'Pigs' Banned From Chinese Television Ads

Jan. 25 - KGO -- The Lunar New Year is China's biggest celebration. February 18th will mark the beginning of the year of the pig, one of 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. However, China's state-owned television network, CCTV, has unexpectedly banned images and references to the pig in all advertising.

The network explains it's showing respect to Islam. But the ban is puzzling to American Muslims.

Fei Chatila is Chinese Muslim from Mountain View. The "Three Little Pigs" is a story she reads to her children.

Fei Chatila, Chinese Muslim: "I can imagine that some Muslims, if they saw a lot of pig images, may be a little offended, but a picture of a pig is not offensive by itself."

China is home to 20 million Muslims. They live mostly in far western Xinjiang Province, a remote area four times larger than California. They make up only two percent of China's population.

While there are mosques, China discourages the study of Islam or celebrating religious holidays. Nevertheless, an estimated 10,000 Muslim Chinese make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

Omar Ahbgbmad is the director of American Muslim Outreach and Educational Group in the Bay Area.

He says nothing in the Koran prohibits the display of pigs and he calls the TV ad ban on pigs ill-advised.

Omar Ahmad, Amila.org: "When governments make a decision about what Muslims want and don't talk to Muslims, they come up with something completely ridiculous, and here's what we've got."

The pig will be a major focus of Lunar New Year advertising and promotions in the U.S and China. Wells Fargo has produced a calendar featuring pigs. New customers are rewarded with a piggy bank.

Pigs are also all over Chinese Internet sites.

Wei-Tai Kwok, Dae Advertising CEO: "The sudden nature of it and the late aspect of it coming so close to Chinese New Year on February 18th means to me it wasn't necessarily something that was planned thoroughly. Otherwise, I would have expected such an announcement last year so that advertisers would have had more time to plan."

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