IT’S MY COUNTRY TOO – MUSLIM AMERICANS” POST-PRODUCTION SCRIPT 10:00:00 This World titles MUSIC 10:00:05 10:00:13 Muslim comic on stage TITLE: BBC MAN SYNC: Yeah, this is a Muslim comedy show. Nobody laughs! Okay imagine what it feels like looking like me, walking into the airport. It’s not a pretty scene. You were right away with their (inaudible). But imagine what it feels like when I get on the plane. People in the middle of conversations, seriously, how are you doing, what are you doing – hhhhh!!! I’m going to die! Of, of course everybody’s real nice to me once the plane safely lands. They’re all looking over, smiling, like hahahaha.. 10:00:56 10:01:00 10:01:02 Man at train station New York City GVs Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the US. Yet one in four Americans regard us Muslims living amongst them with suspicion. 10:01:11 Mosque steeple and aeroplane MUSIC IN 10:01:20 Junoon on stage I am Salman Ahmed. My family moved to America from Pakistan during the late sixties. As a child, I was blown away by American pop culture. Years later, when I formed Junoon, I didn’t realise it would become the biggest rock band in South Asia. 10:01:43 In a different time, it wasn’t difficult to get thousands of Muslim Americans to a rock concert in Central Park. But after September 11th, America is a changed country. Especially for Muslims. 10:02:01 Montage: View from car/Salman in car/city views at night MUSIC 10:02:04 As a believer, I’m concerned at the potential for religious conflict in a country I love as much as Pakistan. 10:02:11 TITLES: IT’S MY COUNTRY TOO MUSLIM AMERICANS 10:02:15 MUSIC OUT 10:02:15 10:02:31 Salman and band members getting into huge car and being driven away Salman and band arriving at building and getting into lift It’s October, and Junoon’s on the road again. We’ve been touring the world for years. We’re returning to play in America just as the presidential campaign is coming to its climax. After the terrorist attacks in the US, I stress the need for us to play more college gigs. I want to reach out to young Muslim Americans. MAN SYNC: Junoon has left the building. MAN SYNC: Junoon has just arrived, rather. MAN SYNC: There’s a thing right there. 10:02:46 Junoon taking to stage to delight of crowd CROWD SYNC: APPLAUSE 10:02:55 MUSIC IN 10:03:12 New York street, and Salman taking cab MUSIC OUT SALMAN SYNC: Twin Towers site. 10:03:29 SUBTITLES: Aren’t you from Junoon group? TAXI DRIVER SYNC: Aren’t you from Junoon group? SALMAN SYNC: And I thought I’d be in New York City and no-one would recognise me. TAXI DRIVER SYNC: Oh yeah? 10:03:36 I’m not sure if all rock musicians have to busk for their cab rides, but Saeed insists I sing my tribute to Pakistan, (inaudible) 10:03:45 10:03:49 10:03:56 10:04:03 10:04:07 10:04:11 SUBTITLES: If you have the sprit of passion, never give up The one who strives will touch the skies It’s no bed of roses but we’ll persevere Everyone knows… Pakistan is ours Pakistan is yours SALMAN AND TAXI DRIVER SYNC: SINGING 10:04:17 Saeed has been here for ten years. When he arrived, life was good, he tells me, but then it all changed. SAEED SYNC: After 9/11 of course New York was tough, very tough. If somebody complain about you a little bit that something suspicious or something, the FBI and everything so many cases, because where I live, they’ve been going and raiding the houses and all that, you know. Has been very hard for Pakistanis, lots of guys been arrested and many of them are still detained. ‘til today nobody been captured as a terrorist or something like that, or any activities. 10:04:55 America has become suspicious of its Muslim population. Since the attacks, thousands have been detained, others deported. Some even crossed the border into Canada. SALMAN SYNC: Maybe it’s time to leave the US, maybe go back? SAEED SYNC: Sure. The way they’re making the laws and all that. 10:05:19 10:05:22 10:06:04 Salman and others at Twin Towers site New York tour bus and tourists I always get an uncomfortable feeling coming to Ground Zero. There is so much psychological baggage Muslims carry as a result of the attack on the Twin Towers. Even though the hijackers represented a lunatic fringe, some have blamed the entire Muslim world. What is astounding is the way 9/11, even after three and a half years, remains a defining moment for every Muslim in America, and for American attitudes to Muslims. Just look. This cross made of girders was supposedly left undamaged after the attack. A miracle, they say. I’m uncomfortable with that. People of may faiths perished here. 10:06:11 Tracking shots New York City streets at night CAPTION: 30th September 2004 MAN SYNC: This is the first presidential debate, live. 10:06:15 MAN VO: So the first question goes to you, Senator Kerry. Do you believe you could do a better job in preventing another terrorist attack on the United States? KERRY VO: Yes, I do. 10:06:26 10:06:30 Salman and others in Times Square at night, watching debate on huge screen I’m in Times Square to follow the debate. This election has captured the attention of Muslim Americans like never before. In the aftermath of the terror attacks, Muslims retreated from local and state politics to an astonishing degree. Over 90% of Muslim politicians were no longer in office by 2002. The approaching election is bringing them back into politics, and every Islamic organisation is urging Muslims to exercise their right to vote. Traditionally, Muslims have voted Republican because of their emphasis on moral values. Now, many are considering switching to the Democrats, hoping they will be less of a threat to Muslims, both in America and abroad. CROWD SYNC: SCREAMING 10:07:22 Junoon performing MUSIC IN 10:07:33 My music is an expression of both my worlds. Pakistan and America. It’s inspired by Led Zeppelin and The Beatles, while the lyrics are traditional Sufi. 10:08:37 MUSIC OUT 10:08:37 Band talking while travelling in car at night MAN SYNC: It sounds like Dr No Assassins. MAN SYNC: They had like a, there had to be like more serious shit. The sky’s falling on the other hand. 10:08:46 Junoon has always been multiethnic, with band members born in Pakistan and America. SALMAN SYNC: I never thought about my religion in a sense that I have to explain my religion to the rest of the world. 9/11 changed all of that. Every time I did a media interview, there was, you know, it was almost like x-ray vision that the interviewer had, that who are you underneath this moderate person, okay? Is there, is there a fundamentalist lurking inside? 