London, 7 Dec. (AKI) - Independent British broadcaster Channel 4 has selected a Zimbabwe-born niqab-wearing Muslim from the Midlands to deliver its alternative to the Queen's traditional Christmas Day message. Although the woman, whose name has been given as Khadija, has said she will be watching the British sovereign's annual broadcast on 25 December - as she always does - Channel 4's move is expected to reignite the veil controversy. The channel has also beeen accused of provocation by pitting Khadija against Elizabeth II - who is head of the Church of England.
Khadija's six-minute broadcast will air at exactly the same time as the Queen's - 3 pm GMT on 25 December. The alternative message comes at the end of a year that has seen a series of controversies over women wearing the niqab or eyes-only veil in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, as well as a recent dispute over flagship airline British Airways' attemtp to ban staff from displaying crucifixes.
The Independent quoted a Channel 4 spokesman as saying: "The right to wear religious symbols from niqabs to crucifixes, remarks made by the pope about Islam and the publication of Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed have all generated a debated about multiculturalism, secularism and integration, a debate in which British Muslims have played a key role and one that will shape the future of British society."
"Therefore, we believed it was fitting this year the message shoudl be given by a British Muslim woman," the spokesman added.
Channel 4 chose Khadija after a month-long search among Muslim communities in the north of Britain and the Midlands. The network said it was releasing few details about the woman because she was reluctant to talk to the media ahead of her message. However a spokesman also said she is "articulate and interesting" while the Leeds-based production company, Chameleon, which found Khadija described her as "a feisty woman who will deliver a thought-provoking message." Her message - her first broadcasting experience - will be filmed over the next ten days at a number of locations in Britain, Chameleon said.
The channel said she was born in Zimbabwe, is a British citizen, is married and has been wearing the full niqab or the past 10 years. The Arabic word for 'full veil' - this covers everything but the eyes. She was cited by the Daily Mirror as saying she wears the niqab because it empowers women to be free of the pressures of fashion. She reportedly does not believe that wearing the niqab is divisive.
The decision to broadcast such a contentious alternative comes after several years during which Channel 4 has screened light-hearted messages in its address which has bee runing since 1993. Last year, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver featured in a spoof in which he pretended to cook junk food. Previous occupants of the coveted role have included the late gay icon Quentin Crisp, Ali G as played by Jewish commedian Sacha Baron Cohen, and parents of the murdered black schoolboy Stephen Lawrence. |