Muslims like us

We watched it and found it fascinating. I wish the series was going to be longer as it doesn't seem long enough to get a good enough understanding.

I was impressed by the young man who tried to engage with the member of edl and slightly shocked that he was berated by the stand up comedian.

I am fascinated by the older woman too.

Watched this last night and indeed found it fascinating. The older woman, in particular, was a revaluation as you say 'Kitty* but I thought the Syrian who tried to hug the EDL man was rather naive though know kind. The comedian's reaction was understandable with his experience of these people. The EDL are truly evil and too stupid to reason with. I've read some of their hate messages on FB and it's shocking.

I'll certainly be tuning in again tonight.

Watched it on catch up when sleep was elusive. I also found it fascinating but like any edited programme I was left wondering what had been edited out. I am looking forward to the second part and hope to learn more about the individuals, how their lives encompass their faith and how the dynamic evolves. Agree with kitty, a longer series would seem appropriate.

I was impressed by the you man's willingness to try on a one to one basis, Anya. He knew about EDL and was still prepared to try. Small steps and all that.

Nabil's attitude was understandably given his and his wife's experience with the EDL.

Abdul is a scary guy and I have very mixed feelings about him.

Listening to each individual talk about their faith was very interesting. It's a shame the programme is only on for 2 nights.

Abdul is a recent convert to Islam having been brought up a Christian. Some of these converts are over-zealous and potentially radicals.

Recent converts to any religion or sects usually are because they feel alienated and/or lost ... and they always are over-zealous. Nothing to do with Islam as such, but the nature of religion.

I was just going to say something like that GJ. When my aunt converted to Catholicism everyone tried to avoid long conversations with her as she was very enthusiastic and preachy (if that's a word!) I'm not sure it's about being lost, though, I think it's similar to being newly in love!

But we live in more dangerous times now.

It was interesting, but clearly not representative as the women who would be banned from the programme by their menfolk were of course not there! I wonder what they would have to say about Islam - and they would have needed interpreters. The women were those from integrated liberal families - I have no way of knowing how typical this is of Muslim women in Britain in general.

Yes - I agree that converts can be over-zealous as their reason for embracing a new religion might be that they need something solid in their life. But, to be fair to him, he was very polite to those who refused his leaflets.

I missed that programme, but remember thinking does it mean Muslims like US? or Muslims LIKE us?
There are so many different kinds - eldest son's Arab friends (Kuwait) are secular Muslims - brought up to read the Koran, then becoming westernised. One is an obstetrician, he delivered our son's children.
OTOH the Muslims near us are very distant. Perhaps in their home country they feel more secure (as long as it's not in the middle of a warzone.)

Lucky I'm hoping that's a dying breed. As more of our Muslims are home bred, go to our schools and are out there in the community adopting western culture I think we'll see more and more like the women in the TV programme. Having said that there was an elderly woman and a delightfully louch middle aged woman who seemed to give lie to the stereotype of Muslim women.
Certainly those I know personally are more like those depicted last night, though of course I'd never get to meet the others I suppose.

Louche

One of my friends was married to a lovely Muslim man but, eventually, he became more and more radical in his views. It caused their marriage to break down and he now has rejected his children too. It's very sad when that happens and has left his family bewildered.

He has now married again to a much younger woman who is not allowed out on her own. From being very good friends, he now blanks me if I see him.

Out of all the Muslims I know, he is the only 'radical' one. But, as you say, we wouldn't know or meet others generally.

I watched and found it very interesting, and will be watching tonight for second episode. this programme shows the huge variety of beliefs and attitudes highlighting the differences, i.e. muslims are not all the same, any more than christians and Jews and any other religious group are the same.

The ostracisation happens in many Christian groups too. Happened to my father, a good Catholic, as he married my mother, a divorced Protestant, as one exemple. A young friend of mine who come from a Jehovah's witness family has lost all contact with his family because of it- another good friend the same with her Plymouth Brethren family- same for friends from Orthodox Jewish families. My nieces have no contact with their aunt because they agreed to have their dad cremated as per his wishes- and the staunch Catholic aunt disagreed. On and on, and on. Ostracization in strict religious circles happens all the time- and as discussed previously- exists in many tribes, and has done so since early man, including Neanderthals.

The elderly woman Saba did say converts were often zealous when she was talking to one of the other women. She was not impressed one bit by Abdul and made it quite clear to him.

I didn't know about the programme, sorry I missed it. Will watch part two today. Silverlining48 hits the nail on the head- Muslims come in almost as many guises as Christians- some a lot more extreme than others.

Which Channel, what time, please?

Nine o'clock bbc2

I am glad I watched it, but it has scared me and I am concerned about the future if those people are truly representative of the Muslim culture. One was a religious fanatic and wished us dead, the comedian was anything but. His ranting and outbursts if you didn't do things his way or believed what he did was frightening. One of the women was careful what she said but she made it obvious what she thought about non Muslims. The older woman was lovely and it would be reassuring if there were more like her.

Saw second episode last night. Not so easy to watch, so much disagreement between them, but it came across as real. I think the programme was a very worth while subject to address. We are a multicultural country, yet few of us actually have much if any day to day real contact with people of different faiths/beliefs. Even if a bit unsettling in places, this was a good place to start.

I wathced last night- and I kept thinking - how on earth did they pick that bunch- as several of them we really not 'typical' at all and not representative of the many Muslims I know in the UK.

One of them really made me quite concerned- and I kept thinking I hope he and his friends are being shadowed.

Trying to imagine how the equivalent would be like to introduce Christians in a Muslim country- if they had picked such extremes. Even Catholics come in so many guises, Anglicans can be High or Low Church, pro or anti women in the Clergy, add a Methodist and Baptist from a traditional background, a Jehovah's witness, A Plymouth Brethren, and a Salvation Army- and see what happens.

granjura If your referring to Abdul Haqq is has already been arrested and tried for attempting to go to Syria with forged papers and terrorist material.

thanks petra, didn't know.

How many of you know Muslim women with skimpy tops and loads of make-up. What a strange, non representative sample.