Citizen Khan: BBC sitcom is 'Islamophobic', says MP

BBC sitcom Citizen Khan is "Islamophobic" and depicts "backward" Muslims, a Labour politician has told parliament.

Rupa Huq, the MP for Ealing Central and Acton, made the comments during a Commons debate, about whether the corporation's programmes and staff reflect UK diversity, reports the BBC.

She called the show "Islamophobic", pointing to the "beardy weirdy chap" Mr Khan, a self-appointed "community leader" in the comedy about the life of a Muslim family from Birmingham.

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"You would think it's an everyday tale of a Birmingham family of Muslims but they're really quite backward. They're not quite cutting off people's hands but I can imagine that being in a future episode," she said.

A BBC spokesperson responded by saying the broadcaster has had positive comments from members of the Muslim community for both the show and its creator Adil Ray, who, like the family portrayed, is a British Pakistani Muslim.

The fact that Citizen Khan is returning for a fifth series is a sign of its popularity, they added, and it has won several awards, including best TV character at the Asian Media Awards.

The show also received approval from Yousuf Bhailok, the former secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, when it first aired in 2012.

Calling Citizen Khan "the best thing the BBC has done recently", Bhailok said: "It is good to change the stereotyped image of Muslims always being serious and shouting that has appeared so often in the media."

However, the BBC has received more than 700 complaints about it, reports Chortle, which notes that one of the most contentious moments was a scene in the first episode in which Mr Khan's daughter rushes to put on a hijab and pretends to be reading the Koran when her father enters the room.

In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, the show's creator said he had been forced to defend it on numerous occasions.

"I had death threats and to this day receive abuse on social media," said Ray, who also plays the lead character.

He admitted his character is "a bearded, slightly old-fashioned, loudmouthed Muslim", but said he resonates with British people because he is essentially a "good family man" and that is "one of the most promoted values in the UK today".

Ray also argued that all comedy relies on "big characters and stereotype" and that Mr Khan is no different from other leads. No one thinks Del Boy, Only Fools and Horses' dodgy businessman, represents everyone from Peckham, he said: "It's the same thing with Basil Fawlty, the bigot battling his own class war."

Citizen Khan is watched by an audience of between three and five million UK viewers.