In a new SBS documentary, 10 Muslim Australians with vastly different views on their faith live under one roof for eight days to explore what it means to be a Muslim in modern, multicultural Australia.
Sleeping arrangements, prayers, eating, socialising between members of the opposite sex, terrorism and extremism are some of the topics raised as the 10 housemates explore how their faith impacts their everyday lives.
Topical and important conversation charged emotional debate and, at times, conflict in the house reveal the immense diversity among people who follow Islam, and the issues which unite and divide Australian Muslims.
Muslims Like Us in UK
Before coming on the Australian screens, this reality-TV documentary was born in England in 2016, on the BBC Two. Islam is the second most practised religion in England, with about three million Muslims. With terrorist attacks increasingly violent since 2011, we find a rise in Islamophobia in Europe but also in the world.
Since the London attacks in June 2017, Islamophobic attacks and hate crimes have increased five-fold towards Muslims. Crimes against mosques have doubled and the press has a huge share of responsibility. With about two billion Muslims in the world, those living in Western countries are only a handful and are the target of racism and attacks. And those who attack, know very little or no Islam at all.
Police units at London Bridge after the London Bridge attack in which two Australian women died. Source: AAP
An educational documentary
Australia is said to be a multi-cultural and very diverse country, it's true. But are these different communities accepting each other? They live together, support each other. But racism and extreme nationalism are still rooted in the country, and again, the media has a great deal of responsibility.
Bianca is one of the participants, a feminist and a boxer whose points of view contradict those of her family. In an interview with The QUO, she says: "In Australia, many people do not understand, it doesn't mean they are categorised as racists or fascists or closed-minded. I think the idea that Australia is multicultural and inclusive is a false idea, I think we all tolerate each other [...] we obviously are a new country, but people will always fear what they don't know. We need more cooperative and inclusive experiences among the different communities in Australia. "
When Jamal, Australian, of a Nigerian father and an Aboriginal mother is asked why he participated and what he hopes for the show, he says: "Just for people to open their eyes, I think a lot of us live their lives in their own little bubble, some think they know everything. One day someone told me, "the day you think you know everything is the moment you really don't know nothing".
Source: SBS
And Bianca continues: "Because we live in a relatively safe society, we have this false idea of having certainties in our lives." And that's something we do not have. You have to be flexible and have the courage to get out of the norm, to ask questions, to be curious, I hope that the show will show the different complexities that we encounter in each personality. "
While opinions may be mixed on the broadcast of a reality-style documentary on Islam, some Australians may need to understand and if it can open the minds of some, erase prejudices that others have, and be entertained while learning something, Rendez-Vous on SBS on February 21st and 22nd at 8:30 pm.
