WORLD WEDDINGS A Game of Two Halves Tx Date: 20th September 2005 This script was made from audio tape – any inaccuracies are due to voices being unclear or inaudible 10.00.00 World Weddings Theme Music 10.00.05 Title Page WORLD WEDDINGS 10.00.11 Music/crowds cheering 10.00.23 Sanne Voice over I’m his most loyal fan, he likes me being here, he always waves. If Mo loses he can be so grumpy. When he wins it’s perfect; we order Chinese takeaway, everything is ok. 10.00.38 Music/crowds cheering 10.00.41 Narrator He’s the darling of the fans and the defensive lynch pin for Dutch football team Venlo. And this season is one of the biggest in Mo’s career. 10.00.48 Music/crowds cheering 10.00.52 Narrator The team are chasing promotion to the top league and days after the deciding match he’s marrying his fiancé Sanne. 10.00.58 Music 10.00.59 Title Page A GAME OF TWO HALVES 10.01.04 Band music 10.01.07 Narrator Queen’s Day in the small southern town of Veldhoven. Like most Dutch people Mo and Sanne are out celebrating the national holiday. 10.01.15 Band music 10.01.19 Mohammed Voice over Queen’s Day, the orange feeling, the feeling of togetherness, solidarity. That’s what the orange feeling is about, a day to be aware that they’re Dutch. 10.01.32 Sanne Voice over Fifteen thousand people in our neighbourhood alone. Mentally handicapped, foreigners, Dutch, it’s super. 10.01.41 Band music 10.01.45 Narrator This is the Holland that the whole world knows; relaxed, multi-cultural and a little bit crazy. 10.01.51 Band music 10.01.59 Sanne Voice over We met in a discotheque in Eindhoven; he stood on my toes four times. I came home and my mother asked; Mo, what’s that short for? I don’t know, I said, I don’t really care. Isn’t it Mohammed? Possibly, I don’t know. It was another week before he told me; my real name is Mohammed and I’m of Moroccan descent. 10.02.21 Mohammed Voice over The fact that I introduced myself as Mo came from experience and fear. I know how some women can react. 10.02.28 Sanne Voice over I didn’t see it, it was summer, we were all tanned and so was he. 10.02.33 Narrator They’ve been together now for seven years. 10.02.36 Sanne Subtitles That’s typical Mo. Sitting relaxed in the sun, thinking the women will make the tea. 10.02.46 Narrator Mo’s mother came to Holland thirty years ago from Morocco. She divorced his father at a young age and raised five children on a meagre salary working as a cleaning lady. Things are very different to when she first arrived. 10.03.06 Mohammed’s mother Voice over In the past I was never scared. Now I feel I really need to prove myself. In shops, for instance, more smiles, more thank yous. I’m so scared, I can’t be myself anymore. 10.03.26 Mohammed Voice over We have to do it Mother, be friendlier, more polite perhaps even exaggerate it. If we can influence people by being positive we have to do it, it’s our duty. It’s the same with Islam. If people say Islam isn’t tolerant, I say to them look at me. I’m a Muslim; I’ll show you we are tolerant. 10.03.48 Sanne Voice over In the short term things will get worse. We haven’t seen the end of it, people are really scared. 10.03.59 Mohammed’s mother Voice over To be honest, I’m more scared for my grandchildren, really scared. 10.04.06 Narrator Mo’s mother has good reason to be concerned. Last November simmering racial tensions exploded in a string of arson attacks across Holland against mosques, churches and schools. 10.04.18 Music 10.04.20 Narrator The spark was the brutal murder of controversial film maker Theo van Gogh. After the release of his film criticising Islamic attitudes to women he was shot dead in the street by a Muslim fundamentalist. 10.04.32 Music 10.04.37 Narrator It caused an outpouring of fury on both sides of Holland’s ethnic divide. 10.04.41 Music 10.04.45 Presenter Subtitles Ladies and gentlemen, here is Mohammed Allach! 10.04.48 Narrator In the aftermath Mohammed Allach was transformed from journey man right back into a spokesman for progressive Muslims. He set up a foundation called Morocci Stars, to provide positive role models of successful Moroccans. 10.05.02 Mohammed Subtitles The murder of Van Gogh made a big impression on me. Apart for the fact that what happened was terrible, I can think we can be clear about that – it was the first time in my life that for two or three days I didn’t feel at home in the Netherlands. It was an unbelievably frightening feeling. 