Extra Challenge - Criticisms

Criticisms

In June 2005, the program was criticized and condemned by a Filipino Muslim community following their "Mga Pasaway sa Dubai" episode, wherein they allegedly disgraced the virtues of Islam. According to the Islamic organization, Billah Islah, the show offended Muslims because the challengers, Ara Mina, Aubrey Miles, and Rufa Mae Quinto, who are non-Muslims recited the Al-Fatiha, the first chapter in the Qur'an, while being in a Land Cruiser and not wearing proper Muslim attire.

For this instance, Philippines' MTRCB (Movie and Television Classification Board) has issued the program a stern warning to screen its episodes very carefully before airing it. The incident also caused some of them who rallied to burn the names of the women contestants involved in that certain challenge done at Dubai.

After hearing the complaint, Extra Challenge wrote an apology to the Office on Muslim Affairs Undersecretary Datu Zamzamin Ampatuan. They also clarified that their tour operator requested permission to the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing for using the Qu'ran verse in the challenge.

Extra Challenge also issued a public apology, which read:

in Tagalog: Kami po sa Extra Challenge ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa mga kababayan nating Muslim tungkol sa episode na ipinalabas kagabi... Hindi po namin intensiyon na gamitin sa maling paraan ang nasabing dasal. Higit sa lahat nirerespeto po namin ang kultura at relihiyon ng ating mga kapusong Muslim.

translated in English: We at Extra Challenge apologize to all of our fellow Muslim countrymen for the episode aired last night... It was not our intention to use the said prayer in a wrong way. Furthermore, we respect the culture and religion of our fellow Muslims.

Despite the apology, MTRCB issued a one-day suspension for the show and it is unclear whether the Muslim organization had accepted the apology.