[_Tom_]

The children’s programme Fireman Sam is embroiled in an Islamophobia row after appearing to show a character treading on a page of the Koran.

Yesterday Channel 5 removed an episode of the show from its streaming site after viewers pointed out that papers on the floor of a fire station contained a page from the Islamic holy book.

A character can be seen trampling on the papers twice and when the sheets fly into the air at least one appears to be from the Koran.





It is thought that the page contains verses 13 to 26 of chapter 67 of the Koran – dealing with issues including the punishments given to non-believers under the religion.

Programme producer HIT Entertainment has apologised and is cancelling its contract with the Chinese animation studio that created the scenes.

Miqdaad Versi, Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, wrote on social media: “I have no idea what went through the producers’ minds when they thought this was a good idea.”

HIT said in a statement: “It has been brought to our attention that in an episode of Fireman Sam an image of the Koran is briefly depicted.

“The page was intended to show illegible text and we deeply regret this error.

"We will no longer be working with the animation studio responsible for this mistake.

"In addition, we are taking immediate action to remove this episode from circulation and we are reviewing our content production procedures to ensure this never happens again.”

The programme first aired on October 8 in 2014 and was available to watch online at any time on the My 5 video on demand service.

It was last shown by the broadcaster on Milkshake, its children's breakfast show, on June 28.

Mirror

So people are more outraged about a children's cartoon character stepping on the page of the Quran than the beheading of a Catholic priest....