Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Scotland: Muslims upset about dog in police advert

A postcard featuring a cute puppy sitting in a policeman's hat advertising a Scottish police force's new telephone number has sparked outrage from Muslims.


Tayside Police's new non-emergency phone number has prompted complaints from members of the Islamic community.



The choice of image on the Tayside Police cards - a black dog sitting in a police officer's hat - has now been raised with Chief Constable John Vine.



Tayside Police caused uproar in the Muslim community after they released this advertisement featuring police puppy rebel sitting in a hat



The advert has upset Muslims because dogs are considered ritually unclean and has sparked such anger that some shopkeepers in Dundee have refused to display the advert.



Dundee councillor Mohammed Asif 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.



'They (the police) should have understood. Since then, the police have explained that it was an oversight on their part, and that if they'd seen it was going to cause upset they wouldn't have done it.'



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Source: Daily Mail (English)