The controversy surrounding the play Behzti (Dishonour) intensified yesterday after the Asian arts organisation Sampad came under attack for co-promoting the play. It offered a robust rebuttal to claims that it "rarely promotes positive Sikh images or Sikh artists".

Behzti is currently showing at the Birmingham Rep theatre and is set in a Sikh Gurdwara (Temple). It tackles a variety of issues from corruption, drug abuse, domestic violence, rape, murder, mixed race relationships and paedophilia.

News reports say five people were arrested yesterday evening following protests against the showing of the play. Some senior community leaders have also suggested that unless the play was stopped, they wouldn't be held responsible for the actions of others.

Sampad said it was "aware that the play has given rise to a degree of debate within certain groups representing the Sikh community", however "the content and style of Behzti are open to interpretation." It emphasised its work with artists of different faiths and pointed out that a high proportion of the artists involved with the organisation were of Punjabi Sikh origin, reflecting the local community. "We have programmed Sikh devotional music as well as large scale productions of classic Punjabi epics such as Heer Ranja and Layla Majnun."

"Theatre is often intended to provoke its audience into thinking more deeply about the issues it raises. This particular piece deals with issues of corruption and hypocrisy that are uncomfortable to face, but can and do happen in any institution, religious or otherwise," it added.

The situation came to a boil on Wednesday when a protest was held outside the Birmingham Rep. A pamphlet outlining grievances said that the play was trying to be deliberately sensationalist and was ill-researched.

It stated: "To stage a play around such a feature in a Sikh religious institution not only shows ignorance of the community, but a deliberate attempt to be offensive and sensationalist for the sake of it."

It concluded: "The play says more about the arts establishment which continues to use public funds to promote offensive productions on minorities in the name of art. Writers from minority communities who have little knowledge of their own communities but are willing to write highly offensive material continue to be sought by the white arts establishment. Is this not racism?"

However these suggestions were rejected by sources close to the play and the Birmingham Rep. Dialogue was initiated with leading members of the Sikh community months before the production was staged. However some suggestions were not implemented because it was felt that the demands were too extreme and would completely change the nature of the play.

The situation in Birmingham continues to escalate however. Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, the beleaguered writer behind the play has been threatened and harassed persistently, and police has been present at the Birmingham Rep for the past few days. The after-show discussion scheduled last night was cancelled after the police said it couldn't provide enough manpower to ensure everyone's safety.

The production has already sold out until the end of the year.

Full statement from Sampad's board.

Full statement of protest from Sikh protestors.