Muslims help lift library's ban on Christian poster
A BAN on a Christian poster on the grounds that it could offend people of other religions has backfired – with Sikh and Muslim leaders rallying to its defence.
Library staff in Sunderland stopped members of a church putting up the poster advertising the Women’s World Day of Prayer, claiming that official council policy prevented them from displaying it.
Churchgoers at St Gabriel’s Church tried to argue their case but staff at Kyall Road Library would not budge. Now Sunderland City Council has been forced to review its policy and reverse the ban after leaders of other religions spoke out.
Adbur Rouf, of Sunderland Mosque, Millfield, said it was hard to understand how anyone could find the poster offensive. He said different religions in Sunderland were now living side by side and had respect for each other’s faiths.
Founder and chairman of Sunderland Sikh Association, Manjit Chema, said: “This sort of thing creates divides and ghettos of different communities. I would not have found that poster offensive.” Reverend Peter Robson, of St Gabriel’s Church, said: “It’s just a notice, we’re not trying to force people to go along.”
Canon Stephen Taylor, said: “I would like to think that posters advertising events in other faiths, such as Diwali in the Sikh religion, would have a chance to be displayed in the library.”
Women’s World Day of Prayer has been celebrated by Christian women in britain since 1928. Ron Odunaiya, executive director of the council’s city services, said: “We fully accept that the poster would not have caused any concern to others. We will be reviewing our guidelines."