10:09:16 Salman playing his guitar in car 10:09:27 10:09:50 Montage: Road/text from Patriot Act Salman playing guitar in car A month after the Twin Tower attack, Congress rushed a 340-page document, called the Patriot Act, into law to help track down terrorists. The Act gave the FBI the right to spy on American citizens, to get into our lives, our e-mail, even library records. Many saw it as an erosion of our constitutional rights, and it’s Muslims who have been the main victims. 10:09:55 10:09:57 POV car passenger on rainy day/Salman in car On the morning of September 11th, a young Muslim man disappeared after he took a train into Manhattan. I’m on my way to visit his mother in the New York suburb of Queens. 10:10:09 10:10:18 House and car on rainy day Salman arriving to see Talat For months and months there was no news as to what had happened to Salman Hamdani. A newspaper report hinted that he had been held under the new Patriot Act. SALMAN AND TALAT SYNC: GREETING EACH OTHER TALAT SYNC: Come on in. SALMAN SYNC: Thank you so much. 10:10:29 10:10:33 House ext. His mother believed he had died in the Twin Towers, but at the same time she clung to the hope that her son had been mistakenly taken in as a terrorist. 10:10:39 Salman and Talat talking at her house TALAT SYNC: I didn’t think he’s dead. Maybe as a mother I was unable to accept it. He did go down there, so I thought that he was arrested, or maybe detained, that’s what it is. 10:10:50 MUSIC IN 10:10:57 She showed me the evidence of her six- month search for Salman in the turmoil of what had become her life. 10:11:02 MUSIC OUT 10:11:06 SUBTITLES: Life has turned upside down, forget about the basement. TALAT SYNC: (inaudible) forget about the basement, right? 10:11:11 Under the Patriot Act, she came to realise, the FBI was not obliged to confirm or deny whether they held Salman. TALAT SYNC: This is a copy of the letter to President Bush. SALMAN SYNC: The, the letter to the President that you wrote? TALAT SYNC: It was just, I had to search for him, you know, I had to find him, where is he. SALMAN SYNC: Mr President, we are reaching out to you for help in our search for our missing son, Salman Hamdani. Salman left for work on the fateful September 11th at 8.30am and has not come home. 10:11:53 She ended up in a nightmare, unable to get any information. She was told to try the FBI again. Six months later, she finally got the news that her son’s remains had been found at the World Trade Centre. TALAT SYNC: I had it somewhere here, this is the flyer, this is when Newsday printed him at the funeral services. So you know, my husband, he made like about 200 copies of this. So he was really proud of that. 10:12:25 Photo of Talat’s husband holding photo of Salman, next to copy of 9/11 report Not only did she lose a son, but her husband too. He died grieving for Salman, who had given his life to try and save others. 10:12:36 10:12:42 New York City streets, and Talat using mobile phone as she walks The Patriot Act celebrated Salman by name, as an example of why people should not take revenge on Muslims. But her experience of that same Patriot Act has turned Talat Hamdani into a political activist. 10:12:58 Talat being introduced and giving speech WOMAN SYNC: Please welcome Talat Hamdani. 10:13:02 She’s come to deliver a message on behalf of a 9/11 family organisation. They’re outraged that the death of their loved ones has been used to justify the crackdown on Muslims, and to go to war in Iraq. TALAT SYNC: Do you know how many people have died in Iraq alone? More than 100,000. We are crying about our 3,000, I am crying about my one son. Salman was also investigated as a terrorist. 10:13:31 Her fight for the rights of others is always informed by the tragedy around the loss of her son. TALAT SYNC: And his remains were found from outside the North Tower, in 34 pieces. And that’s what we were given to, to bury. And that’s where my pain is, that no mother should get the body of her child in pieces. Or a bone. Or nothing. 10:14:03 Talat at airport TANNOY ANNOUNCEMENT: Do not carry baggage belonging to others. Report any suspicious persons or unusual activity to your nearest law enforcement officer. Thank you, have a good flight. 10:14:16 Talat is now trying to stop what some are calling Patriot Act 2, because some Republicans are trying to add extra clauses before the elections. Talat believes these clauses will make Muslims even more vulnerable, so she’s off to Washington, DC to lobby members of Congress. 10:14:32 10:14:46 Plane taking off TALAT VO: I was taking care of my family after 9/11 happened, but after my husband passed away it seems like the burden of all the American Muslims rests upon my shoulder. I’ve pressed on. 10:14:49 10:14:53 10:14:56 Washington DC buildings WS Talat entering government building, walking along corridor and entering room The junior school teacher steps into the corridors of power for the first time. TALAT VO: My family says don’t get involved, you know, with the politics, and it’s dangerous. But it says in Koran, if you know the truth, reveal it. So it is my duty, if I know something is wrong in this country, you know, I feel it my duty to inform. I’ve lost a so, I’ve lost my husband – what do I have to lose now? 10:15:25 Talat and others listening to Carolyn Maloney’s speech Like most of us, Talat supports laws that improve homeland security, but the new Bill has an add-on clause which will allow even US citizens to be deported. Muslims fear they are the main target. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat, agrees. CAROLYN MALONEY SYNC: Everyone agrees basically on the core recommendations now. We were deliberating on add-ons that people wanted to add on, and that is just plain wrong. Let’s get this work done for the American people. 10:15:58 Talat meeting Carolyn Maloney TALAT SYNC: That’s my son, that’s my son, and I’m here for the, you know, extraneous thing that they’re trying to add on, you know. Just pass the Bill, the recommendations only. Like you said, you know. The other issues… 10:16:12 10:16:16 Building exterior, and Talat emerging from it At the meeting, the committee fails to discuss the deportation clause. Talat fears her trip to Washington has been wasted. 