C4 cancels film on Islam

Published on 12/09/2012 01:16

A SCREENING of a controversial documentary on the history of Islam has been cancelled on security advice after its presenter was threatened.

Historian Tom Holland’s Channel 4 show Islam: The Untold Story sparked more than 1,000 complaints when it was broadcast. Holland was threatened online with a torrent of abusive messages on Twitter.

A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: “Having taken security advice, we have reluctantly cancelled a planned screening of the programme Islam: The Untold Story. We remain extremely proud of the film, which is still available to view on 4oD.”

The investigation into the origins of the religion claimed there was little written contemporary evidence about the Prophet Muhammad.

Holland, the writer of best-sellers Rubicon and Persian Fire, said Islam was “a legitimate subject of historical inquiry”.

Writing on the Channel 4 website, he said: “We went to every effort to ensure the moral and civilisational power of Islam was acknowledged in our film.”