LONDON, Britain: A Channel 4 documentary on the Qur'an has angered leading Shia Muslim scholars, who have criticized it for making "seriously inaccurate statements" about their branch of the faith.

In a letter to Channel 4, they said that the depiction of Shia beliefs in The Qur'an, broadcast earlier this month, was "disappointing, misleading, even defamatory".

The signatories to the letter were also angered by the apparent links made between Shiaism and violence, with scenes of Iranian Shias burning effigies, chanting anti-western slogans, and advocating acts of terror.

In the documentary, film-maker Antony Thomas explored the history of Islam's holy book, examining it for statements on equality, suicide bombings, and relationships with other faiths.

But criticism of the programme was not confined to the Shia scholars. Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, also wrote to Channel 4's chief executive, Andy Duncan, last Thursday, warning of "specific misrepresentations" that could damage cohesion between Muslim communities. "The programme unfairly maligns Muslims following the Shia tradition by accusing them of heresy based on a collection of age-old polemics and misinformation," Bari's letter said. "With respect, this is an irresponsible portrayal which plays into the hands of those who wish to seek discord amongst Muslims, which we hope you did not intend."

The Muslim Public Affairs Committee had urged supporters to congratulate Channel 4 on the film, but changed its position when it realised the film's "biased and inflammatory nature" regarding Shias.

One of those who signed the letter to Channel 4 was Yusuf al-Khoei, grandson of Al-Marje al-Aala Chancellor of Najaf Hoza late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Abul-Qassim al-Khoei, spiritual leader for much of the Shia world until his death in 1992.

He told the Guardian: "The film-maker depicted Shia Islam as a foreign belief system that has no place in Islam. It promoted the idea that Shias, as well as Wahhabis, are extremists. It even featured one academic, Taj Hargey from Oxford, referring to Shias as sinners. There are already people who think of us as kaffirs [infidels], and a primetime documentary airing these opinions will only inflame that view and provide justification for sectarian hatred and violence."

Other signatories to the letter were Maulana Zafar Abbas, Sayyid Mohammed al-Mousawi, Yasin Rahim and Munawer Rattansey.

While there has been no official response yet to the letter, Channel 4 said: We believe the topics covered by the film-maker were appropriate in a documentary examining the Qur'an.