10.05.22 Presenter Subtitle You felt really unsafe? 10.05.24 Mohammed Subtitles Yes. I got e-mails from Muslim women who’d been spat at and beaten in markets. Children too. And I thought, God! How are we going to get this back on track? 10.05.36 Music 10.05.40 Narrator Mohammed and Sanne are determined that their wedding should be an example of racial harmony, though things don’t always run smoothly. Mo’s father is a traditionalist and would like Sanne to convert. 10.05.52 Narrator She’s not going that far but she is making some concessions to Muslim sensibilities in the build up to the big day. 10.06.00 Sanne Subtitles Why don’t you have a look at the lingerie? 10.06.07 Mohammed Subtitle I suppose it’s just acceptable! 10.06.11 Sanne Subtitles If I showed up before the registrar in this, I don’t think you’d be happy. But I have picked a really decent dress. 10.06.25 Narrator Sanne leaves Mo behind to try on the wedding dress with his mother. 10.06.33 Sanne Voice over We made quite sure that it wasn’t too revealing. At one point I tried on a very strapless dress and when you looked down you could see my shoes. But it was a beautiful dress. 10.06.52 Narrator Sanne is not just a footballer’s wife. 10.06.58 Narrator She recently gave up her job as a marketing manager to run Mohammed’s anti-racism foundation. 10.07.05 Mohammed’s mother Subtitles It’s so beautiful. Gorgeous. Girl, you are so beautiful. Mohammed is going to drool on the day. 10.07.24 Narrator Even before the killing of Theo van Gogh, there was a side to Holland that did not quite fit the crazy orange image. 10.07.32 Narrator Outside the big cities like Amsterdam with its liberal attitude to sex and drugs much of Holland has always been deeply conservative. 10.07.45 Narrator Sanne’s parents live in the small town of Veldhoven. Her mum, Vera, is a former teacher. Her Dad, Bert, is a retired director of an institution for the mentally disabled. 10.08.05 Vera Voice over When you tell people your daughter is marrying a Moroccan boy you notice immediately that people throw their own images, ideas and fears at you. And you always have to defend yourself against them saying; yes but it’s so and so, he’s very sweet, it’s all good. I often have to explain that she won’t be leaving for Morocco and that she won’t have to wear a headscarf and that’s extremely tough. 10.08.35 Bert Voice over Explain, explain; it never stops. 10.08.39 Vera Voice over Sometimes I’ve had enough. 10.08.47 Sanne Subtitles Do you want to see the wedding card? 10.08.50 Vera Subtitle It looks like a mourning card! 10.08.52 Sanne Subtitle Oh, shut up! 10.08.57 Sanne Subtitles This is deep purple. This is the front. 10.09.01 Mohammed Subtitles But wait Sanne… Sanne and Mohammed? 10.09.06 Vera Subtitles Would you prefer Mohammed and Sanne? 10.09.12 Sane Subtitles This has been given some thought. This goes from narrow to wide, this goes from narrow to wide. It’s called “design”. 10.09.19 Mohammed Subtitles Yeah, but you’ll have to point that out on the card! No, seriously, I really like it. 10.09.27 Vera Subtitles Mo, listen. I went to the butcher today. I said to him, “Can you provide me with Halal meat for the reception?” He says, “Yeah, but what is that?” I said, “That’s ritually slaughtered meat.” He said, “Hang on, I’ll make a phone call.” I said, “Don’t worry.” He said, “No, I am calling.” So he’s on the phone and he tells his supplier, “That’s ritually slaughtered pork”! 10.10.02 Mohammed Subtitle Look Dad, ritual ham! 10.10.11 Narrator It’s not only the small town butcher who seems slightly confused by the Islamic element to this wedding. 10.10.20 Jeweller Subtitles We have to start somewhere, so here’s a few… 10.10.28 Mohammed Subtitles In Morocco, we’d give each other a ring as well, but in Morocco you also have to provide a dowry. So you have to give the bride’s family a little something. 10.10.43 Sanne Subtitles I think my dad asked for a camel and three goats. 10.10.52 Sanne Subtitles I wear my engagement ring on the left. I believe Catholics do it exactly the other way round. 10.10.59 Mohammed Subtitle Muslims, left or right? 10.11.03 Jeweller Subtitle I…I don’t know. 10.11.05 Mohammed Subtitle I think it’s on the right. 10.11.07 Sanne Subtitles Really? Maybe you should ask around. 