10:16:33 Talat IV CAPTION: Talat Hamdani TALAT SYNC: The government has a pattern of deceiving the public, and exploiting everything. They do not have any moral values, you know. Be courageous enough to say okay, they’re doing this to you, you know, we’re going to detain your people and we’re going to interrogate them. Say it to the Muslims, you know. Say it. What are you scared of? Tell me you don’t belong in this country, I’ll leave, no problem. But it’s my country too. 10:16:53 Excerpt from Junoon video CAPTION: ‘No More’ Junoon pop promo MUSIC IN 10:17:00 Like Talat Hamdani, I see no conflict between being American and Muslim. No More is a song which protests against the idea of the clash of civilisations. I wrote it with a Jewish American friend of mine. 10:17:49 MUSIC OUT 10:17:42 10:17:49 Salman meeting with students in restaurant, where debate is on TV It’s the night of the second debate, and I’m in a student restaurant in Virginia. I’m surprised that they follow politics so closely here. KERRY SYNC ON TV: There’s no bigger judgement for President of the United States than how you take the nation to war, and you can’t say because Saddam might have done it ten years from now, that’s a reason – that’s an excuse. BUSH SYNC ON TV: The truth of the matter is, if you listen carefully, Saddam would still be in power if you were the President of the United States, and the world would be a lot better off. 10:18:14 Salman in restaurant, watching debate and students telling him their views MAN SYNC: We have actually two cowboys, one in Afghanistan and at the White House. 10:18:19 I wonder how these Muslim students, born in the USA, feel about the Patriot Act. WOMAN SYNC: My problem with the Patriot Act is that it’s a, it’s a violation of what America stands for in terms of liberty and civil rights, and once you cross that line there’s no knowing, like how far you can go. MAN SYNC: Before you had rights. Now they can stop you, pull you over, take you to jail with no question asked. MAN SYNC: Sneak and peek without any warrant or any kind of you know, without any kind of evidence. MAN SYNC: If you are a citizen of this country, there are, they are able to take, strip away your citizenship. 10:18:54 There’s often the accusation that, while Muslims want to live in America, they’re not prepared to fight for it. MAN SYNC: Anybody questioning our behaviour or our rationale for going into Iraq was deemed as oh, he’s an unpatriotic person, but that’s not, historically the patriots have been the ones who have raised, risen their voices to question the government. 10:19:13 This guy is a veteran of the Afghanistan war. MAN SYNC: If my commander-in-chief, whatever my commander-in-chief says about protecting the constitution, I would have to support. SALMAN SYNC: Even knowing that the entire world is against the premise of this war? MAN SYNC: My answer remains: if my commander-in-chief believes a certain strategy that he has, I will follow. 10:19:34 MUSIC IN 10:19:44 MUSIC OUT 10:19:40 10:19:44 10:19:54 10:20:17 Arlington Cemetery with troops marching Salman at Arlington Cemetery, looking at Humayun Khan’s grave Still – Humayun Khan The next day, I went to Arlington Cemetery, where America’s soldiers are laid to rest. Over the past months they’ve been busy burying the dead from Operation Iraqi Freedom. At least in death there is equality. No longer separated by race or religion. In Arlington, among the sea of crosses and stars, I also find a crescent on a gravestone. Captain Hamayun Khan was killed by a suicide bomber in Bakuba, Iraq. I tracked down his parents in Prince William County. 10:20:29 Ghazala Khan IV CAPTION: Khizir & Ghazala Khan GHAZALA KHAN SYNC: I said don’t kill anybody, like you are in army, don’t kill anybody. He said Ommi, first of all I transferred myself in the security side that I won’t have to go and fight with Muslims. 10:20:35 10:20:40 Troops performing burial ceremony at Arlington Cemetery According to the Koran, if you take one life unjustly, it’s like killing the whole of humanity. 10:20:54 10:210:03 Khizir Khan IV Troops performing burial ceremony KHIZIR KHAN SYNC: Compare the freedoms that America and West offers to a human being, versus the choices that exist in the Muslim world, there is tyranny, there is lack of choice, lack of freedom, lack of human dignity. Freedom requires vigilance. Freedom requires sacrifice. 10:21:17 MUSIC IN 10:21:17 View from car in city at night 10:12:23 Car on street at night Night view of city Chicago, Illinois. 10:21:36 10:21:40 Muslim comics in corridor To be honest, at the start of this tour, I’d expected Muslims to be hurt, scared or angry, but in Chicago there was a surprise. Three radicals, who looked like they had just stepped out of a wanted poster for Al Qaeda terrorists. 10:21:56 MUSIC OUT 10:21:56 Comics appearing on radio show MAN SYNC: People are looking at me as if I was responsible for 9/11. Can you believe that? Me, responsible for 9/11? 7-11 maybe. MAN SYNC: They see me and I know what they’re thinking, you know, so I have to tell them look, I am not Osama Bin Laden’s evil twin brother, okay? I’m his cousin. Call me Bin Laughin’. MAN SYNC: (inaudible) for Chicago Public Radio, I’m Jeram McDonnell, speaking with the guys from the Allah Made Me Funny comedy tour. Where did this tour come from? MAN SYNC: Just the idea, you know, funny, funny and Muslim is like, you know, George Bush and good decision-making, so you know, we – we got to do something, man, you got to do something. MAN SYNC: I think it’s unfair to, to even, when you bring up about political humour, I don’t think it’s even fair for us to say that we write those jokes – I think that, you know, George Bush does that all hisself. He should actually get a writer’s credit. MAN SYNC: Humour is a true dialogue, in my heart it’s always been a true dialogue and people respond to it. Because it’s hard to hate somebody after they made you laugh. 10:22:58 10:23:01 Comics in corridor Azhar, alias Bin Laughing, is a former lawyer. Recent events have made him challenge mainstream America, in the traditions of Jewish and black comedians. 10:23:17 Azhar Usman IV CAPTION: Azhar Usman AZHAR USMAN SYNC: This is a voice and a perspective that does not get airtime, really in the mainstream channels of communication in this country. What I realised is that there is this huge underbelly in the United States that wants to hear from moderate voices, because they know that it can’t be true that all Muslims are bad and terrorists and evil, evildoers, so finally I’ve come to realise that these two trends, you know, one, heightened suspicion coupled with on the other hand a degree of a desire to see more moderate voices, are actually interrelated. The more that mainstream America hears of the moderate voices, the less suspicious they’ll be. Our problem as a community is that, is that we’re very isolationist. We don’t want to get out there and make bridges with people, connect with people. 