Islamophobia is understandably at an all-time high globally given the events linked with Muslim terrorists the past years such as the 9/11, the rise of the Islamic State and the Paris bombings, to name a few. Given the situation and misunderstanding of the Islamic faith, a BBC Two reality show about followers of the religion, “Muslims Like Us,” is timely and controversial even before it aired.
“Muslims Like Us” is considered the Islamic version of “Big Brother.” It gathers 10 Muslims in Britain with different views and live in one house for 10 days. The reality show would feature their debates, disagreements, jokes and insights on the life of a British Muslim, according to BBC.
Daily Life
“Muslims Like Us” Episode 1 premiered on Monday, Dec. 12. At 9 p.m. over BBC Two. Among the aspects of daily life that would test the 10 members of the cast are sleeping arrangements, cooking, praying, dressing and culture.
However, one of the 10 “housemate” in “Muslims Like Us” Episode 1 has generated controversy because of his inclusion. Anthony Small was a boxer until he became an Islamic convert and changed his name to Abdul Haqq, who had previously admitted being a terrorism sympathizer. His first move upon entering the luxury accommodation is to give away leaflets to his housemate on the proper way women must dress which Saba, a female housemate, did not like, The Telegraph reports.
Interpreting the Koran
Saba considers it pathetic that Haqq did not accept her hand to welcome him to the house. Haqq’s reasoning is the Muslim holy book does not allow him to shake a woman’s hand. Saba says in “Muslims Like Us” Episode 1 that Haqq is stuck in interpreting literally the contents of the Koran.
One of their activities was to bring food to the homeless in Leeds which Haqq uses as an opportunity to speak against the bad effects of alcohol. Some of the homeless attribute their current state to immigrants, but Mehreen, a female housemate in “Muslims Like Us” Episode 1, replied she is a daughter of an immigrants and if her parents did not migrate to Britain, she would not be in Leeds distributing free lunch.
Outside “Muslims Like Us” Episode 1, the buzz is on Allen West, a former Florida Tea Party congressman, who praised U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of retired Marine Gen. James Mattis as defense secretary and has plans to “exterminate” Muslims, Salon reports. Trump, because of his anti-immigration stand, has encourage some Americans to use the logo of the Rebel Alliance to symbolize solidarity with immigrants who were intimidated and subject to racism after the Brexit vote in U.K.
