Puppies - Unclean

[The People's Chimp]

Apology on the cards as police pup picture sparks warning over offence to Muslims

 

By MARTYN McLAUGHLIN

A POLICE force has apologised over concerns that an advertisement featuring a German shepherd pup could be offensive to the Islamic community.

 

As part of a campaign to publicise its new non-emergency telephone number, Tayside Police used a picture of a black puppy, Rebel, on postcards to be distributed throughout the east coast region.

 

However, following the intervention of Mohammed AsADVERTISEMENTif, a Dundee councillor who warned police the image would "not be welcomed" by some communities, the force described the publicity drive as an "oversight".

 

Mr Asif, a member of the Tayside Joint Police Board, raised the matter on Monday after claiming the potentially offensive nature of the postcards had been brought to his attention by members of the city's 3,000-strong Muslim community.

 

Traditionally, dogs have been seen as impure, and the Islamic legal tradition has developed several injunctions that warn Muslims against most contact with them.

 

Mr Asif, a Labour councillor for Dundee's Coldside ward, said some shopkeepers would refuse to display the postcard.

 

He said: "My concern was that it's not welcomed by all communities. With the dog on the cards, it was probably a waste of resources going to these communities.

 

"People who have shops just won't put up the postcard. But the police have said to me that it was simply an oversight and they did not seek to offend or upset."

 

Tayside Police said they chose the image of Rebel in light of the puppy's popularity locally and online, where his blog has attracted thousands of visitors. The postcards were sent to every home and business in the Tayside area.

 

A spokesman for the force said he was unable to provide costings for the thousands of postcards, and that the possibility of pulling them from circulation was still under investigation.

 

He added: "Trainee police dog Rebel has proved extremely popular with children and adults since being introduced to the public, aged six weeks, as Tayside Police's newest canine recruit."

 

He added: "We did not seek advice from the force's diversity adviser prior to publishing and distributing the postcards. That was an oversight and we apologise for any offence caused."

 

However, a member of staff at the Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, a Dundee-based organisation which seeks to promote intelligent debate and understanding of Islam, disputed Mr Asif's claims that the image could be deemed offensive.

 

The staff member, who did not wish to be named, said: "In scripture, having a dog as a pet is considered forbidden, as they are considered unclean animals, and you must wash and clean after handling them.

 

"However, dogs can be used to hunt or farm, or even as guide dogs for the blind. I would not say a picture of a dog is offensive, but people have different sensibilities and different limits."

 

Osama Saeed, chief executive of the Scottish-Islamic Foundation, said Muslims traditionally regarded dogs differently from people brought up in western culture, and suggested that Mr Asif's remarks had been taken out of context.

 

He said: "It does not appear to me that Mohammed Asif has mentioned anywhere that Muslims as a faith group would find this offensive.

 

"This seems to be a complaint based on culture rather than religion. There isn't any Islamic basis for taking issue with a simple picture of a little puppy."

 

Ian Mackintosh, an Angus councillor and convener of the Tayside Joint Police Board, said: "The force has made it clear that it was an oversight not to consult their diversity adviser on this occasion and that there was no intention to cause upset or offence."

 

Mr Asif, depute convener of the council's leisure, arts and communities committee, was not available for further comment yesterday.

 

BACKGROUND

 

CONSERVATIVE Muslims have long-regarded dogs as unclean animals, but the issue can polarise opinion.

 

According to one hadith, a traditional story of the Prophet, Muhammad said a Muslim loses credit for one good deed each day he keeps a dog, and even said they should be killed unless used for hunting or protection.

 

Still, in another instance, Muhammad said that a prostitute who carried water in her slipper to a thirsty dog would go to heaven, her sins forgiven because of her kindness. The Muslim Council of Britain recently carried out a review of Islamic teaching on dogs, and supported their use for hunting or as guide dogs.

 

 

UNCLEAN! BEGONE MINION OF SATAN!

[Mark_Mywords]

The country has gone mad.

 

I don't mind "One Scotland, many Cultures", but why do we have to change ours to suit anybody else? Or am I being racist? Crazy crazy world.

[The Old Tolbooth]

The country has gone mad.

 

I don't mind "One Scotland, many Cultures", but why do we have to change ours to suit anybody else? Or am I being racist? Crazy crazy world.

