A British documentary on the Qur'an has angered leading Muslim scholars for making inaccurate statements about the Shia branch of the faith.

The depiction of Shia beliefs in the film called 'The Qur'an broadcast earlier this month, was "disappointing, misleading, even defamatory", said the scholars in a letter to Channel 4 on Monday -- slamming the apparent links made between Shiaism and violence.

However, criticism of the program -- made by film-maker Antony Thomas -- 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."

"This is an irresponsible portrayal which plays into the hands of those who wish to seek discord amongst Muslims," Bari's letter said.

One of those who signed the letter to Channel 4 was Yusuf al-Khoei, grandson of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Abul-Qassim al-Khoei, spiritual leader for much of the Shia world until his death in 1992.

"The film-maker depicted Shia Islam as a foreign belief system that has no place in Islam. It promoted the idea that Shias are extremists… Airing these opinions will only inflame that view and provide justification for sectarian hatred and violence," he told the Guardian.

Channel 4 has made no official response to the letter yet, but it has said that it believes that the topics covered by the film-maker were appropriate in a documentary examining the Quran.

FF/RA