10:23:54 10:23:58 10:24:03 Comedy club ext. and people outside Portraits of comics, and Muslim comics praying This is the well-known Chicago Comedy Club, where America’s best have performed. Backstage, beneath their portraits, Azhar and his friends find just enough floor space to prepare for their show. MEN SYNC: PRAYING 10:24:16 People entering comedy club Neon sign CROWD SYNC: CHATTER 10:24:20 Comics performing on stage MAN SYNC: I’m just kidding. How are you doing? I mean you guys got to loosen up man, I mean, come, we’re worrying about, worrying about too many things, it’s like post 9/11 itis. I mean, let it go, people. Muslims haven’t laughed hard in a while. For two years you couldn’t even, no, for real. For two years you couldn’t even tell a Muslim a knock-knock joke. Hey, brother, knock- knock.. don’t answer that! MAN SYNC: How can you be a terrorist and be a Muslim at the same time, I mean because you know those, those, those dang old C4 explosives kind of get in your way when you’re doing a little salat, don’t you think? Like oh, no, that pinched me, that pinched me right there. I’m going to sit down in a chair to do this one. AZHAR SYNC: This is a Muslim comedy show! Nobody laughs. Oh, I just, you know there’s a Muslim comedy show, going no pork, no alcohol, women in hijab, and show started late! People are scared, wherever we go, I get some dirty looks walking on the street. People are yelling at me like go back to where you came from. I’m from Minnesota, man! Those times you’re trying to be a Muslim, trying to practice your religion, you know, maybe you’re at work and you have pray, you know, and then you’ve got to be afraid someone’s going to walk in, looking over your shoulder, oh, my contact lens, oh my God. No terrorists over here, dude! I just want to tell people look, relax. I’m a Muslim but I’m an American Muslim. In fact I consider myself a very patriotic American Muslim. Which means I would die for this country. By blowing myself up. Inside of a Dunkin’ Donuts. 10:26:10 Azhar Usman IV AZHAR USMAN SYNC: We mustn’t wait around for others to validate us, for others to come and, and tap us on the shoulder and say, you people are the good guys and you’re doing a good job, and we validate you or we consider you authentic Americans. That’s not anybody else’s business. We as American Muslims must stand up, be proud of who we are, and be people who say unequivocally and enthusiastically that we are American Muslims, which means we love our religion, we love our faith, and we love all the beautiful aspects of it, and at the same time, we claim our space rightfully and we claim our right as Americans to critique those aspects of American culture, civilisation, government, foreign policy etc, that we have a problem with. 10:26:52 Salman and Junoon rehearsing in dressing room MUSIC – ACTUALITY 10:27:02 10:27:11 Tracking shot US flags hanging over street Ramadan begins tomorrow, and we’re taking a break after the gig. I’m flying to Colorado to attend a very private, very exclusive celebration, way up in the Rockies. 10:27:11 MUSIC OUT 10:27:12 MUSIC IN 10:27:16 View from car, and Salman in car/inside of car/roadside hoarding showing picture of Osama Bin Laden/limo on road 10:27:19 The lady of the house has sent me her own chauffeured limo. Muslim organisations have just called on their members to back Kerry. But I’ve been invited into a house full of Bushlims – my slang for Muslims who support Bush. 10:27:43 Mountain and house ext. 10:27:48 10:27:50 Salman inside house, sitting down and looking around/photo of Simi and Dr Hasan with President and Mrs Bush John Lennon had an Aunt Mimi. I too have an aunt. But her name is Simi. Simi and her husband, Dr Hasan, have some pretty powerful friends in Washington. 10:28:07 Simi coming downstairs and greeting Salman SALMAN SYNC: (inaudible) SIMI SYNC: (inaudible) SALMAN SYNC: How are you? SIMI SYNC: I’m fine, how are you? 10:28:10 Simi is the classic Pakistani matriarch – generous and fiercely loyal to both family and friends. Even to those friends who are perceived to be anti-Muslim. SALMAN SYNC: So great to see you. SIMI SYNC: Nice to see you. Well, it’s been.. 10:28:24 When Junoon performed at my cousin’s million dollar Vegas wedding, there were more Congressmen present there than in Washington. SALMAN SYNC: I mean, can you just show us - 10:28:33 Simi taking Salman around the house and showing him different things SIMI SYNC: Alright. We’re going to go to our Oriental gallery. SALMAN SYNC: Oriental gallery. That’s on the 92nd floor? It’s like, this is an infusion of your spirit. SIMI SYNC: Yes, and .. 10:28:46 The Hasans voted Democrat in 1992, but were disillusioned by Clinton, who failed to protect Muslims in Bosnia. SIMI SYNC: And this is a very special painting. This is the Spanish painter Velasquez, and it is one of our you know, highly prized acquisitions. 10:28:08 I’ve been told that she and Dr Hasan are one of the biggest private donors to the Bush campaign in Colorado. The President personally invited them to his ranch. SIMI SYNC: No, no, the house there is very small. But the ranch is quite big, and, and President Bush goes around in the ranch and cuts wood and timber and cleans up – it’s really funny. SALMAN SYNC: And rides the horses? SIMI SYNC: Rides the horses, and you know, saddles them himself. So these are photographs that we took at the ranch. This was our second visit, this was our first visit. SALMAN SYNC: That’s a very cute photograph. SIMI SYNC: Yes, I was complaining to him about something and he actually ended up giving me a hug and saying, it’ll be alright. SALMAN SYNC: Can any Muslim American aspire and be like you? 10:29:41 10:29:59 Photos of Simi and Dr Hasan with the Bushes Seeme talking with Salman at her home SIMI SYNC: Yes, I think that’s the beauty of the American system – that American system doesn’t hold back against you what your religion is, what the colour of your skin is. If you come up with some good idea, and you are an entrepreneur, you can make it. SALMAN SYNC: As I was waiting for you downstairs, you know, I was in the living room, beautiful light coming in, one thing that came out strongly was that for a Pakistani American to be amongst the handful of people who have wealth, power, respect, influence in the United States, and to have this opulence, how does it make you feel about the fact that there’s so many Muslim Americans, Pakistani Americans who are going through a crisis in the United States at the moment? SIMI SYNC: Well first of all, I don’t think they’re going through a crisis, I really don’t, and I think there’s a problem with our culture. We believe more in rumours than facts, and, and the rumours spread like wildfire and the facts nobody cares about, and absolutely nobody wants to read a newspaper or a brief from the White House. 