LONDON (AA) - British Channel 4 will air the Muslim call to prayer live every morning throughout Ramadan between July 9 and August 8.
Channel 4 will broadcast the three-minute call to prayer at about 3 a.m.from the start of Ramadan on 9 July.
The channel will also interrupt programming four times on the first day of Ramadan to mark subsequent calls by means of a 20-second film to remind viewers of the approaching prayer time.
During the rest of the month, the channel will air the morning call to prayer on live TV, and the other four prayer times will be broadcast on Channel 4's website.
Ralph Lee, Channel 4's head of factual programming, said, "The calls to prayer prompt Muslims to carry out quiet moments of worship, but hopefully they'll also make other viewers sit up and notice that this event is taking place."
Lee also added that Channel 4 would be criticised for focusing attention on a 'minority' religion, and underlined, "But that's what we're here to do – provide space for the alternative and a voice to the under-represented."
The Muslim Council of Britain also supported Channel 4's move.
"This is a very special month for Muslims and its recognition on a mainstream channel is not only symbolic for belonging and solidarity but will hopefully help to portray a more realistic account of Islam and Muslims," said a spokesman from the Council.
Around 3 million Muslims live in Britain, making up of 5 percent of the population.
