A police force has apologised to Islamic leaders for the "offensive" postcard advertising a new non-emergency telephone number, which shows a six-month-old trainee police dog named Rebel. The German shepherd puppy has proved hugely popular with the public, hundreds of who have logged on to the force's website to read his online training diary. But some Muslims in the Dundee area have reportedly been upset by the image because they consider dogs to be "ritually unclean", while shopkeepers have refused to display the advert. Tayside Police have admitted they should have consulted their 'diversity' officers before issuing the cards, but critics argued their apology was unnecessary. Rebel has proved a popular recruit for Tayside Police and is about to venture out onto the streets, having just completed his course of inoculations. He was given his name after visiting St Ninians Primary School in Dundee where pupils put forward hundreds of ideas of what he should be called. But some Islamic scholars believe that dogs are impure and therefore 'haraam' - or forbidden - except for use in hunting or farming, and that it is not hygienic to keep a dog in the house. They say that the "impurity of dogs is the greatest of animal impurities", and anyone who touches one must wash the body part that has come into contact with the animal seven times. Mohammed Asif, a Dundee City councillor who sits on the Tayside Joint Police Board, said the postcards had been raised this week with John Vine, the chief constable. He said: "My concern was that it is not welcomed by all communities, with the dog on the cards. It was probably a waste of resources going to these communities. The police should have understood. "Since then the police have explained that it was an oversight on their part and that if they had seen it was going to cause upset they would not have done it. "People who have shops just will not 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." A spokesman for Tayside Police said that Rebel had proved "extremely popular" with children and adults since he joined the force aged six weeks. He added: "His incredible world-wide popularity - he has attracted record visitor numbers to our website - led us to believe Rebel could play a starring role in the promotion of our non-emergency number. "However, 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."
If the old bill had consulted their "diversity officer", I wonder if he would've been clued up enough to educate some of the moslem community about their religion and what the Koran actually says? Here was an excellent response to the article by a moslem professor. It's a bit long winded but here goes...
QUOTE Fellow Muslims:Wake up,Learn your religion properly and behave as a responsible Muslim.
The report that Muslim shopkeepers refused to display a dog's picture as a police advert is appalling.The police was 100% wrong to apologies. What for? This photo has nothing to do with Islam or Muslims.Here are the Islamic views about the dogs with references mentioned:
1-The dog is considered unclean "Najaaza". It is only its saliva is the only unclean part. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said "Purifying a container that a dog has licked (to be used by humans) is done by washing it 7 times (Narrated by Al Bokhari).
2-Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said "The Angels do not enter into a house that has a dog (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). So you can have own a dog kept outside your house,e.g farm,garden,..etc. You have to look after it,e.g good food,shelter,..etc
3-Dogs are mentioned in Quran 5 times In Surat Al Kahf or "The Cave".(Al Kahf: 18;18-22).Allah counted the dog among the people of the cave which indicates that dogs are permitted to live among people.
4-Dogs have many values in our lives. Prophet Mohammad said "if you are using a trained dog for hunting you can eat what the dog hunted provided he did not eat from it.If he did do not eat it".(Fig-Al Sunna by Sayyed Sabeg" It is also reported in this reference that the dry fur of the dog is clean "Not Najaaza"
5-Two separate Hadiths narrated by Abu Hurayrah (He was a close companion of Prophet Mohammad ,PBUH, and his name is Abdul-Rahman. He is called Abu Hurayra,meaning "father of kitten" because he was carrying a small cat with him all the time,caring and feeding it).The Prophet told his companions of the virtue of saving dog's life by giving water and quenching its thirst. One referred to was a man who was blessed by Allah for giving water to a thirsty dog.The other was a prostitute who filled her shoe with well-water and gave it to a dog that was lolling in thirst and could not reach the water. For this deed she was granted the ultimate reward:eternal Paradise.
6-Reported by Al-Bhkari that the people asked Prophet Mohammad:"O Messenger,will we be rewarded for how we treat animals? He replied "In every living thing there is a reward" and also said "Whoever is kind to creatures of God is kind to himself" (Narrated by Abdallah bin Amur in Al-Bukhari and Muslim collections))
The European Council for Fatwa and Research (The highest Islamic organization in Europe) gave Fatwas concerning dogs (Fatwa 7, P: 37)
1- The Madh-hab of Immam Malik inb'Anas states that dogs are clean.
2-Hanafis believe that a dog's body is clean and that uncleanness is restricted to the saliva and its body waste.
From all the above we can now clearly see that the dog's picture is not "haraam" or humiliating to Muslims.
It was disgraceful to read that Police are considering using boots for sniffer dogs before entering a Muslim house (Telegraph: 07/07/08 P:2.