10:31:05 Pile of books including Asma’s, and Salman looking at it And yet to defend Islam in mainstream America, Simi’s daughter Asma has written a book – Why I Am a Muslim – for which some Muslims have attacked her for being apologetic. 10:31:20 Seeme at computer and Salman talking with her SEEME SYNC: I don’t go to sleep ‘til like, 3.30, four o’clock, sometimes even five, Colorado time. SALMAN SYNC: But I only thought rock stars stood, stood up late. SEEME SYNC: Well, obviously I’m related to you. LAUGHS. SALMAN SYNC: Even after I’m corrupting you? SEEME SYNC: Yes. SALMAN SYNC: So there’s a chance I might leave here with changing your mind about certain, certain ideas? 10:31:41 Pages from Seeme’s website SEEME SYNC: Yeah, I don’t think I can change your mind, and I don’t think you can change mine. SALMAN SYNC: Okay. SEEME SYNC: Have you ever seen our site? 10:31:46 Seeme showing Salman her website, and discussing her views with him SALMAN SYNC: This is the one that you and Aliv designed? SEEME SYNC: Yes, we designed it, and every time you go to a different section the picture changes, this is President Bush in the mosque right after 9/11 in Washington DC, this is in the White House signing, this is President Musharraf. He spends a lot of time, and, and yet you know, people will say, oh, President Bush hates Muslims. SALMAN SYNC: They will be saying that he’s saying one thing, he’s meeting with Muslims, and then he’s going out and attacking a country just because there was some, supposed to be some weapons of mass destruction which were never there, which is a Muslim country. And as you know, a lot of the Muslims in the world feel you know, scared, that hey, my, my Muslim country might be next. SIMI SYNC: Personally I wanted to invade Iraq, because I think if there is a country that will not allow us into its borders and has the money and the reasoning to attack United States, then we have to go in, because - SALMAN SYNC: With force? SIMI SYNC: Yes. Absolutely, because – look what one 9/11 did to us American Muslims. I don’t want a repeat. SALMAN SYNC: I mean if you disagree with the United States, it gives the United States the right to go and blow up your country? SIMI SYNC: So sooner or later they were going to go in, I mean it just happened that it got linked with 9/11, but sooner or later it was going to happen, I mean Saddam was asking for it. SALMAN SYNC: You know, you, you cannot believe that, I mean you can, knowing you, and - SIMI SYNC: I totally believe it. SALMAN SYNC: I’m not saying anything! I need you as a manager. SIMI SYNC: I keep a pretty good eye on your career. SALMAN SYNC: Yeah, you do. 10:33:24 Aliv entering room and greeting Salman ALIV SYNC: Hey! How are you guys doing? SALMAN SYNC: Hey, brother. ALIV SYNC: How are you? 10:33:28 And here’s my cousin Aliv, who’s an aspiring media don, cyber junkie, and a thorn in the side of the Democrats. Muslims For Bush was his brainchild. 10:33:39 Seeme talking to Salman and Aliv SIMI SYNC: There are only two people I think of how I can help them. On a national level it’s Bush. On an international level it’s Salman. But, but no matter what I tell Salman, he doesn’t listen to me. 10:33:50 10:33:52 Salman and Aliv walking in grounds of the house and looking at mountains Simi’s listening to Bush. I wonder if he’s listening to her. ALIV SYNC: So one day I’m going to take you up to the slopes, I’m going to take you to that one right on the right, that’s Grouse Mountain right over there on the corner. That’s the steepest slopes in all of Colorado. SALMAN SYNC: Let me see what’s in the back of your - ALIV SYNC: Oh okay. It’s a, I got an eagle there, so when I’m, I’m - SALMAN SYNC: So that’s a bona fide American eagle? ALIV SYNC: I’m an all-American boy, and what I’m going to do with this jacket one of these days, is they left some space in between the stars, so I’m going to add some crescents right in between each star, so that because, because I’m an American Muslim and very proud of both things, so they’re the two biggest things to my identity. SALMAN SYNC: You know what, a lot of people say they, American Muslims don’t smile a lot, but you’re, you know, you (inaudible) ALIV SYNC: Now when I do media appearances for Muslims For Bush, I try to smile as much as I can. Because not everybody’s going to hear me. Not everybody’s going to listen to my substance, but if, if the regular American sees a Muslim that’s smiling and says I’m proud to be American, I’m proud to be Muslim and I’m smiling and I’m happy, that is a big deal. It’s good for Americans to see smiling Muslims. 10:35:53 So we need to become shiny happy people to be accepted in America. SALMAN SYNC: You know if I just walked into this life, and I saw you, you know, you’re in LA, you’re in Colorado, I’d say fat cat Muslims, man. And, has it always been like this? ALIV SYNC: Not at all. You know, my parents worked hard and they’re proof that you can come to America from Pakistan, have $30 in your pocket, and hard work and really, and some good decisions, really intelligent decisions, they’ve really made it to the top, and you know, it’s, when people say to me America’s a prejudiced country, it’s racist, there is some racism, but it’s really hard for me to believe that there’s racism when my parents can do all of this within this country. There can’t be that much. 10:35:35 MUSIC 10:35:35 10:35:42 Lights on in house at night Photo of President Bush with Dr and Seeme Hasan, and birthday greeting It’s dinnertime, at one in the morning. Dr Hasan has received a personal birthday wish from President Bush. 10:35:50 10:35:53 Family eating dinner and talking He recently sold his health insurance business for billions of dollars. I wondered if that kind of wealth had shielded them from the experiences of other Muslims. 