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Debating Make Me a Muslim
Following a stunning response to the Make Me a Muslim series, with lively and extremely popular debates in the Channel 4 forums, together with comments posted below and sent into Viewer Enquiries, the commissioning editor explains Channel 4's motives behind the programme.
For a flavour of the online discussion see these forums: Big Brother; Channel 4 News; Channel 4 News (second discussion); Talk4; Hollyoaks.
The previous The TV Show debate on representation of Muslims on TV continues below. Please comment on either, at the foot of this page.
Why not also send in a brief video clip of your comment on Make Me a Muslim for possible inclusion on The TV Show - airing 12 January 2008. For details on contacting the production company, please see Take Part.
Thanks for all your comments here and in the Channel 4 forums. My name is Aaqil Ahmed and I’m the commissioning editor for religious programmes at Channel 4. I commissioned the Make Me a Muslim series because I really wanted to explore how ordinary Brits felt about Islam and what Islamic aspects to life could offer society. In so doing, I also hoped to break down the odd barrier.
The hardest part of all this was attracting the type of audience that doesn’t normally watch religious programmes. The easiest option would have been to continue commission projects like Children of Abraham and Gods Waiting Room – projects that are very deep in terms of information, but by and large are watched by an audience that already has all the information it will ever need and one that generally has no problem with Islam or Muslims.
My goal was to reach out to and inform those that have little understanding or, even worse, have the sort of distorted knowledge that breeds ignorance and intolerance.
Our model was Priest Idol. Priest Idol had helped a diverse audience to understand the difficulties the Church of England faces when trying to deal with communities that have turned their backs on organised faith and belief in general. We had previously tackled this subject with more conventional documentaries, but the more populist approach of Priest Idol enabled us to engage with people other than the usual suspects for the first time.
This was the reason why we chose this highly populist approach with Make Me a Muslim to help engage the British public with Islam. I think it worked as well.
I’m very proud of Make Me a Muslim. I am extremely happy that it is has been such a big talking point online in particular. The whole point of doing it was to spark discussion.
I am sufficiently thick-skinned to accept that not every one will be happy, but I hope people will think about everything raised in the series and will have witnessed that its better to engage in dialogue with those you haven’t previously, rather than to continue to only talk with your friends.
Aaqil Ahmed
If you wish to reply to either Aaqil Ahmed or Dorothy Byrne below please add your comment at the foot of this page..
Dorothy Byrne, the person at Channel 4 responsible for commissioning The TV Show, invites viewers' reaction to the first show.
What did you think to December's The TV Show? I'd love to know.
For me, the debate about the representation of Muslims on television was the more interesting of the two discussions on The TV Show as I feel it's a subject that isn’t discussed enough.
We don't hear a sufficiently wide range of British Muslim opinion on television. When programme makers want "the Muslim view" they tend to go to the same small group of people. I liked hearing the opinions of Muslim viewers I had not heard from before.
It was very interesting to compare the perspective of the programme makers and the Muslim complainants. The programme makers explained that their individual programmes were fair and point out that Channel Four makes a very wide range of programmes dealing with the lives of Muslims in Britain. But the viewers didn't feel their lives were fully and properly represented.
There are challenges here for programme makers:
What more could and should we do? Is there a way we could include Muslims more in all our programmes?
I think this is a subject we ought to return to on The TV Show in the New Year and I hope Muslim viewers will play an active role in The TV Show and on the website every week – and not just when we are discussing Muslim-related issues.
Dorothy Byrne
Before adding your comment below, please note the terms and conditions upon which all submissions are made to Channel 4.
While Channel 4 welcomes you opinion, please consider your comments before you press SEND. We cannot publish comments that are libellous or offensive either towards anyone featured in any of our programmes or to those who make the programmes.
Please note that Channel 4 has been completely exonerated with respect to allegations made over the Dispatches programme Undercover Mosque.
See the OFCOM judgement here.
The TV Show, Make Me a Muslim and Undercover Mosque are available on 4OD.
- See Cheers & Grumbles to see how Britz and other programmes were received by viewers in November
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Kamilo
Misconceptions and wrong labels
Misconceptions and wrong labels
wrote on 20-02-08 01:35
In deed it is very unfortunate that many people have misconceptions about Muslims, most people think that Muslims are extremists of some kind, something which is not true at all. However is it alright to encourage a misconception about another religion? Well it is also unfortunate that with programs like "Baby Bible Bashers" Channel4 is feeding this great misconception about Christianity, where all Christians are as ignorant and extremist as the parents of those children. It really is a shame to see how wrongly Christianity is portrayed just because of a group of people. I am sure that the Muslim community will understand how it feels to have your religion wrongly labeled by the actions of a minority. It is also a shame that Channel4 will try and be all respectful about other religions but make a complete mockery of Christianity. Do all religions and believes not deserve to be respected? I would like to appeal to Channel4 to also respect Christianity and stop devaluing it further.
Btw
What can we do
What can we do
wrote on 28-12-07 04:08
It is very unfortunate that a lot of non Muslims have serious misconceptions about Islam. Then again the truly sad part of the whole issue is that the vast majority of Muslims also have tremendous misconceptions about Islam. All of this actually stems from a lack of education. When we consider the Muslims in Pakistan, you have to understand that over 65% of the population is uneducated. Primarily due to this reason they themselves have no idea what the religion is all about. Then you get an idiotic self proclaimed so called religious leader who sounds very authoritative and speaks well. He impresses the ignorant masses who blindly follow. The old adage, whereby a little knowledge is dangerous is very apt. Sad but apt. The only way forward is for the education system in Pakistan to improve dramatically. Only then can we progress. It is very sad that most of the Tv journalists etc go to the same sources for their Islamic information; most of these sources just want to be on Tv!!!