 

Not racist at all mate, if I go to other countries I expect to abide by their laws and respect their cultures and so forth, therefore if they come here, why should we expect any different from them?

[Say What Again]

Not racist at all mate, if I go to other countries I expect to abide by their laws and respect their cultures and so forth, therefore if they come here, why should we expect any different from them?

 

Absolutley correct John.

 

I saw this story in the Metro this morning. It's truly pathetic.

 

To think the police actually had to apologise for this

[Bigsmak]

Not racist at all mate, if I go to other countries I expect to abide by their laws and respect their cultures and so forth, therefore if they come here, why should we expect any different from them?

 

When I was working in Muslim countries I was not allowed to go out drinking in public as it was against their culture.

 

I changed to fit in with them. I even eat a sheeps eyeball to be part of the gang.

[Craigieboy]

I normally ignore stuff like this as it's reported on all the time these days.

 

But TBH, this is particularly pathetic.

 

So, people have come home, picked up the leaflet, felt offended & then picked up the phone to their MP?

 

Get a life for ****s sake.

 

Religion sucks big hairy grannybaws.

 

.

[blondejamtart]

I sometimes wonder if those who complain aren't actually doing so because they are genuinely "offended", but more because they know they will get the resulting publicity and bask in their own peculiar self-righteousness!

[alwaysthereinspirit]

The country has gone mad.

 

I don't mind "One Scotland, many Cultures", but why do we have to change ours to suit anybody else? Or am I being racist? Crazy crazy world.

 

You're not racist. You're perturbed.

[scottish_chicP]

That is absolutely ridiculous. Crazy place we live in nowadays!!

[The People's Chimp]

WOOF WOOF

 

[269miles]

Presumably their religious convictions mean they would not have called the police , even if needed , due to being so offended.

 

It's pathetic.

[Jed The Jedi]

As i said to Jack of Hearts this morning i am no longer getting involved with these kind of threads (because i cant keep my feelings to myself) but........

 

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::

[Boaby Ewing]

And what about South Koreans on a diet? How d'ya think it would have made them feel?

[Maximus]

My dog is cleaner than any Muslim I've met

[Jed The Jedi]

My dog is cleaner than any Muslim I've met

 

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Rawrrrrrrr]

I personally think any muslims calling the number should be hung upon to cleanse them

[Rawrrrrrrr]

My dog is cleaner than any Muslim I've met

 

 

Utterly disgusting comment:mad:

[Koolkeith]

What a load of pc bullsh*t. You ask the majority of muslims about this and they wouldn't give a toss, but one person wants to make a name for himself. Just like some extremeist talking about blowing up people. It's like the council banning xmas cards. Xmas doesn't offend muslims or any other religion.

[Professor.Arturo]

Muslims calling dogs unclean....how f****** ironic is that?

[Deevers]

What a load of pc bullsh*t. You ask the majority of muslims about this and they wouldn't give a toss, but one person wants to make a name for himself. Just like some extremeist talking about blowing up people. It's like the council banning xmas cards. Xmas doesn't offend muslims or any other religion.

 

Yep, you're dead right the real culprits in all this are middle class white "liberals". Come the revolution these people should be the first put up against the wall and shot.

[bighusref]

Not racist at all mate, if I go to other countries I expect to abide by their laws and respect their cultures and so forth, therefore if they come here, why should we expect any different from them?

 

Totally agree.

 

I have no issues with a multi cultural society, I have no issues with many people observing their own religious holidays and practices.

 

However, they are in our country and our culture and whilst being welcome, they need to give us a little leeway.

 

As for Muslims being unclean? WTF?

[Carl Weathers]

Tbf dugs lick their ain baws.

 

[Moriarty]

Tbf dugs lick their ain baws.

 

 

so would you if you could reach

[kannymann1]

Tbf dugs lick their ain baws.

 

 

Heh heh!! We always have those who do the smoothing over!! Well done!

 

Far from being a stirrer of S***, I remember a colleague of mine who had to gather all of his fellow parents to kick up hell with a head teacher, because the school his daughter attended were going to cancel their annual Halloween party: two sets of Muslim parents complained, citing it was a "pagan ritual" ????!!!! What's a' that aboot!!!

The kids DID eventually get their party, but after a bit o' a stooshie wi the school.