10.11.10 Jeweller Subtitles When it comes to the young people socialising in Holland, everything is really mixed. But when it comes to getting married, you notice a different attitude. It’s easier to marry someone of your own colour, so to speak. 10.11.44 Mohammed Subtitle It’s safer, especially towards the parents. 10.11.49 Narrator If a mixed marriage is a bit unusual so is having a local celebrity in the shop. 10.11.54 Jeweller Subtitle How are things with your team? 10.11.57 Mohammed Subtitles Neat. They’re going to be champions. It’s going really well. 10.12.05 Jeweller Subtitle Better than FC Eindhoven? 10.12.09 Mohammed Subtitle Yeah! 10.12.16 Narrator It’s February and Mohammed’s club Venlo are away to Excelsior in Rotterdam. It’s a crucial game for the championship race. The coach believes Mohammed is key to Venlo’s chances. 10.12.31 Coach Voice over Mohammed is a winner to me and the team. That’s the reason I brought him here to Venlo. He has lots of experience, is ruthless in the tackle and lives like a pro so for me the ideal person to have on board. 10.12.44 Music/cheering 10.12.48 Narrator Sanne has arrived for the game, as have Mohammed’s younger brother Monsif and his new Moroccan bride Imhem. 10.12.54 Music/cheering 10.13.05 Narrator Venlo are lying third in the league. 10.13.07 Music/cheering 10.13.11 Narrator They need to be first to get automatic promotion to the Dutch Premiership and join the big boys of Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord. 10.13.18 Music/cheering 10.13.22 Narrator Even at two one up, Monsif isn’t convinced that Mohammed is on form. 10.13.26 Music/cheering 10.13.29 Monsif Voice over He’s not so lucky today, probably his knee I think. I’ve often seen him play better than this. 10.13.35 Music/cheering 10.13.42 Narrator The game ends in a two-two draw. Two vital points are lost. 10.13.46 Music/cheering 10.13.52 Narrator Venlo’s fans react with resignation, they are a generally peaceful bunch but elsewhere Dutch club football has a history of hooliganism and racism, often directed against Jews and black players. 10.14.04 Narrator With an increase in Muslim footballers in the league a different kind of racial abuse has arrived. 10.14.14 Mohammed Voice over It’s a result of what’s happening in the world. Islam is the subject so of course we notice it on the pitch, especially after the killing of Theo van Gogh. Sometimes you get words like ‘murderer’ thrown at you or sheep sounds. We like sheep, well we like eating mutton so they make sheep sounds. Sometimes the chants are funny but sometimes they hurt. 10.14.41 Narrator To combat the problem the Dutch Football Association has told referees to stop the game if the crowd make racist chants. Some noises are even on the banned list, including bleating like a sheep. 10.14.54 Narrator In the bar after the game many fans can’t see the point. 10.15.01 Fan 1 Voice over A lot of things are shouted but why do we do it? It’s purely to unsettle them, whatever we think gets to them. 10.15.09 Fan 2 Voice over That’s what it’s all about. It’s no reflection of society; most people outside the stadium would never discriminate but inside it’s permissible apparently but it’s wrong. 10.15.23 Fan 1 Voice over It’s strange but I can laugh about it when people do it, when they go ‘baa’. I see it as humour but I’m not that sensitive. People can say anything to me. 10.15.37 Narrator Negative attitudes towards Moroccans are not confined to the football terraces. 10.15.45 Guests arrive 10.15.51 Narrator Tonight Sanne is getting together with former colleagues for an accessories party. 10.16.05 Narrator The mood is jolly until the conversation turns to the immigration issue. 10.16.13 Woman 1 Voice over I was waiting to get a council flat and all of a sudden a Moroccan woman with I don’t know how many kids, got preference. Well I’m from here; I work here, so I’m thinking there’s something wrong. These are regulations that don’t make sense when I work here, when I’m Dutch, when I was born and raised in this city, I should get preference. 10.16.35 Woman 2 Voice over My friend at the employment agency says; I would gladly hire a hundred Turks for factory work but not a hundred Moroccans because ninety of them won’t do any work, you hear this a lot. 10.16.49 Woman 3 Voice over Look at the prisons; all the inmates are dark skinned that doesn’t mean they’re all Moroccan but it’s almost never a white criminal. 