BBC Asia says sorry for Sikh/Hindu/Islam mix-up
Initially defiant, the BBC has recanted and apologized for a presenter's on-air remarks about the origins of the Sikh faith.
- John Bingham
- United Kingdom
- May 16, 2012
The BBC has expressed regret to Sikhs over comments on a radio discussion suggesting that their faith is “made up of other religions” such as Islam and Hinduism.
Sikh leaders accused the corporation’s Asian Network of displaying “irresponsible and misleading” attitude and suggesting that their religion was simply a “hotchpotch” of other faiths.
It followed a phone-in broadcast in March in which the presenter DJ Nihal Arthanayake – best known as a Radio 1 DJ – touched on the relationship between Sikhism, which was founded in Punjab in the 15th Century, and the other two predominant religions in India at the time.
A text message from a listener was read out complaining about the “incredibly offensive” way the presenters had suggested that Sikhism was “made up from other religions ie Islam and Hinduism”.
The DJ, known simply as Nihal on air, replied: “I’m sorry with all due respect, it is, absolutely it is.”
He added: “It came around in the 15th and 16th Centuries in India, how could it not be influenced?”
He went on: “A Muslim laid the stone to the holiest places, with all due respect I know more about your religion than you do.”
The comment was a reference to the tradition that a Muslim divine was asked to lay the foundation of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the centre of Sikh worship.
But the Network of Sikh Organisations, headed by Lord Singh – who is himself a regular on the BBC, as a contributor to Radio 4’s Thought For the Day – complained, accusing the programme of a “skewed” approach.
They asked: “Is the BBC similarly willing to take the view that Islam is a religion made up of Christianity and Judaism?”
Full Story: BBC expresses regret over suggestion Sikhism is 'made up of other religions'
Source: The Telegraph
Sikh leaders accused the corporation’s Asian Network of displaying “irresponsible and misleading” attitude and suggesting that their religion was simply a “hotchpotch” of other faiths.
It followed a phone-in broadcast in March in which the presenter DJ Nihal Arthanayake – best known as a Radio 1 DJ – touched on the relationship between Sikhism, which was founded in Punjab in the 15th Century, and the other two predominant religions in India at the time.
A text message from a listener was read out complaining about the “incredibly offensive” way the presenters had suggested that Sikhism was “made up from other religions ie Islam and Hinduism”.
The DJ, known simply as Nihal on air, replied: “I’m sorry with all due respect, it is, absolutely it is.”
He added: “It came around in the 15th and 16th Centuries in India, how could it not be influenced?”
He went on: “A Muslim laid the stone to the holiest places, with all due respect I know more about your religion than you do.”
The comment was a reference to the tradition that a Muslim divine was asked to lay the foundation of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the centre of Sikh worship.
But the Network of Sikh Organisations, headed by Lord Singh – who is himself a regular on the BBC, as a contributor to Radio 4’s Thought For the Day – complained, accusing the programme of a “skewed” approach.
They asked: “Is the BBC similarly willing to take the view that Islam is a religion made up of Christianity and Judaism?”
Full Story: BBC expresses regret over suggestion Sikhism is 'made up of other religions'
Source: The Telegraph
