The British Army yesterday defied critics of its “politically correct” recruitment campaign and released a new set of television advertisements, including one that shows a Muslim soldier praying in front of his comrades.
Entitled Keeping My Faith, the advert shows a soldier kneeling in prayer by a mountain stream during a combat patrol. The other members of his squad sit waiting on the hillside and turn down a crackling radio so he is not disturbed.
The film, believed to be the first time that an army advertisement has featured a Muslim soldier praying, is part of a £1.6m television, radio and online campaign designed to boost plummeting recruitment numbers.
Five animated “teaser” adverts uploaded to YouTube last week provoked criticism from some retired soldiers for