10.16.59 Woman 2 Voice over Hold on, my brother works at the Court House; it’s not true that immigrants make up the majority of inmates. 10.17.07 Woman 1 Voice over But it’s a fact, most inmates are foreigners, these are facts. 10.17.13 Sanne Voice over It has nothing to do with where you’re from or what your religion is, what matters is your position in society. If lots of Dutch were in the lowest economic class they would be the ones in jail. 10.17.26 Woman 1 Voice over We’ll never agree on this. 10.17.33 Sanne Voice over Often people like that don’t want to listen and it’s really difficult for me. I notice that I really don’t want to have these discussions any more with anyone because you’re defending your husband, boyfriend, against essentially baseless allegations. It makes you feel rotten. 10.17.57 Narrator The number of Muslims in Holland has doubled in the last fifteen years to almost a million. But they still represent only six percent of the population and there are just three hundred thousand Moroccans in the whole country. 10.18.12 Music 10.18.14 Narrator But there is widespread concern about extremism within the Muslim population. In November last year the police raided a house in The Hague and claimed to have broken up a terrorist cell. 10.18.27 Music 10.18.32 Narrator Even before the current crisis there was evidence of extreme views among some of Holland’s Muslims. 10.18.40 Narrator Several years ago a teacher in an Islamic primary school in the north of Holland became concerned about some of her pupils. 10.18.51 Teacher Voice over We thought things had gone seriously wrong when a nine year old boy said he wanted to be a jet pilot. His reason was that he wanted to bomb the Jews. 10.19.09 Narrator It turned out the boy and his classmates had been shown this pro-Hamas propaganda video during religion classes. 10.19.19 Teacher Voice over It’s logical that the children were shocked by it and many had nightmares after they watched this video. 10.19.30 Teacher Voice over I think it’s really unwise for children, some of whom are already told at home that Jews are killers and bad, to have that notion reinforced at school. 10.19.43 Narrator A Dutch Intelligence Service investigation later hit the headlines by claiming that at least twenty percent of Islamic primary schools had received funding from fundamentalist sources. 10.20.01 Teacher Voice over When we discovered that these images were being shown we filed a complaint straight away and said that it had to stop immediately. We think that if we hadn’t done that even younger children would have seen the tape. There were other tapes as well. The religion teacher has apparently apologised and said he’ll never do it again but the guy still works there. 10.20.32 Narrator The teacher who brought the issue to light was Sanne’s sister Malu. 10.20.38 Narrator Mohammed and Sanne supported Malu’s stance at her school. 10.20.46 Narrator The Dutch government has responded to the rise in racial tension with a radical new policy. 10.20.53 Narrator This summer a law was passed introducing compulsory citizenship tests for non-western people wanting to come to Holland. 10.21.02 Narrator Mohammed’s brother Monsif and his new Moroccan wife Imhem are paying a visit. They got married quickly to beat the new law. 10.21.15 Monsif Voice over I knew that the law was going to change in Holland because of the integration policy and so Moroccans and Turks tried to bring a bride in quickly from Morocco or Turkey to the Netherlands. 10.21.34 Music 10.21.35 Narrator Under the new legislation would-be immigrants have to watch a video and take an exam, in Dutch, which tests their knowledge of Holland before they even leave their own country. 10.21.48 Woman 1 on video When I arrived here it was incredibly cold, I didn’t really have a warm coat with me. 10.21.54 Woman 2 on video I got quite a shock of course, I thought, my goodness, they really are white. 10.22.01 Music 10.22.07 Narrator The film contains some important information about geography. 10.22.10 Voice over The Netherlands means ‘the low countries’. Approximately a third of Holland is below sea level. If there were to be a flood now, a large area of Holland would disappear under water. 