10:36:05 ALIV SYNC: I was asked off an, off of an aeroplane. Aliya was with me, so we both had to leave the aeroplane. ALIYA SYNC: I mean we were treated very well, and it was awkward to be taken off the plane and everybody looked at us, and we came back and everybody looked what’s going on. ALIV SYNC: The bigger incident was I was checking into a plane at LAX, in Los Angeles, and I was surrounded by four LAPD officers. They read me Miranda rights, and then they said if you’re the terrorist that we think you might be then we’re going to take you down to the station, and I had to wait there in that terminal with four LAPD officers around me, while everybody was getting their tickets for one hour, and then the FBI agent showed up. SALMAN SYNC: Cat Stevens, also known as Yusuf Islam, was deported from the airport, so I was trying to figure out, these people, how can there be a questionability on their - DR HASAN SYNC: Under the same programme under which Cat Stevens was deported, Senator Ted Kennedy was denied boarding of a plane because he was on a terrorist list. Now who in this country does not know Senator Edward Kennedy? SALMAN SYNC: Except that he’s a Democrat. DR HASAN SYNC: It doesn’t matter. I’m telling you, we never had a training to be an imperialist or a police state. So anything to do with enforcement of the law is done so poorly, because this is not part of the fabric of this society. ALIV SYNC: Those incidents happened pretty close to each other and I told Mum and Dad, and Mum and Dad, Dad, told the administration, and they listened to it seriously, they took it very seriously, and from that point on I haven’t been interrogated again. SEEME SYNC: This is something that, that, that really upsets me, that there are some Muslims who put us in this position. The American Muslims after 9/11 have been put in a difficult position, not by Bush, by, by some other Muslims. 10:37:49 10:37:55 Trees outside house at night Hasan family talking and making new pages for website At 3am the Hasans are planning the next edition of the Muslims For Bush website. Today’s message plays on the fears of Pakistani Americans. 10:38:06 Salman reading and Seeme listening SALMAN SYNC: Interesting facts about John Kerry. He’s a friend of India. He’s a friend of Israel. He is no friend to Pakistani employees or for Bush. That’s pretty insulting. MAN SYNC: LAUGHS 10:38:22 Page from website And all of this gets beamed out to Muslim cyberspace. MAN VO: Pakistan could lose its nuclear weapons. Muslim countries will lose billions in aid. Pakistani leadership supports Bush, and wants him to be re-elected. Vote for Bush – the only responsible choice for Pakistani American Muslims. 10:38:43 MUSIC IN 10:38:43 10:38:50 Tracking shots from car/Junoon in car/POV car passenger Next stop, Detroit, Michigan. 10:38:54 10:38:59 10:39:05 10:39:10 SUBTITLES: Alone… …and restless You wander Your destiny will change… 10:39:19 Whilst here in Detroit, I’m going to meet another person whose life has been transformed by the past few years. 10:39:29 MUSIC OUT 10:39:32 10:39:59 Shereef Akeel IV CAPTION: Shereef Akeel Attorney Shereef getting into car and driving SHEREEF AKEEL SYNC: I was just more, I just dealt with contracts, personal injury matters. Since September 11, my practice has just turned upside down, and I’ve just been dealing with, you know, just, I’m, I’m seeing the remnants of September 11 in all facets of society. Students are being expelled because their names are Mohammed or from, they’re from Pakistan or they’re Muslim, or – people are getting fired from work or they’re being denied prayers, it’s just been a rollercoaster. 10:40:10 SHEREEF SYNC: In September 11, Arab Americans have been attacked twice. One time by Al Qaeda, and then the second time because of their religious faith. So they’re being subjected to twice the harm right now, because of their American nationality and because of their religion. 10:40:28 Shereef Akeel describes himself as a Muslim American of Egyptian descent, who was born here. 10:40:40 American flag outside mosque 10:40:45 10:40:47 Men inside mosque, praying, Shereef and Salman among them The claims made by terrorists that they acted in the name of Islam has outraged many Muslims, and forced us to soul-search. SHEREEF VO: here is a constant monitoring internally, of who you are as a Muslim – constant check of your religion, of your faith, you’re constantly questioning, okay, they’re saying this about Islam, is this true? 10:41:12 MUSIC IN 10:41:15 Sign outside mosque Plane in sky Mosque tower with plane passing Underpass Surprisingly and despite intimidation, more people are going to mosques than before 9/11. 10:41:27 Shereef and Salman ordering lunch and talking at their table SHEREEF SYNC: Oh, I’ll have the Big Boy with the soup, the super salad bar. WOMAN SYNC: Just the sandwich? MAN SYNC: Yeah. SALMAN SYNC: Do you feel that there’s some sort of a collective guilt that Muslims are harbouring? SHEREEF SYNC: Oh, yeah, oh there, there is no question that anytime now something happens, most Muslims are saying oh, I hope it’s not a Muslim. Oh, please don’t let it be a Muslim. SALMAN SYNC: Would you ever think of leaving the United States? SHEREEF SYNC: Oh, no, I mean I, I.. I can’t think of that. I mean it is, this is, this is my country. But it is, it’s a difficult time. It’s a sign of the times, you know, it’s difficult to be a Muslim here, I, it’s, for all of us. I, there’s no question about that. 10:42:08 10:42:13 Train and office block Town hall meeting attendees gathering, including journalist Michigan’s Muslims gather at a town hall meeting, to question local party candidates who want their vote. In the crowd there’s a journalist whose presence worries Shereef. 10:42:22 Shereef talking to woman SHEREEF SYNC: Yeah, but she’s here, apparently in a disguise. She’s wearing a hijab and she’s known as Zedam. She’s very anti-Muslim, she always tries to basically attack persons’ characters based on, because they’re Arabic or Pakistani. She’s known, Debbie Schlaso, she has her own show. WOMAN SYNC: Oh, Debbie Schlaso? SHEREEF SYNC: Yeah. 10:42:45 Man making speech at meeting, and Shereef taking his place on stage MAN SYNC: I would say to those who do aid, abet and harbour terrorists, that you do have something to worry about. Terrorists… 10:42:50 Shereef knows how dangerous right-wing talk show hosts have been. He sets out to expose her duplicity. 10:42:58 Shereef speaking to meeting SHEREEF SYNC: I’ll be starting out with the first question. I was asked just recently to ask one of our guests, Debbie Schlaso a question. As a radio personality and a community activist, you’ve observed Muslim American community become more involved in the political process; do you see any positive outcomes of this involvement? DEBBIE SYNC: I don’t have a comment. SHEREEF SYNC: Okay. 10:43:23 10:43:29 POV passenger in car Debbie Schlaso is just one of many radio hosts openly insulting Muslims, even making jokes about prisoners in Iraq. MAN VO: Here it is, the scandal at Ghraib and Arab prison. 10:43:36 Savage Nation attracts over 10 million listeners. MAN VO: I think there should be no mercy shown to these sub-humans. I think 1,000 of them held in the Iraqi prison should be given 24 hour trial and executed. 10:43:49 10:43:51 Shereef being photographed Going public on the issue of Abu Ghraib is about to make Shereef famous, if not notorious. I learnt that he’d risked his life by secretly going into Iraq, and wondered how it had come about. 