SYDNEY – The creator of a new Islamic television program supporting Islamic values for children said he was inspired by the popular Peppa Pig show, rejecting claims that he created the alternative show because Muslim “hate pigs”.

“We’re not against pigs – they’re a creation of God Almighty,” Subhi Alshaik, the founder of the production company behind Barakah Hills, One4Kids, told I News on Thursday, December 8.

“This notion that Muslims hate pigs, no. It’s just that we don’t eat them.”

The new show, Barakah Hills, is yet to be aired in Australia.

The announcement of the new show has stirred up comments from critics claiming that the Muslim community wants to ban Peppa Pig or believes it corrupts children.

Alshaik rejected the claims, stressing that the show was inspired by the animation and story lines of Peppa Pig and aims at inspiring children to be good people.

Alshaik said some people had raised concern over Peppa’s character being a “brat” and complaining when she did not get her own way.

“We want to make good old-fashioned characters, who have good manners, are good to parents, good to neighbors, good to animals.”

However, Alshaik added that the choice of pigs in TV shows set in Australia was not the best option.

He pointed to One4Kids’ flagship show Zaky & Friends, which features koala bears and kangaroos.

“Pigs just never really fit into whole look and theme. It just didn’t work. They’re not the prettiest animal when you start putting them up on screen,” he added.

Barakah Hills, aimed at the pre-school demographic, is intended to represent “an ideal Muslim community” and show children what it is like to be a “practicing Muslim as well as a good citizen in their community”.

The central characters of the show are two children called Laylah and Omar.

Alshaik hoped parents would think: “After my child watches it, they come out a better person.”

“It’s going to be more thoughtful, more community-based, its not going to be too preachy. It’ll be very nice, anyone can watch it.”