Yes, it was full of stereotypes and caricatures which could have been avoided if there had been more cultural input from a Muslim standpoint.

And it was unavoidably caricatured because of the artificially fabricated ideology of the 'War on Terror' which was invented by the Neocons, the Bush Cabal and adopted by Blair, Sarkozy etc.

But, from two extremist points of view what is being conducted is a war. Certainly an asymmetrical war with the USUK/Israel doing most of the mass-bombing and genocide but which suicide bombers attempt to retaliate against.

Highly dramatised but I thought an interesting comment how two members of the same family go in two directions of polarity.

One thing I must question. It is entirely untrue that Muslims have been unable to win a political struggle against their oppressors, that being given as the rationale for suicide bombing.

There never has been a political struggle. At least, not until a few groups like MPAC came on the scene. So any talk of the death of such political struggle are entirely premature and cannot be used as a justification for violence of such desperate measures.

Whow, that programme knocked me for a 6. after watching the part 1, i didn't want to watch the second part but i couldn't not watch it if you know what i mean. But I think it was a good insight into what leads someone to do what the charachter Naseema did.

I don't know what to think after watching that. Froma purely dramatic perspective I was gripped from start to end. But throughout the two shows I was left thinking what damage will this do.

The writer of the drama says that the show was aimed at non-muslims to be able to see how an extremist may think their actions are justified.

But what if this program just confirmed your average Sun-reading Briton that his suspicions about the muslim family that live around the corner are coorect. Is it that easy to go from fully integrated to suicide bomber? Absolutely not, but he won't know otherwise.

One things for sure, I feel for the pregnant asian woman travelling on the tube tomorrow.

I think it was a poor drama with poor acting and even worse story line.

There was no need for the producer to ask the actor to say we will not stop until "every drop of your blood is lost" she said something along these lines. I have no doubt that this was made to further imprint the sterotypes. If people think it was simply to show why Muslims fight back its rubbish because they could have shown more suffering of Muslims etc. But they were happy to use a women rather than a man so women will be more targeted in the future. It was a pathetic drama with even worse acting. Complete waste of my time. I will be emailing channel 4 to let them know where they can stick there Islamophobic documentaries and drama's.

Don't forget to send your feedback to Channel 4 too!
http://www.channel4.com/contact_us_t.html

I will bet that to many people that would be a documentary and not a fiction.

It was almost a BNP recruiting film because it confirmed all of BNP propaganda.

I was astounded that it had the racist theme of rejecting the black boyfriend Jude and his treatment at being told he wasn't welcome at the radical's meeting because he was a "Christian" and then the father's reaction because he was a 'negro'.

If I was a Muslim I would have been incensed at the portrayal (betrayal) - but how far away from the reality is it?

I suspect the program was very close to it and for that reason a damaging expose.

It didn't convey to me that there were "good reasons" for terrorist hate but that since these reasons will always be found, so there will always be terrorists.

Surely a stereotype is simply a summation of all behaviours available to the subject. Pushing stereotypical buttons isn't a negative but it does suggest that all Muslims behave in that way (quite wrongly).

Was it produced by the BNP or Channel Four?

BTW the statements posted after the bomb exploded meant nothing. You cannot wipe out an impression gained over two hours with statements that were contradicted by the two hours of near documentary film. The only impression is that left by the film. The commnets seemed like an after-thought that conveyed "Oops we've made a film that is so negative towards the Muslim community we had better justify why she became a terrorist". Well, it didn't work.

Presumably in the library of the BNP.

I was appalled and shocked that this ridiculous excuse of a programme was aired at peak time for the whole world to watch. This will no doubt reinforce islamaphobia significantly and give non muslims to suspect every muslim (practising or non practising) to be a potential suicide bomber. The aftermath of this programme is not going to be good.

Allegedly the writer/director of this programme Peter Kosminsky was trying to express the reasoning of what leads a british muslim to a suicide bombing. Kominsky seemed to miss out a rather crucial element in the script .. RELIGION!