10:44:09 10:44:12 10:44:49 Shereef’s office ext. Shereef talking to Salman Files full of legal documents SHEREEF SYNC: Some guy just walked into my office, named Mr Salar, and he told me about a horrific experience he was subjected to, and he told me all this in March. He told me he was in Abu Ghraib, and I said what is that? I had no idea what he was talking about, and he told me he was picked up and they put him into Abu Ghraib, and they tortured him for two months, and the worst thing about this is that he was in Abu Ghraib before, and during Saddam Hussein’s regime, when he was imprisoned as a, a political prisoner because he was pro-Western and he was for democracy and he was against Saddam Hussein, so he, you know, we sent him back into Abu Ghraib, and it just avalanched into a major case. Now we’re representing a possible class of 50,000 detainees. 10:44:59 He’s going to court in the name of all the prisoners, in a case against the two companies who were contracted by the US military to collect intelligence. 10:45:06 10:45:56 Shereef talking to Salman and showing him photographs of Muslims being abused by US troops Stills of Muslim men being abused and tortured SHEREEF SYNC: Well here’s two of our clients that we are representing in the Abu Ghraib matter. This, this is one individual here who was hooked up to wires, and he was electrocuted, like six times, and here is another individual who has been dragged there on a leash. The thing that’s really disturbing about this is that they’re both strong men of faith. He’s an imam, and he’s an administrator at a mosque, and both of them are you know, are deeply religious. And these are not just the only two that we found this, I mean in our findings we were able to you know, interview four to five detainees on a daily basis, and we found something very, very disturbing. The more religious someone was, the more they were subjected to unspeakable crimes. 10:46:05 The perverted politics of torture make me wonder if Bush’s war is really about liberty and freedom. 10:46:19 Shereef talking to Salman SHEREEF SYNC: Imams were stripped naked and clergy, and stripped naked and made to feed women in the nude. Imams who were fasting were being sodomised by bottles. Women wearing sex objects, I didn’t even under, didn’t even know what they were trying to describe, but one man was, an, one man was fasting, and he saw a woman and he was describing she was wearing a belt with a fake penis, and she was sodomising him. I didn’t even under, I couldn’t – you know, you, he was crying explaining this, and your stomach is turning, your mind is trying to digest what he’s trying to say to you, because he says how can it be, how can this happen? And this is my country. I’m born here, I, this is the principal, I mean I, I know what America’s about, I mean this is, I mean I, I carry this with me now. It’s the constitution, it tells you the rights that are afforded to people, and I see you know, these words are starting to walk in front of me now. They, they are taking a meaning, and, and, and this, this, this is what I, this is what I believe America should be all about, and, and, and the founding fathers dreamed that it would be about, but if they had known, if they know what is going on, what went on in Abu Ghraib, they would be turning upside down in their graves right now. 10:47:39 10:47:44 Boys playing soccer as Shereef and Salman watch Shereef's a soccer fanatic, and his sons follow in his footsteps. SHEREEF VO: I don’t want them to think in any way that they are second class citizens. I want them to understand that they are an American just as equal as Johnny or Billy, and that they have the same right and the same opportunity to be the President. 10:48:17 Like Shereef, I too am a father, and I’m determined to see my young sons grow in a tolerant, healthy society. 10:48:24 MUSIC IN 10:48:24 POV car passenger 10:48:32 10:48:36 Protestors awaiting Bush’s visit as Aliv and Seeme arrive in limo The election is now just seven days away. President Bush makes a last-minute campaign trip to the farming town of Greely, Colorado. It seems not everyone here shares Simi’s love of Bush. 10:48:48 MUSIC OUT PROTESTORS SYNC: CHANTING 10:48:57 Seeme and Aliv entering conference/Bush’s helicopter arriving/ 10:49:09 Having worked on the website ‘til dawn, they’re late. Normally, they’d have a reserved seat on the stage, where they could greet the President. CROWD SYNC: APPLAUSE 10:49:24 Seeme and others applauding for president Today in Greely, they’re just one of the crowd. 10:49:31 President Bush making speech/crowd applauding/Seeme and Aliv reacting BUSH SYNC : We’re coming down to stretch in the last week of this campaign, I will continue to talk about my vision for a more hopeful America. CROWD SYNC: APPLAUSE BUSH SYNC: Will America return to the defensive, reactive mindset that sought to manage the dangers to our country? Or will we fight a real war with the goal of victory? We’ve seen our military bring freedom to the oppressed, and justice to our enemies. Our nation has shown our character to the world. We are proud to be Americans. 10:50:19 Crowd cheering and chanting as Bush leaves CROWD SYNC: APPLAUSE AND CHANTING 10:50:29 And then in the afterglow of Bush’s fighting talk, my relatives meet a Christian fundamentalist. 10:50:36 Woman speaking to Aliv and Seeme COLLEEN SYNC: When September 11 happened, and God spoke to me and said Colleen, I want you to get the biggest bouquet you can afford and take it over to the mosque in your neighbourhood, so as I drove up the entire periphery of the mosque was lined with police cars protecting it from the violence that was going around the nation against the, against the Muslims. SIMI SYNC: Yes, yes. COLLEEN SYNC: And people did not understand at that time, that Muslims are not terrorists. SIMI SYNC: Thank you so much. I, I, I know that- ALIV SYNC: And we love you too. We love you too. SIMI SYNC: And I knew, I knew that majority of the Christians feel this way, and they love us, and we love them. COLLEEN SYNC: We love you. We stand with you, we hate the violence that’s going on against your mosque. It’s breaking our heart and we want you to know our love. 10:51:21 Seeme getting into limo with Aliv MUSIC IN 10:51:32 Seeme talking in car as Aliv listens SIMI SYNC: As of today I am more excited and more happy. I used to say I could feel the love coming from President Bush. Today I felt the love coming from an average American – an evangelical American at that, evangelicals are the ones that, who have always been very strong and anti-terrorists, and anti- Muslims. 10:51:48 Car moving along road 10:51:51 Dr Hasan working on website Back at the mansion, Dr Hasan is already working the Bush rally into the website. 