- Title: Islam Unveiled
- Date: 20th January 2004
- Summary: Samira Ahmed examines the truth about women and Islam.
- Description:SAMIRA AHMED examines the truth about women and Islam. Why is a religion that claims over a billion followers across the globe now seen as the world's greatest bastion of sexism and misogyny? And is this true? In the first part of this two part series Ahmed starts off in England,then moves to Islam,Turkey and Malaysia to investigate the most obvious symbol for Muslim women- the veil (Hijaab) and why some women are so keen to choose to wear it,others choose not to,some are forced to wear it and others are forced not to. In Britain some young Muslim girls choose to wear the veil as a kind of protest against the sex obsessed culture of the west and Ahmed picks up on the fact that these women are in some way disconnected from the country they live in. In Iran the veil has come to stand against forced westernisation of the nation from Shah. Ahmed visits two families in Tehran,one family happily gives their nine-year-old daughter her first Hijaab and believe that all little girls want to grow up and take responsibility for their religious duties,whereas another family believes that age nine is too young,girls are still innocent children at that age and should not be separated from their male peers and relatives so early in life. Ahmed looks in the Koran for evidence that women should cover up and finds none,when she visits Turkey there is a vast contrast as the issue is not on being forced to wear the veil but being forced not to. The country is terrified of the symbolism attached to the garment and doesn't want religious fundamentalism to take over but ironically,by banning women's right to wear the veil they are in fact denying them religious freedom. Finally Ahmed goes to Malaysia and first visits the vibrant modern city of Kuala Lumpur where she goes to a nightclub and sees young men and scantily clad women having a good time. Ahmed then sees a stark contrast to this in the small village of Kelantan in the north of the country where all women must where the full Hijaab. Their political leader says this is because men cannot control themselves when they see a woman in skimpy clothes and this is why nightclubs,live music and even traditional dances have been banned in an attempt to stop adultery and rape occurring. There is strong opposition to this from women who see these rules as regressive and only serve to take away rights that have been granted to them in the past. The key point for all these women in every country is that they are all Muslim and not one of them questions her faith,the issues they are facing are more to do with the struggle Islam is facing in trying to integrate itself into the modern world whilst keeping a healthy distance from Western materialism and values. Director: Ruhi Hamid
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Producer:Hardcash Productions Ltd.
- Programme Episode:Episode 2
- Transmission Date:20/01/2004
- Rights:Worldwide
- Decade: 2000s