THE BBC has come under fire for using a picture of Brighton Pavilion during its coverage of Ramadan.
BBC Wales last night presented a special report on the biggest Muslim festival, which started yesterday and involves a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
As the report started, a mock-up of several images appeared, including one of the famous Brighton landmark.
The building was actually a seaside retreat for King George IV and was transformed from a modest farmhouse into the building it is today from 1787 to 1822.
The current appearance of the building was based on Indian architecture and is the work of designer John Nash, who extended it from 1815 to 1822.
After George’s death, it went on to become a civic building and was also used as a hospital in World War One.
Several Twitter users noticed the blunder.
One said: “BBC Wales showing a picture of the Brighton Pavilion and getting it confused for a mosque when talking about Ramadan is kind of f****d?”
Another said: “Not happy they've used a shot of Brighton Pavilion as though it's a mosque (presumably).”
A third responded: “Oooooh now I see it. Tbh I don't blame them, it does look like a masjid.”
And a fourth agreed: “It definitely does. It amused me as a born Brightonian to see it on the news over in Cymru!”
It’s not the first time the Pavilion has been mistaken for a mosque.
In 2013, members of the English Defence League discussed their outrage at finding a huge mosque when marching in Brighton.
And in 2015, an aide of Ed Miliband reportedly cancelled a photoshoot outside the Pavilion in anticipation of exactly the same mistake being made.
BBC said it was a mistake due to the incorrect labelling of a picture.
A spokesperson for BBC Wales said: “This was a mistake for which we apologise”.
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