10:52:03 MUSIC OUT 10:51:56 10:52:03 Hasans’ staff working in kitchen Salman and Hasans having lunch and talking Simi and I love to argue, but there’s one thing we agree on – Islam has been hijacked by despotic regimes and the clergy who have no tolerance for debate. SIMI SYNC: I have to read the Koran every day, so at night I will read it and when I’m going to sleep I will read a little, you know, a few pages, so one night I was reading it, it kind of got, you know, quite sexy! LAUGHS. And I said - SALMAN SYNC: That’s a description I’ve never heard of the Koran before. SIMI SYNC: And I, I thought to myself now wait a minute – I’m (inaudible), this is the holy month, should I be reading a book that’s talking about sex? But then I said but it’s the Koran, you know, and so you know, I, I mean the religion is very - SALMAN SYNC: It celebrates sex, I mean you know, I’m sick of Muslims coming up on the television, you know, whether it’s CNN or BBC or whatever, Islam is a very peaceful religion, okay. I will much rather, you know, as Simi just said you know, Islam’s a really sexy religion, you know? SIMI SYNC: LAUGHS SALMAN SYNC: I mean Islam’s sexy. Take it from me. ALL SYNC: LAUGHS SALMAN SYNC: And I paraphrase it, I put it- ALIV SYNC: As long as we can have a Junoon song. 10:53:06 Seeme’s sitting room with flowers and sculpture MAN VO: When it matters most, we’re here with the news and information you need. MAN VO: This is Newstalk 97.3 the Sky and we’re talking to Muhammed Ali Hasan with Muslims For Bush. 10:53:18 Aliv talking on radio show via speakerphone ALIV SYNC: Hey it’s, it’s good to be back on and I’m, and listen, I’m just excited to be on Florida radio, I, I hope I’m on Florida and Ohio radio as much as possible this week. MAN VO: Right, well now do you think Bush’s strong Christian views sometimes might get in the way of devout Muslims? ALIV SYNC: Not one bit. When President Bush says I have a high belief in God, he’s saying I have a high belief in the same God that Muslims worship to as well, so the fact that he talks about God, he’s talking about the God I pray to as well, so that makes me even a bigger supporter of him. I want him to talk about God more often, I want him to bring in his Christian values, because those are values that most Muslims share. MAN VO: Interesting. Do you think Americans dying to help the Iraqis become free, do you think that’s worth it? 10:53:59 Shots from car/driver/car radio/Junoon in back of car MAN VO: Oh I think it’s certainly worth it. If we kept Saddam Hussein in power, I’ll tell you, we’ll have a lot more Muslims dying in the future than we will right now, it’s a small price to pay for future prosperity and peace. MAN VO: This is the attack machine on WSKY the Sky. TAPE VOICE: Attack machine. 10:54:15 MUSIC IN 10:54:21 There’s no doubt about it. George Bush has completely polarised America, including the Muslim community. 10:54:30 MUSIC OUT 10:54:30 TV studio with Talat Hamdani and Salman appearing on programme I’m back in New York City. I land up in a makeshift Pakistani television studio with Talat Hamdani. I really respect her mission to change the political culture of the country. 10:54:49 10:54:55 10:55:01 SUBTITLES: I got involved because of the 9/11 Commission Report It was there that I read of the injustices against Muslims… …In this land which is our land too America TALAT SYNC: (inaudible) 10:55:06 Her message? Vote Bush out of office. 10:54:55 MUSIC IN 10:55:12 MUSIC OUT 10:55:12 TV election alert WOMAN SYNC: An election alert for all Pakistani Americans. You are playing - 10:55:15 And in Colorado, Simi’s family are making their final television call. 10:55:21 Seeme and Aliv making television appeal SIMI SYNC: ENGLISH AND NON-ENGLISH WORDS. George Bush, a vote for George Bush is $3 billion for Pakistan. A vote for George Bush is F16s to Pakistan. A vote for George Bush is getting to be a non-NATO ally of United States. It’s all plus, plus, plus. ALIV SYNC: It’s our choice. We can either have Senator Kerry, who doesn’t want Muslims to do well, or we can have President Bush, who’s trying to promote Muslims. Vote for President Bush. 10:55:49 MUSIC 10:55:49 New York City GVs 10:55:54 10:56:12 Talat walking in street and entering building Days later, and it’s all over. Bush has been re-elected for four more years. But if exit polls are to be believed, almost 90% of Muslim Americans voted against him, reflecting the profound disquiet at where America is heading. But for Talat, there is a victory. The add-on immigration clause which meant that American citizens could be deported has been dropped from Patriot Act 2. 10:56:30 Talat making speech TALAT SYNC: Since I’ve seen both the sides, you know, like as a Muslim also and as an American also, I find myself defending Islam in the American society and I find myself defending America in the Muslim society. 10:56:44 Salman and Junoon warming up backstage/doing sound check MUSIC IN 10:56:50 Unlike some other parts of the world, where Muslims seem to see themselves just as victims, Muslim Americans are fighting for their rights, and blending Islam with the modern American identity. And we haven’t lost our sense of humour. 10:57:07 MUSIC OUT 10:57:07 Azhar Usman performing on stage AZHAR SYNC: I don’t know if you guys realise, right after 9/11 everybody started talking about how Muslims around the globe supposedly hate America. I was like what? I’m an American Muslim, I’m going to find out why. I got internet access. I went on google.com. I did some research, I think I figured out. I bet Muslims around the world will stop hating America if Americans just stop killing them. CROWD SYNC: LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE AZHAR SYNC: I know it’s just a theory. 10:57:45 MUSIC IN 10:57:46 END TITLES END CREDITS SCROLL: Archive ABC KNEW-AM THE NEW YORKER Music COURTESY OF JUNOON Online Editor BILL OGDEN Colourist DUNCAN RUSSELL Dubbing Mixer MATT SKILTON Production Coordinator SAM PAYNE Production Manager IRIS MAOR Associate Producer – New York MICA McCARTHY Film Editor ASHLEY SMITH Executive Producer ANGUS MACQUEEN Producer RUHI HAMID Filmed and Directed by CLIFFORD BESTALL 10:57:49 MAN VO: Have your say on tonight’s show and explore a world of extra information, news stories and features by visiting our website at www.bbc.co.uk/thisworld. 10:58:13 October Films/BBC ident board 10:58:16 This World ident TITLES: Editor KAREN O’CONNOR © BBC MMV 10:58:23 MUSIC OUT 10:58:30 END 40 October Films RX Date: 20/01/05 “It’s My Country Too – Muslim Americans” – BBC Version Prog No: 60/ANCX800P Total Duration: 58’21“ TIME VISUALS SOUND