10.22.26 Mohammed Subtitles Nothing will be left! Don’t come here. 10.22.32 Narrator Some of the tape appears to be borrowed from the Ministry of Tourism. 10.22.38 Narrator Though the Ministry of Tourism wouldn’t perhaps use this section on housing. 10.22.42 Voice over This accommodation is for people with low incomes. This is called ‘sociola volingbow’; it means council or public housing. 10.22.51 Monsif Subtitles That image says “This is where you’ll end up.” 10.22.54 Mohammed Subtitles But be honest, for Moroccans or Turks, it’s like paradise, man! 10.23.00 Voice over A total of six people live in this small flat; the children can’t play outside. There are leaks which they have to mend themselves. 10.23.11 Narrator The video is supposed to help prepare immigrants for life in Holland. 10.23.15 Music 10.23.17 Mohammed Subtitles It’s realistic. Most immigrants will end up living there. But I don’t know if this will have any effect. I don’t know if this is supposed to inform or deter. 10.23.35 Narrator And what about the test. The questions are hardly taxing. 10.23.39 Monsif Subtitle What’s the capital of Holland? 10.23.42 Imhem Subtitle Amsterdam. 10.23.46 Monsif Subtitles What about girls in Holland? Do their parents decide who they marry? 10.23.56 Imhem Subtitles No. When a girl likes a boy, she goes to him. 10.24.05 Narrator But despite her knowledge of Holland’s culture, Monsif’s new wife would have had no chance of getting into the country under the new regulations. As yet, she can’t speak any Dutch. 10.24.16 Crowd cheering 10.24.22 Narrator Mohammed Allach is one of Venlo’s most popular players and despite Holland’s racial tensions the fans are happy to worship a Muslim idol. 10.24.32 Crowd Subtitle Allach is great, ole, ole! 10.24.37 Narrator His high profile campaign for racial tolerance has won him many friends. But Venlo’s long season has ended in disappointment; no promotion. 10.24.50 Mohammed Voice over Mixed emotions; we did badly in the play-offs but did well in the league, finished third. We played good football but it didn’t work out. Very disappointing. I’ll feel down for another day but come Saturday, I’ll be the happiest guy in the world. 10.25.06 Crowd cheering 10.25.12 Music 10.25.38 Narrator The Mayor of Veldhoven is presiding over this local celebrity wedding; he views the marriage as an example to the whole country. 10.25.46 Music 10.25.48 Mayor Subtitles Ladies and gentlemen, when we talk about integration, when we talk about a multi-cultural society, then these are the ideas in my opinion upon which we can build. Let’s just engage with each other, meet each other, that would end many arguments. 10.26.07 Mayor Subtitles Mohammed Allach, do you take Sanne Bijhout to be your lawfully wedded wife and do you promise to loyally fulfil the obligations that the law attaches to matrimony. What is your answer to that? 10.26.24 Mohammed Yeah. 10.26.29 Mayor Sanne Bijhout… 10.26.35 Sanne Yeah. 10.26.35 Mayor Subtitles Then I hereby declare Mohammed Allach and Sanne Bijhout husband and wife. Congratulations. 10.26.42 Applause/family singing 10.27.03 Narrator The Muslim side of the family add their own traditions. 10.27.05 Cheering/applause 10.27.14 Music 10.27.25 Narrator Mohammed’s coach has his own post-match analysis of the wedding. 10.27.29 Music 10.27.32 Coach Voice over Dutch background, Moroccan background; it’s two different cultures but even so they found each other. I’m over the moon. 10.27.40 Music 10.27.47 Vera Voice over When people love each other it’s good whether they’re Moroccan, Dutch, Turk or Greek. Love is love and they love each other. 10.27.58 Music 10.28.07 Mohammed Voice over You feel intense happiness, you cry, people are happy for you, it’s the best day of your life. It’s all true, it’s all beautiful. 10.28.18 Sanne Voice over And you get sore feet. No, it’s a super day. 10.28.29 End Music Credits 10.28.32 Narrator MELISSA BERRY Additional Camera JONATHAN YOUNG Colourist BRIAN METHERELL Dubbing Mixer JOHN ROGERSON Online Editor ROD HUTSON Title Graphics WHY NOT ASSOCIATES Production Team MARTHA O’SULLIVAN EMMA HILL LADONNA HALL Production Manager JANE WILLEY Unit Manager SUSAN CRIGHTON Picture Editor RYSHARD OPYRCHAL 10.28.49 Filmed & Directed by IVAN O’MAHONEY 10.28.58 Executive Producer KAREN O’CONNOR Series Producer SAM BAGNALL BBC www.bbc.co.uk/thisworld © BBC MMV 10.29.01 End BBC World Weddings: A Game of Two Halves 1 1