Co-op cuts Christmas box link with US charity

Bibles and anti-Islamic remarks trigger split with evangelical group

Hugh Muir
Saturday November 29, 2003

The Guardian

The Co-operative Society has severed its links with an evangelical charity whose leader in the United States condemned Islam as a "very wicked and evil religion".

Following complaints from Muslim pressure groups and its own members, the Co-op yesterday said it would no longer participate in Operation Christmas Child, a project supported by thousands of schools, churches and other organisations.

The Co-op acted as a collecting point for customers to donate shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts, which were then distributed to needy children in South America, Africa, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet republics.

But the venture has run into controversy. There was strong criticism when it emerged that bibles and Christian literature were being inserted into gift boxes sent to Muslim countries.

Those difficulties have been exacerbated by comments made by the Rev Franklin Graham, the American evangelical minister whose organisation, Samaritan's Purse, runs Operation Christmas Child.

During the dedication of a chapel in North Carolina , one month after the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11 2001, he said: "We're not attacking Islam, but Islam has attacked us. The God of Islam is not the same God. It's a different god, and I believe it is a very evil and wicked religion." Asked to justify his stance, he said later: "I don't believe this [Islam] is this wonderful, peaceful religion."

The Co-op, which was listed as an official supporter on the charity's website, had already sought assurances that bibles were not being put into boxes collected from its stores, and OCC says there are now strict instructions banning the inclusion of religious, racial or political material.

But in a letter informing the charity of its decision to withdraw completely, the Co-op said the views of members and customers must come first.

"You are aware that we have received a large number of complaints regarding the comments of your trustee, Franklin Graham. Indeed, had we been aware of his views in advance, we would not have participated in Operation Christmas Child this year. It is unfortunate that our work together has come to an end in this way, as the shoe boxes of customers' gifts will undoubtedly bring joy to many deserving children this year."

The Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPAC) led the appeals to the Co-op.

A spokesperson, Afreen Khan, said: "There was utter disbelief when we found out about Co-op's support for Operation Christmas Child. Thousands of Muslims are Co-op customers solely because of the 'ethical' policy. But we are very pleased about Co-op's decision not to work with a charity linked with a known Islamophobe, Franklin Graham."

MPAC said it would continue its campaign against the project. "It is ironic that British Muslim children in multicultural schools are also gift-wrapping shoeboxes so that desperate, war-ravaged Muslims in other countries can be bribed with a goody box and a Bible."

Mark Smith, the chairman of Samaritan's Purse, said the Co-op's decision was disappointing. "I understand their reasons of course," he added.

He said the British arm of Operation Christmas Child had always stipulated that contentious material should be left out of the boxes, but it could not guarantee that foreign companies involved in the distribution abroad always adhered to the rules.

He said of the Rev Franklin's comments: "We must remember that these were made in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Washington and New York . It was a very emotional time. I believe his comments were aimed at the extremists who perpetrated such dreadful things."

He said the charity had always operated in Muslim countries and did not discriminate in any way.

SOURCE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1095769,00.html

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