Looks like that apology from the department was issued a bit hastily (actually, it was unnecessary in the first place). But it underscores the existence of a climate of politically correct fear that is a product of the jihad of litigation and intimidation waged to secure special treatment for Muslims with respect to attire, speech, employment, and environment.
“Offensive puppy postcard claim dismissed,” by April Mitchinson and Stefan Morkis for The Courier, July 2:
Claims that a promotional police postcard featuring a puppy is offensive to members of the Islamic community have been dismissed by one of Dundee’s leading Muslims.
A storm of controversy erupted yesterday after a report in The Courier revealed that some members of the Islamic community have complained about the postcard.
Dundee councillor Mohammed Asif claimed the postcard, advertising Tayside Police’s new non-emergency telephone number, could offend some Muslims because it features a black German shepherd dog sitting in a police officer’s hat.
It is understood some Muslims have been upset by the image because in Islam dogs are generally considered unclean and cannot be kept as pets”” although they can be kept as guard dogs or for hunting.
The postcards, which were produced in late spring, have been distributed to homes and businesses across Dundee to raise awareness of the telephone number.
Tayside Police has since apologised for failing to run the seemingly innocuous ad by their diversity advisers after Councillor Asif raised the issue at a meeting of the Tayside joint police board.
But Mr Asif’s comments have won little support among the public or Dundee’s Islamic community.
Last night Mahmud Sarwar, trustee of the Scottish Islamic and Cultural Centre and the Dura Street mosque, appealed for calm.
He said he had no problems with the postcard and called on homeowners and local businesses to display them as it is in the public interest.
“I”ve not heard anything about that from members of the community,” Mr Sarwar said.
“I was round some shops today and at the mosque and nobody has said anything about it.”
Mr Sarwar said that religious sensitivities would prevent him from displaying the postcard on a building of religious significance but there was nothing to stop them being displayed in shops.
“There is not a dog””it is just a picture,” he said….