30th July 2007

BBC News Online

Dear Sir/Madam

BBC News online are currently running a story entitled 'Many Asians 'do not Feel British'' based upon a poll conducted by the BBC Asian Network:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6921534.stm

The story is illustrated by two Muslim women women wearing the Niqab (face-veil). The actual BBC poll found that far more Muslims (64%) felt British than for example, Hindus (46%) did. So, I feel your accompanying photo gave a misleading impression of the actual poll results and would only have contributed towards perpetuating a negative stereotype of British Muslims and reinforcing existing prejudices against them. Surely you could have found a more suitable photograph?

Yours faithfully,
Mr Inayat Bunglawala,
Assistant Secretary-General,
Muslim Council of Britain
PO Box 57330,
London
E1 2WJ