The reason for Naseema becoming involved in such a drastic measure was conveyed extremely poorly. There was hardly any dialogue about what she was feeling/felt to drive her to such a measure. There was no emotion or deep reasoning expressed that would "justify" why she carried out such an absurd act. It was a big joke and i cant believe i sat through and watched it all!

Just in case subscribers here haven't noticed, I have started a thread in the forum simply entitled Britz.

I can empathise with Jamaal that a certain ignorant element of British society would misunderstand the message of this movie to be underlining a non-existent 'Terrorist Threat'

Brown's police state troopers would love that.

So perhaps the movie should have been longer to go into more detail about the intolerable conditions that radicalise some individuals.

Given the huge and complex subject was given little time. It was, by necessity, heavily caricatured and, as a result, distorted and not a true reflection of the British Muslim community.

The final message was intended to come from a radicalised fighter, hence the "last drop of blood" etc. But it did illustrate the war between cultures the responsibilty for which lies entirely with the imperialist rapacity of the USUK and the West.

In that war, British Muslims have become 'the canary in the cage'. When the canary is affected by the toxic gases of the British police state it should alarm all Brits who stand for democracy and civil liberties.

The fact that this is so long in coming shows just how far up their rears the heads of the British intelligentsia are. Hopefully, a movie like this might help in putting a rocket of reality up same.

I am a non-muslim (who has lived and grown up with muslims and black christians)and would like to add my tuppence worth to the feedback:

I watched the programme with my late- teenage sons, and we all felt the programme left us with nothing more than what we already knew. In that:

1: The muslim community comprises a very wide array of characters (from the very good to the very bad)
2: Where it differs from most other communities is that decent muslims are genuinely at risk from their own radical kind if they speak out openly to challenge or oppose. I know of personal examples from even thirty years ago to my friends.
3: Sadly, the notion of open debate (without intimidation), challenge and opposition is in the most alien to the muslim community.
4: The muslim community has allowed highly organised units of fundamentalists (from the early 80's) to control the agenda for muslims in the UK / worldwide. Their leaflets, videos, youtube clips and speeches about the suffering of the muslims is a perfect case in point. Does anyone remember the Iran / Iraq war where muslim killed more than 1m fellow muslims? - and there were no worldwide muslim protests? - how about daily Suuni -Shia killings in Pakistan?
5: Young people will always be attracted to 'causes'. Seems this is the time when its the muslims' turn (after the earlier communist/fascist/christian revolutionaries). Fear not, this too will come to an end in time, as part of a natural process.
6: Are muslims the only concern of the muslims?. Remember the vast majority of the rest of the world is non-muslim. Perhaps getting in involved other communities / issues whilst in the West would help break steriotypes.
7: I am looking forward to positive images being portrayed in the media by the muslims. And dont say 'they control the media'. That would be too easy a way out.

Finally, the programme will do for people what they themselves want from it. If you are the BNP, yes - you will re-enforce your views. If you are muslims, then there will be the age old reflex responses. If you are on the fence, then the programme does nothing but may be provide some drama on a dull evening.

Regards

SI, my reading of why she detonated at the end was because her life was shattered by the attitude of her father to her black boyfriend and the beating-up of her boyfriend (possibly death) in Pakistan.

All her bridges were burnt and she had nowhere to go. She became a non-person and the suicide was really her suicide. She was eventually de-humanised by her relationships.

I don't think she actually became a typical "radicalised young Muslim bent on a martyrdom operation". However, I don't think that subtlety is in the mind of a majority of viewers.

concur fully...

inshAllah, more [positives] will be achieved through debate in the aftermath of this drama, than the drama it's self..

wa
i-s

It reinforced many things for me but one of them is also this:

1. We so complain about what media does and shows but we don't have our own media. So if we don't like what is shown, then we should rally together and support those who are moving towards that way and not channel that is called, "Islam Channel."

Rather, have it geared to the world and raise issues that all communities faced and not be biased. But true.

2. This for me, enforced how Muslims now need to step up and step into the world of media and filming, and writing books and not the usual books just aimed at Muslims but everyone.

