Documentarians battle PBS over Islam film

Islamdaily.net / Chicago Tribune ^ | 4/29/07 | Karoun Demirjian

[Valin]

WASHINGTON -- The film features grainy footage and dramatic music, presenting itself as a stark look at the way fundamentalist Muslims in America and Europe crush dissent by their more moderate co-religionists.

But the very production of "Islam vs. Islamists: Voices From the Muslim Center" has highlighted sharply different views about the state of Islam in the United States and showcased how intensely sensitive that subject remains. PBS, which commissioned the project, is delaying airing the film after protests that it is anti-Muslim. Now its creators are launching a public campaign against PBS to get it shown.

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"Islam vs. Islamists" follows the efforts of socially liberal Muslims in America and Europe to reclaim their religion from political extremism by speaking out against ultra-conservative imams.

But the film never made it into the initial lineup of 11 shows that aired recently. A film about widespread discrimination against Muslims, "The Muslim Americans," did air as part of the series.

The producers and subjects of the "Islam vs. Islamists" film, who began to show it in private screenings last week, say that PBS demanded what the producers saw as unrealistic editorial changes after the series' advisers, acting on criticism from such Muslim groups as the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Nation of Islam, claimed the documentary unfairly portrayed Muslim religious leaders. They say their experience with PBS proves the point of their film: that moderate Muslims have no platform from which to criticize extremists in their own religion.

"I can't see what they object to, except that they don't want to see the true plight against modern-day Muslims," said Hedieh Mirahmadi, a representative of a moderate imam who spoke at a screening in Washington that was organized by the film's producers.

[weegee]

There are nations that sponsor their activities. They won’t be put in the corner.

[Valin]

There will always be the dark disconneted places where they can go, but if we are successful those places will be much much fewer.