Monday 24 October, 8pm
In the wake of the London bombings, Navid Akhtar, a British Pakistani Muslim, explores the deep-rooted tensions and alienation within his community and asks how this has contributed to the terror attacks.
Young, Angry and Muslim unravels the clan system which binds together the Pakistani Kashmiri communities. Biraderi, a patriarchal structure governed by tribal elders, has been directly transplanted from the villages of Pakistan to Britain's cities. Where once it provided support for disorientated families arriving in Britain, Navid argues that it is now the source of division as the younger generation struggles to break free of the strictures it imposes.
Feeling alienated by the strict traditional values, Navid hears from young Pakistanis who equally lack a sense of belonging in modern British society. Pakistani Kashmiris suffer poor education results, high unemployment and they make up the largest prison population of any ethnic group. Disillusioned and vulnerable, Navid argues they are perfect targets for religious extremists who offer an alternative support network, and crucially, a sense of belonging.
There is hope; Navid visits a project set up by young British Pakistanis that teaches children about the positive aspects of British and Islamic culture and how they can work together. But, as the youth workers concede, there is lot of work to be done and it will take a great deal of time to make a difference to this troubled community.
Skip Channel4 main Navigation