1Dering
Re Make Me A Muslim
Re Make Me A Muslim
wrote on 20-12-07 11:17
Regarding this recent programme i would like to point out a couple of things.Firstly the people involved obviously derived a great deal of benefit from going thru' the process and that can only be a good thing. However any retreat based progamme be it religious or rehabilitation,as long as it is followed thru will tend to produce the same feeling of euphoria and bonding at the end.The use of deprivation techniques to break down the phsyche is quite normal in these things.Also following any meditative prayer practise in a disciplined manner will have beneficial effects in calming the mind.I felt the proramme seemed to imply that these benefits were solely the province of Islam which i found a bit disengenuous. Thank you.
Nam-F1
Make Me A Muslim
Make Me A Muslim
wrote on 19-12-07 08:08
Being a Brit born & bred Muslim, and married to a white Muslim convert, I watched this program with some interest. I must admit, several times made me cringe watching the way in which some of the Muslims had portrayed Islam. The main Imam was excellent in his manner and attitude and managed to talk several people round who were losing site of the objective. However, I felt the rest could have done much more to put their views across in a more subtle way. I know Karla personally, having studied with her in Teesside between 91-93 so I do understand her reservations and where she is coming from. However, if I was to teach rocket science to teenagers, I have to break it down to their level and speak in a dialect understood by all. I think if things were put across in a more relaxed way and explanations given beforehand, there would not have been such issues. You cannot educate a society in 3 weeks, only give them an insite but this show could easily have left a neg impression on some.
craigrolyat
Make me a Moslem vrs Make me a Christian?
Make me a Moslem vrs Make me a Christian?
wrote on 17-12-07 22:30
I found the programme very interesting. I think its good that other people try to experience different cultures. The only issue I have is that there have been a number of programmes trying to help us understand the muslim community - which is laudable, but I wonder how they would react if there was a programme, taking a few people of Muslim backgroud (or middle eastern/North African ethnicity) and create a programme called "make me a christian". My experience is that there will be a massive uproar from the muslim community about the atack on there faith. My current experience is that the majority of muslims I have met have been happy to have the experience be "one way traffic" and the current programming reflects my experiences. Would C4 be brave enough to make such a programme - I think not. I have had enough of this type of programming until there has been more balance of muslims truly trying to experience christianity.
Ahrais
Need for more positive representations
Need for more positive representations
wrote on 13-12-07 17:40
As a British Muslim myself, I believe when speaking about Muslims, the media often focuses on the negative, extremist and terrorist stories. Ok but surely there are also plenty of positive progressive Muslim stories? Also the stories are often reported simplistically with no complexity of issues. Despite this, I still liked 'The Britz' programme, I find it didnt show us anything we didn't know already. It was balanced and showed all the sides to the issue of terrorism. I encourage any programme that discusses the problem of Wahabism and Muslim extremism, as this is progressive and Islam is a moderate religion. I have also really enjoyed past programmes on Ch4 like 'Sharia TV', 'Hajj', 'The Retreat' and really looking forward to 'Make me a Muslim' one. This gives a good understanding of Islam.
ZahidJ
The TV Show
The TV Show
wrote on 12-12-07 23:48
Although I understand that the Muslim community has its bad apples, I just wonder if programs such as Britz start a genuine and helpful debate, as the makers claim, or just add to the already negative image of Muslims. It was for this reason that I felt fortunate to have had the opportunity to challenge the makers of Britz and Undercover Mosques live on the show. Perhaps I appeared aggressive when speaking but I was aware I had only a short time to make my point and there were many speakers and other features to be included. The program was perhaps a little short but was to the point.
I also agree with Dorothy Byrne that we should have a wider range of Muslims representing the Muslim community on TV, especially those that really care, rather that the usual suspects, many of whom are not articulate and don't come across well in this media savvy age.
Zahid
choupolo
What we can do
What we can do
wrote on 12-12-07 19:36
I agreed partly with the producers of Britz and Undercover Mosque, there are other shows out there which show the lighter, balanced side to Muslims in Britain, and there are important truths within the more contraversial programs. However because they pander to peoples natural fear of foreign culture, they get the most attention.
Britz being a prime example, I enjoyed the drama, but most people will only remember Nasima's last actions and words, especially if that clip is what's used to promote the show.
So programs like The TV Show albeit short, can reach people in a different way, and tell muslims and non-muslims that they have more in common than they realise. As one of the comments said, we need more focus on Muslim art, architecture or history for example to balance the obvious negativity and paranoia which has blown up post 9/11.
Fear is the root of all our conflicts and divisions, and true understanding promoted by media and entertainment is our greatest weapon.
MsCrow
I agree, sort of
I agree, sort of
wrote on 12-12-07 15:32
I agree with Dorothy, I was part of the studio audience that day but the programme ran out of time before it got to my point; there was no way of covering such an engaging issue in 7 minutes. But I would widen participation, I'm not Muslim but I feel the only way you will escape marginalisation and the inevitable generic spokesperson is to allow a wider debate, Muslims are part of our greater society and we all can participate intelligently. I'd rather see discussion move away from the focus on one aspect of someone's identity, people are more dynamic than that and allow for more balance. Those that were there are fed up with being pigeon-holed into a specific persona, isn't it about time to allow the debate to move away from the expected?