3. What I saw was boring for me but also, it was very bias but in the end, this only shows our inaction, our consistency in not being more into getting our own media. And the thing is, when such people do come forth, we don't:

a) Support them and help them.

b) Invest in their ideas and help it to become real.

c) Like crazy locusts and maniacs, start shouting why "we have to pay money for it to happen," and not realising it needs MONEY to make it happen.

d) And then when we hurt the ones who we so pray to come to help us with this, we then go back to, "Oh, I don't like what they showed you know."

Then let's work with those who got the VISION and GUTS and are willing to work their heart off to make it happen, and invest in such a vision.

Or, wait to see another program like this pop up, here and there and for all of us again say..

"Well, I was so dissappointed because..." Or, "I am so angry because..." Or, "I can't believe they showed this and..."

thehook, that film was for all of us - not just the Muslim Community. I am sure that if you wish to watch programs made by Muslims for a Muslim audience then the satellite channels will satisfy you.

Aslaam Alkium

Me and My Wife watched it, and it was a disgrace, she was shocked : The documentary

1. Reinforces sterotypes and makes them more realistic
2. Elevates Islamaphobia.
3. Makes the "Asian-Muslim" community be under the "microscope" by others.
4. Intensifes anger within the muslim community. Those were often passive, will now give a reaction.
5. No doubt we the Asian Muslim community are under heavy Surveillance.
6. We need measures to counterattack this and overcome this SPIN which is being exercised on us.
7. Clearly their are groups who want the Muslim community to suffer.
8. We need to unite as a very strong muslim community and retaliate this kind of Media aggression. We
9. We need to cut out those cheap forms of democractic processes : Protests, Banners, etc We need to bring real measures on the table. We need REAL POLITICAL INFLUENCE.

10. We need POWER within the Political system, if we want to eradicate those sterotypes and misconceptions about us.

The Media will now cause more HARM than ever.

The Muslim community , we must strategically channelise our intellect, resources and vision, in order to counterattack those whom are depicting us are "SCUMS" "Terrorists" etc. Failure to do so, will make life very hard for British Muslims.

Perhaps a reptition of the IRISH SCENE !!

I didn't watch britz and never would. I would have watched the same type of programme if it would have been about a family in afghanistan or iraq coping with the terrorism that has been created by white christains but then the white christina media don't do reality do they just sexed up propaganda to manipulate the masses into thinking that terrorism is about muslims.

I see you can't resist a bit or racism. You ignore the brave Black Americans and Britons who fight for their country. Deny any proud Asian, Sikh, Hindu, Jew or atheist who joins their Country's Army.

Your comments should be removed.

Would a British Pakistani family allow a muslim daughter to date a black non muslim and be perfectly happy for her to do so? Or would we see the reaction to it in Britain and in Rawalpindi as we did in the drama? Awaiting your answer.

Alex: the answer is, as you will have guessed, "extremely unlikely." You can call that racist or tribalist but the fact is that most conservative cultures operate that kind of bar. It's not only Muslims but Hindus and Jews as well.

One of my Canadian cousins became pregnant by a Canadian Jew whose family would not allow a marriage. Instead, she married a French Canadian who was a good, caring husband and father to his step-child.

The issue of marriage was really very much a subplot in this movie which was essentially about what makes British-born Asians from the Indian subcontinent become embittered and cynical about western, British civilisation. And what might radicalise them.

As I have said before, the issue of radicalisation was built upon a false premise: that of the 7/7 bombings which, to this day, remain nothing more than an allegation from the Blair government which has a history of lying and deceiving the public.

How much real evidence is there of British Muslims becoming radicalised and suicide bombers? Very little indeed. That hype has been blown out of all proportion and it was that overblown hype that was used by the makers of this movie to caricature British Muslims.