Finally I urge fellow Muslims to learn Arabic,to read Quran and Sunna and to understand them well.Please do not blindly follow old traditions and habits you inherited from your culture.It is very harmful to Islam and you can see the results in the news papers every day.
If the old bill had consulted their "diversity officer", I wonder if he would've been clued up enough to educate some of the moslem community about their religion and what the Koran actually says? Here was an excellent response to the article by a mo
Muslims don't appear to be remotely bothered by this, hence the lack of cited complaints. What you have is a councillor being a reactionary dick, and a newspaper attempting to spread that into inter-faith tension. I doubt more than 1% of the local population cares less, and nor should they.
Muslims don't appear to be remotely bothered by this, hence the lack of cited complaints. What you have is a councillor being a reactionary dick, and a newspaper attempting to spread that into inter-faith tension. I doubt more than 1% of the local po
Anyone read the guardian and taxi driver not allowing guide dogs in their cars. Someone made a comment on this and were moderated out - have a guess what it was about It wouldn't have anything to do with moslem taxi drivers now would it!!?? ha ha keep up the free speech guardian!!!
Anyone read the guardian and taxi driver not allowing guide dogs in their cars.Someone made a comment on this and were moderated out - have a guess what it was aboutIt wouldn't have anything to do with moslem taxi drivers now would it!!?? ha hakeep u
I wonder how many of the 'shop keepers' refusing to put the poster in their windows have post card ads from people selling 10 week old 'Staff' puppies or similar.
I wonder how many of the 'shop keepers' refusing to put the poster in their windows have post card ads from people selling 10 week old 'Staff' puppies or similar.
Dogs are probably more popular with us than Muslims to be frank
I do not think the police should be apologising in any sane world...
A picture of a dog, is not actually a dog, surely Muslims can touch a picture
print a few postcards off with no dog seems best suggestion
Dogs are probably more popular with us than Muslims to be frankI do not think the police should be apologising in any sane world...A picture of a dog, is not actually a dog, surely Muslims can touch a pictureprint a few postcards off with no dog seem
Muslims don't like dogs and dogs don't like Muslims.
I've lost count of the number of times I've had to let out a bit more lead when I've been walking my dog when someone approaching has stepped into the road to avoid him. I don't think he'd bite but I always make sure he can't quite reach them just in case, but they don't know that. In the dog's mind he's simply protecting me, which I think is absolutely splendid.
Muslims don't like dogs and dogs don't like Muslims.I've lost count of the number of times I've had to let out a bit more lead when I've been walking my dog when someone approaching has stepped into the road to avoid him. I don't think he'd bite but
Are all Muslims really offended by a picture of a dog?....or are we listening to a complete fruit cake here?
We should have a referendum, do we want a society with no Muslims or no Dogs, not hard to guess the result of that one
Stupidity like this harms inter cultural relations, in my opinion
brendanuk1...looking at postcardObvious solution...cut the postcard in halfAre all Muslims really offended by a picture of a dog?....or are we listening to a complete fruit cake here?We should have a referendum, do we want a society with no Muslims o
Whoever complains should be told: Our country and our values, feck off if you don't like it. With a nice smile of course as we don't want to offend anyone.
Whoever complains should be told: Our country and our values, feck off if you don't like it.With a nice smile of course as we don't want to offend anyone.
Dundee police should object to their applications for selling lucrative lottery tickets and booze to avoid any embarrassment. They would get onto their councillors pretty quick to stop the religious distorting.
Dundee police should object to their applications for selling lucrative lottery tickets and booze to avoid any embarrassment. They would get onto their councillors pretty quick to stop the religious distorting.
A fair and measured response to those muslims who are upset by the picture of Rebel would be something along the lines of "fúck you and your backward religion." That way nobody get offended.
A fair and measured response to those muslims who are upset by the picture of Rebel would be something along the lines of "fúck you and your backward religion." That way nobody get offended.
The compensation lawyers would milk public funds to the max poker for hurt feelings and there are enough,stupid judges to agree with the plaintiffs ! Sad country,eh ?
The compensation lawyers would milk public funds to the max poker for hurt feelings and there are enough,stupid judges to agree with the plaintiffs ! Sad country,eh ?
she was 9 when she was married or was that when if was consummated ??? so it was ok - fits in with the laws they have around the middle east are you aware that they tried this on in Iraq just lately by proposing a new law giving men the absolute right to marry even younger than currently allowed there!!!
and that there is a charity to help todays poor kids being married and abused at 8
you are of course quite right - but thought i would put in a guardianista sort of fau protest coz they sure will !!!!
no cardiffc you islamaphobic racist nut jobshe was 9 when she was married or was that when if was consummated ??? so it was ok - fits in with the laws they have around the middle eastare you aware that they tried this on in Iraq just lately by propo