Don’t Panic, I’m Islamic is a new program on the BBC, with thanks to Cid Martel:
…Don’t Panic, I’m Islamic meets Muslims who speak openly about what it means to be a British Muslim – at a time when the nation is fighting a ‘war on terror’…
The programme also uncovers the implications of the prejudice they
encounter. Mohamed has been called ‘Osama bin London’ because he dresses in white robes and a headscarf similar to that worn by the prophet. “They all gathered around me when I went to the airport,” he says, “simply because I wear Islamic robes. I told the airport security that I wouldn’t be so stupid to dress up like this if I was carrying a bomb.”On the other hand, Sajidah, a softly spoken mother from Slough, explains: “There are many Muslims that come on the television but no one will ever say that they support Bin Laden. But privately if you speak to people there are many that will say what he did was right, that they (America) needed that smack in the face”. While Sajidah sympathised with the victims of 9/11, she says that when Muslims are killed – such as those during the war and continuing strife in Iraq – there are no candlelight vigils or stirring speeches about punishing the perpetrators.
The comfortable middle ground is eroding as Muslims are asked to either accept the ‘war on terror’ and deny their heritage or become radicalised and condemned as ‘terrorists’…
Cid comments: “So, by accepting the war on TERROR they deny their heritage? You mean, TERROR is part of their heritage? What is the Beeb trying to say here? That the war on TERROR is a war against Islam? I thought TERROR had nothing to do with Islam!”