traditional Christmas Day address on the BBC and ITV. It is thought Channel 4 researchers may have tracked her down after she made a public comment at the height of the controversy when Commons leader Jack Straw said he regarded full veils as a "visible statement of separation and difference".
In a statement, she said that it was the "unexpected publicity" around her decision that made her change her mind.
"My initial thoughts about the programme were that it would be a fantastic opportunity to do something positive and to convey a warm message for everyone to share. However, after careful consideration, I have decided not to appear on the programme. I have no doubt that Channel 4 will continue with its inquiring and sensitive approach on issues relating to Muslims in Britain," The Telegraph quoted her as saying in a statement released through the TV channel.
She refused to elaborate on her decision.
But, a source close to the programme makers said that one of the reasons was that she had been pressurised by senior members of the community who felt it was not her place to talk about Islam. It has also been said that she had received threatening letters from non-Muslims accusing her of trying to upstage the Queen.
Head of the Muslim school where she worked said that she had "erred on the side of caution" after receiving a number of letters, some abusive. Ibrahim Hewitt (50), head of the al-Aqsa Primary School, said: "There has been a mixed reaction. I have known her for a long time, and she is a very sincere person.
Nobody at the school has raised any objections - indeed, parents have come to me and said they were very happy she was going to do it. But some people think she is trying to upstage the Queen, which is certainly not the case. But I think she feels it would rub people up the wrong way." (ANI)
Khadija Ravat, the Muslim woman was slated to deliver Channel 4's alternative Christmas message wearing a full veil, reportedly backed out yesterday after criticism from inside and outside her community.
Channel 4's message, which has in the past been fronted by the likes of Sharon Osborne and Quentin Crisp, is meant to offer a controversial alternative to the Queen's traditional Christmas Day address on the BBC and ITV. It is thought Channel 4 researchers may have tracked her down after she made a public comment at the height of the controversy when Commons leader Jack Straw said he regarded full veils as a "visible statement of separation and difference".
In a statement, she said that it was the "unexpected publicity" around her decision that made her change her mind.
"My initial thoughts about the programme were that it would be a fantastic opportunity to do something positive and to convey a warm message for everyone to share. However, after careful consideration, I have decided not to appear on the programme. I have no doubt that Channel 4 will continue with its inquiring and sensitive approach on issues relating to Muslims in Britain," The Telegraph quoted her as saying in a statement released through the TV channel.
She refused to elaborate on her decision.
But, a source close to the programme makers said that one of the reasons was that she had been pressurised by senior members of the community who felt it was not her place to talk about Islam. It has also been said that she had received threatening letters from non-Muslims accusing her of trying to upstage the Queen.
Head of the Muslim school where she worked said that she had "erred on the side of caution" after receiving a number of letters, some abusive. Ibrahim Hewitt (50), head of the al-Aqsa Primary School, said: "There has been a mixed reaction. I have known her for a long time, and she is a very sincere person.
Nobody at the school has raised any objections - indeed, parents have come to me and said they were very happy she was going to do it. But some people think she is trying to upstage the Queen, which is certainly not the case. But I think she feels it would rub people up the wrong way." (ANI)
. To explain how Islam's message is to worship Allah alone without associating any partners with him, the same message that was sent to all the Prophets.