That's what so many Muslims find so offensive about this movie. Not that suicide bombers don't exist but that they exist in the manner portrayed.

lets not forget what this is really about is the preparing of the greart british public with a staged muslim atrocity along the lines of 9/11 and subsequent internment of muslims , this most probably after action in iran or pakistan. (the murderous activity - a political act and decision from the government - of the met. on menezes was in fact meant to be directed on a pakistan national, it didnt happen since they got the identity wrong)

its where the british are being taken, you dont think as muslims you are not being demonised and denigrated by the process that has taken place in our news media , that is a nazification of which goebals would be proud.

I thought it was a good program. It reminded me of MPAC activities at one point when the girls were leafletting outside the mosque and experiencing disapproval from the mosque going mafiosi. When Nasima was asked if political activism had achieved anything, she should've said that if there was any activism whatsoever from the Muslim community it would've. Demonstrations are the weakest form of protest. The questioner should've been questioned and asked whether he or his group of idiots ever participated in the political process or British society in general. This is the sort of shallow thinking our mosques should counter.

A superb documentary. A step forward to make people understand the "why". Some people on here have picked out one or two ridiculously trivial negativities and have based their entire judgement of the two episodes on that.

The makers of the drama (who happen to be non-Muslim) have done an EXCELLENT JOB!!!

Thanks for the reply, Venceremos. In that case I assume that means you agree the drama was not lying or being islamophobic by showing that within British Pakistani and Pakistani culture, religious discrimination and racism is alive and well when it comes to marriage. You are right in saying that this kind of racism and religious discrimination is present in Hinduism and also in Judaism to an extent, when it comes to marriage. Although, with Judaism I would suggest it's more a matter of religion than race/caste. Hinduism on the other hand is clear on the matter. Conservative Christians may also have such attitudes about inter racial / inter religion marriage. But that is more common in the united states than in Britain. In asking my question I was not attempting to single out Islam or more specifically Pakistani culture to suggest only 'they' do this. But I brought it up as it seems there are many people here on this forum who are screaming that the "entire" program Britz was nothing but "Islamophobia" and are dismissing it entirely as 'a tool of white christians',etc.

"I brought it up as it seems there are many people here on this forum who are screaming that the "entire" program Britz was nothing but "Islamophobia" and are dismissing it entirely as 'a tool of white christians',etc."

Yes, I agree with you. The reaction has bordered on hysteria but non-Muslims have to understand why there is such a reaction: it is because our governments and their lackeys in the mainstream media have conducted an unrelenting persecution of Muslims, thus putting Muslims on an extremely sensitive footing.

Also, Muslims are daily subject to abuse and attacks in the street but the Police do next to nothing to protect them. Indeed, the Police themselves use racist violence against Muslims as they do against all people of colour.

So we mustn't be surprised when a movie like this is treated with a chorus of, "Foul!".

As I said, this business of intermarriage was really a subplot in the movie. The main thrust of the movie was the manner in which British foreign policy has radicalised a certain element. And let me say here: as a non-Muslim I too have become more radicalised by British foreign policy and so, I am sure, have a lot of other non-Muslims!

But as long as British society (that includes us all) continues to treat Muslims suspiciously and in a hostile manner affording them no respect or the right to simply be who they wish to be we will reap the consequences. And that is our responsibility, no one else's.

Similarly, as long as the cowardly, traitor-politicians of this country continue to toe the line of US Foreign Policy to bomb the Middle East and Afghanistan to hell then we must expect one or another form of retaliation. For every people have a right to defend themselves in whatever manner they choose (including suicide bombing). For that too we are all responsible.

Finally, the makers of this movie based it on the false premise of 7/7 which remains just as dubious as 911. Intelligent people simply refuse to accept the government propaganda put out about 7/7.

With them, I believe it was a false flag incident with Blair's complicity in events. In consequence it was entirely wrong to use it in a movie of this kind and to blame events on Muslims where there simply is no proof that it was so.

The dead cannot speak or defend themselves. And there is a legal principal in this country which, despite Blair's strenuous attempts to do away with it, still exists, waiting to be reintroduced in its former glory: it is the Golden Thread that goes through Anglo-Saxon law that presumes innocence until proven guilty.

