cwnewz.com - The Rev Mahboob Masih, a Church minister, claims he was unfairly dismissed and that the action taken against him was a case of religious discrimination.
After a lively religious debate, the radio station management took exception to the content of the discussion and Rev Masih was accused of not being "balanced enough" on air. However, Awaz FM refuses to detail anything specific he said that may have offended its listeners.
The Rev Masih and his co-presenter Afzal Umeed were discussing the views of a prominent Muslim speaker, Zakir Naik, who the Rev Masih accuses of "putting down" the Christian faith on Peace TV.
The Rev Masih says that Mr Umeed asked Asif Mall, a Christian on-air guest, about Mr Naik's remarks. Mr Mall said Mr Naik's comments showed a lack of knowledge of the Bible and of the Koran.
Mr. Mall disputed a claim by Mr. Naik that Jesus Christ was not the only prophet to be "the way, the truth and the life".
In an attempt to defuse the row, Rev Masih made an on-air aplogy. When asked by a senior official to deliever an aplogy in person at the Central Mosque in Glasgow, Rev Masih refused. He said he felt intimidated and felt his safety could have been endangered. He also insists that he had nothing to apologise to the muslims for.
He and his co-presenter were temporarily suspended for breaking the station's code of conduct. After sending a letter to the station's management committee, criticising his treatment, he was dismessed.
In the letter, he demanded "our immediate reinstatement to our radio show and a full apology".
He added: "Our comments were directed to 'insulting' and/or 'controversial' remarks made by Mr. Naik in relation to Christianity. This was no more than religious debate under the general principles of British law and within the Ofcom Code. No intemperate language was used on our show."
In a reply, Javaid Ullah, the director of the radio station, terminated the Rev Masih and his co-presenter's "voluntary agreement... with immediate effect". He said that they had "failed to remain neutral and as such allowed the guest to make comments which led in [to] offending various members of the community."
He added: "The comments made in your letter were inaccurate and not true. The tone of the letter was deemed offensive to the management of Awaz FM."
The Rev Masih says the station, which is operated by volunteers, is mostly run by Muslims and concentrates on targeting Muslim listeners.
He has also lodged a complaint with Ofcom, the radio regulator, claiming that Awaz FM is in breach of the terms of its licence. It alleges "discrimination against members of Asian Christian Community by the Muslim management of Awaz FM."
Awaz FM is contesting the Rev Masih's claims; and it denies that he was asked to go to a mosque to apologise for his actions.
Awaz FM asked for questions about the dispute to be put in writing, but then failed to answer any of the 14 points put to them.
Christian Web News - Jesus has a way of getting right to the point, doesn't He? There was certainly no mincing of words, He came right out and said, "why are you fearful?" and then went on to say, "O you of little faith." You don't have to read between the lines to see what He was saying, they had little faith.
Christian Web News - Galatians 3:13-14. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree''), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
