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Matalan posters outrage Muslims
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A COUNCILLOR today called for more control over advertising posters in "culturally sensitive" areas of Birmingham. Coun Talib Hussain made his plea after a billboard on the corner of Sydenham Road and Golden Hillock Road, in predominantly Muslim Sparkbrook, was defaced. The hoarding, close to mosques in Anderton Road and Golden Hillock Road and visible to parents and children walking to Montgomery Primary School, promotes Matalan's new swimwear range and features three scantily-clad models. The models have been covered in thick white paint to conceal bare flesh. Coun Talib Hussain (Ind, Sparkbrook) criticised the vandalism but said it was a result of the lack of action from city council bosses. He said: "I condemn the people that did this but at the same time it's wrong for companies to put that kind of advert in sensitive wards. "I have received complaints on a number of occasions not to put adverts like that in Sparkbrook. "The city council should not give permission to advertising like that in these wards. "Having families seeing naked pictures does not bring the community together, it provokes things." The vandalism is similar to a spate of attacks in 2005 and 2006 by a group called Muslims Against Advertising. A Birmingham City Council spokesman, said: "Our only power is to approve where advertising can take place, but not what is put on it. "That is between the Advertising Standards Agency and the firm itself." The ASA said the content of billboard adverts was controlled by billboard owner and the advertiser, and that the agency only had "responsive" powers. "If we receive complaints we will consider if an advert should be removed." No-one was immediately available for comment from Matalan. |
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