THE GUARDIAN: Comedian and writer Ben Elton has accused the BBC of being too "scared" to allow jokes about Islam.
Elton, who co-wrote critically acclaimed sitcoms such as The Young Ones and Blackadder, said the BBC's reluctance to run material that might offend Muslims was based on fear rather than morality.
Speaking in an interview with Christian magazine Third Way, Elton was asked if too much deference was shown to religious people.
"I think it all starts with people nodding whenever anybody says, 'As a person of faith ...'," Elton replied.
"And I believe that part of it is due to the genuine fear that the authorities and the community have about provoking the radical elements of Islam," he said.
"There's no doubt about it, the BBC will let vicar gags pass but they would not let imam gags pass.
"They might pretend that it's, you know, something to do with their moral sensibilities, but it isn't. It's because they're scared. I know these people."
Elton said it was difficult to use even common sayings: "I wanted to use the phrase 'Muhammad came to the mountain' and everybody said, 'Oh, don't! Just don't! Don't go there!'.
"It was nothing to do with Islam, I was merely referring to the old proverb, 'If the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain.' And people said, 'Let's just not!' It's incredible." Ben Elton: BBC ‘Scared of Islam Jokes’ >>> By Chris Tryhorn
Mark Alexander
