Boy told "Islam" is bad name for TV
A contestant is excluded from a children's TV programme after his mother refused to let him drop his name - "Islam".
A NINE-year-old boy was allegedly excluded from a French television programme because of his name - Islam.
His mother, Farah Alaouchiche, said her son had been told in the offices of Angel Productions that his name "represented a religion that was not liked in France."
Islam's parents have announced that they will be pressing charges for discrimination against the production company.
Mrs Alaouchiche said the comment was made after Islam accompanied by his parents, who have Algerian nationality, went to the company's offices in February for the final stage in a selection process to take part in a children's programme called In ze boite - In the box.
He was allegedly told there that he could not use his name if he wanted to be on the show.
His mother claims Islam was told: "Being called Islam if you are a boy is like a girl wearing the (Islamic) veil."
Mrs Alaouchiche said the casting agents suggested Islam use "another Arabic name", such as Mohammed or Sofiane.
Mrs Alaouchiche, however, refused.
An Angel Productions spokesman said: "If Islam wasn't selected, it was not because of his name, but because there were more candidates than places available."
But the company did admit that "the casting agent did not react as she should have, there were words that hurt a little boy."
It has promised to let Islam take part in a future edition of the TV show.
France's Minister for urban affairs, Fadela Amara, who is a Muslim, said she was "scandalised" by the incident, which she described as "disgusting."