In Scottish law the Golden Thread is further defined by an intermediate "Not Proven" verdict.

By both those standards, those alleged to be the 7/7 bombers remain innocent. And hence the political basis of this movie not only null and void but an insult against the Muslim community.

The drama was flawed for a number of reasons, primarily in that it showed only black and white, i.e. to a 'good muslim', is someone who must be a nominal non-practicing muslim who agrees with the governments foreign and internal , whilst a 'bad muslim' is someone who is practising (e.g prays, fasts, may dress 'traditionally' etc) or politically active and hence inevitably pre-disposed towards violence.
It is this false dichotomy that comes out strongly from the drama, completely bypassing the reality of the majority of practising Muslims who oppose the governements misguided wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, may be politically active, but do not accept violence as a means to an end.In this context Britz will only serve to strengthen existing stereotypes rather than provide any meaningful insight into 'radicalisation'.

ShahidM:
Are you reading from the same website or what? Cause you just repeated what hook said. The way CNN reporters do and make it their suggestion or point.


And here is what hook said:Read people's word before you reply to anyone. This is not CNN or other channels that badger people and turn it round as though someone is arguing. He raised and said mostly the same thing you said.

Most people here need to get some intelligence because 90% are same the thing.

Off topic comments removed.

I thought the film was very good. I dont believe it was Islamaphobia because we know that Islam doesnt permit suicide bombing or terrorism. This is a very complicated matter and not black and white so its hard to say who is right or wrong. I believe that the killing of anyone, whether Muslim or non muslims is wrong. It gave another side to the argument. Of course there are bound to be stereo types in there, which is how many people see Muslims and Pakistanis, these have to be overcome by us by our actions. However even though I disagree with such actions like killing innocent people, I also get angered by the way the way Muslims are treated. I found the whole filming upsetting and scary (in terms of how we can be rounded up and taken away, just because someone thinks we may have a link to someone else). This is what the powers that be are missing. Many people are becoming radicalised because they are being pushed to take a side, there is no middle ground being offered. Islam needs to be understood properly by us muslims and the non muslims. At the moment this is the only thing we can do and should be our fight

I wonder if your attention has been drawn to the promotions of a "drama" on Channel Four.

With the Union Jack on one hand and flames on the other, Britz's promotional billboards on the streets ask: Whose Side You Are On?

Perhaps it is right to ask if there are just two categories where the people can be placed. What about the dominant but silent majority, the middle ground, those who make adjustments, modify their stances and moderate their thoughts and actions. Something evident from from how Muslim youth cope, negotiate, accomodate and make peace in their educational and professional lives all the time.

It may be useful to make public who comissioned this campaign and how much money was allocated for it? What is the total number of hoardings splashed all over UK? How does those sums compare with other C4 programmes?

Says

But as long as British society (that includes us all) continues to treat Muslims suspiciously and in a hostile manner affording them no respect or the right to simply be who they wish to be we will reap the consequences. And that is our responsibility, no one else's.

This is one of the most easy going societies in the world. How on earth can Muslims not be who they wish to be?

John

Some interesting points have been raise here. Though I disagree on some of what is said. I am actually understanding what John C mentioned about suspicion. In that I have to say, not just the media are to blame but ourselves too as Muslims.

Maybe, in the past we have been more too tight and not more mingling in a sense of pioneering and integrating in a sense of opening mosques, provide more opportunities for people to come and learn about Islam, or just have some program where Non-Muslims swop and get to see Muslim life and vice versa but with some measures of respect too.

I do feel, Muslims are moving forward though and not like our elders who kept to themselves. Just not enough exposure to this and not enough platforms that really engage the Muslim and Non-Muslim community.

Maybe there is hope.

Very creative - good story line and do we get to see the Muslim version.

All TV is full of sterotypes and caricatures. Much British comedy works on this basis. Little Britain is a good example. People who write fiction or comedy tend to have vivid imaginations anyway.

Personally I thought it was boring and changed the channel.

will this be repeated?