Dear FRONTLINE,

Thanks for going through the effort of making an unbiased program on Muslims in the world. At first, I was bothered by the segment in the program on Yasmin Saib born in Saudia Arabia, came to US 12 years ago with parents. The main reason I was bothered by her is because she was emphasizing to school children that the head scarf is not an important thing in Islam. Most devout Muslim women consider the Hijab head scarf beautiful and would not diminish it's value particularly in front of nonmuslims.

After some thought however, I realized that it was actually good that you showed the segment on Yasmin to show that we have people in our faith with some really upsidedown views and are confused about whom they wish to identify with more strongly.

I wish you would have mentioned something about the Muslims who were brought to the US as slaves and then connected that with that fact that many African-Americans feel that Islam gives them a sense of returning to their earlier roots.

Haseeb Mustaqeem
Tempe, AZ

Dear FRONTLINE,

Although I found the program well-rounded overall I was diappointed in the practically non-existent section on Muslims in Turkey and your peculiar choice of focusing solely on the head scarf issue. Turkey is a secular country nurturing 60 million Muslims. Among those Muslims there are many women who choose to cover their heads and many who do not. One example is my grandmother my mother's mother who has worn a head scarf since childhood and my mother who has never worn one in her life.

It is true that women who wear head scarfs are not welcome in Govermental Institutions including the Parliament and Public Universities and there are serious clashes on this issue every other year or so. However, these women who want to wear the head scarf are NOT the only Muslims in Turkey. There are MILLIONS of others who do not wish to cover their heads and who believe that not doing so will not prevent them from being good human beings and devout Muslims. I wish you could have emphasized and depicted the stories of these SECULAR Muslims who do not believe in living their lives as it was done hundreds of years ago.

Vildan Altuglu
New York, New York

Dear FRONTLINE,

As an Iranian-American who had to leave his home due to the "Islamic Revolution" that changed the course of modern Iran, I feel that I need to make a few comments regarding your program.

To start I must say that the documentary was a great overview of the diversity of Muslims. And I liked

the way you began with introducing Islamic civilization in the various regions of the world ending with US Muslims and then going back to political dilemmas of interpretation and conflicts arising from the implementations of these interpretations. You also did a great job of expressing the plight of women in Islamic societies. However here come the suggestions:

Why was Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Afghanistan under the Taliban not covered? They are by far more conservative in their strict and draconian interpretation of Islam than Iran is. The Shiite school in Iran at least has allowed for interpretation especially with regards to modern needs and as shown by the reforms that are trying to interpret Islam in a democratically compatible manor.

On the issue of women, the program covered a number of observant women as

shown in your Malaysia and Turkey segment who were willing to part take in covering themselves. This is a new trend and if a country is democratic it should allow women the right to wear the Hijab or to not cover her hair if they do not want too. Iran and Turkey are the opposite side of the coin.

In Turkey there is discrimination for observant women who want to wear the headscarf and in Iran for women who do not want to cover their hair. In Iran because it is forced women wear the headscarf and most women given a choice like Turkey would take the headscarf off. Islamic law is something Iranians time and time again in elections have voted against. I guess the link between ethnicity and Islam was not covered significantly enough. In Turkey the Islamic movement is more about going back to Turkish roots in rejection of the overly westernized secular government. I am sure Islam is being used as a political tool to encourage becoming more Turkish and for the Turks to end their identity crisis of being Europeans or Turks.

In Egypt

and many pro-western Arab states Islam is a political tool to raise one's voice against the corrupt regimes. As your show mentioned the only opposition groups that have survived are the political-Islamic movements since the leftists and other groups were eliminated since the sixties.

Political Islam is a very recent phenomenon as your Malaysian expert was stating. Many Moslems like myself have been completely shocked by these movements and the ideologies they espouse. And finally in America there are over a million Iranians and other new immigrants from the Middle East who are secular non-religious Moslems and your show did not mention them at all. I know of large Iranian, Iraqi, Afghan, Syrian and other newly arrived immigrants who are secular and whose women do not cover their hair and Islam does not play an important role in their daily lives just like secular Jews and Christians please tell the story of these Moslems as well.

Again a great show and I hope you continue to produce more documentaries reflecting all the diversity with in the Islamic world.

Hirad Dinavari
Alexandria , VA

Dear FRONTLINE,

After enjoying several Frontline programs about, what I then believed to be, truthseeking in various subjects, your "Muslims" show finally exposed Frontline's overall agenda for me. Your producers are in league with evil to undermine civilization. You're not about truth, you're for supporting and encouraging the destruction of Western ideals and precepts. The very same precepts that fostered the development of the best country the Earth has to offer, the United States of America.

As well, you're probably in league with the proliferators of the "tolerance propaganda" that bombards American airwaves daily with their utter revisionist lies about what rampant immigration means to America. When is your "Mexicans" program going to air? The one that ignores their impact on the quality of life of those Americans who have lived here all our lives? The one that whitewashes the extra social expense, both financially and otherwise.

Don't we Americans owe all ignorant backward cultures/religions a way out of their self created misery?

The unfortunate truth about Islam and the West, is that if we the West do not crush the fire out of it now...force it Islam to accept it's own failures and to come into the 21st Century.. and hold whole nations responsible for their so-called "extremists," then the future of Islam will be the genocidal removal of their culture from the face of the Earth.

Kansas City, Missouri

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you for an excellent program. I consider myself an observant Muslim, but I learned more about my own religion from your documentary.

As a woman, I was especially impressed with the segment on the woman who was trying to obtain a divorce from her husband. Alongside her I too came to realize that it is sharia laws that suppress women, but rather the male-interpretation of sharia and repressive cultures and traditions.

Even my father, who is normally a cynic when it comes to American mass media, was enraptured by the show and urged me to forward this website address to all our friends and family.

Saima Hussain
Toronto, Ontario

Dear FRONTLINE,

Although I was initially bemused by the title of your program, "Muslims," as if what there is to say about Muslims could be captured in a tv show do you think anyone would ever do a program entitled "Jews" or "Christians?, the program was really excellent. The approach of talking to and about people living with Islam as opposed to the tenets of the faith or the history of Islamic civilization was both novel and refreshing.

Many who have disparaged the program in this forum seem to be disappointed that the program did not lend support to their particular view of Islam and Muslims. I think the program thoughtfully reflected the diversity of personalities, opinions, and lifestyles that Muslims live with and the real issues they are grappling with, not very dissimilar from what people of other faiths face. Many in the U.S. have had their opinions shaped by what they see of current events in the media and reinforced by others with superficial knowledge like them. They may never have met someone who is Muslim or taken the trouble to learn more about Islam.

These critics just may not be comfortable with the idea that Muslims can't be readily pigeonholed as terrorists and, in fact, that Muslims may seem more familiar than foreign. Notice that you rarely see someone say, "I know Muslims, I work with them, they're my neighbors... and I think they're terrorists out to get me."

Thank you again for your fascinating program I still think it needs a new title! and my utmost respect to those can listen for and hear the message above the din of network media.

boston , massachusetts

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thanks for broadcasting the documentary on Muslims. Since the event of 9/11 it has become more and more important that the non Muslims get to know their Muslim neighbors a little better.

I wanted to make a comment on one of the parts of the program. The Saudi woman, Yasmin Said, went to a high school to dispel the misconceptions about Islam. She pulled out the "Abaya and hijab" and said that the veil does not represent Islam. She further went on to say that it is not required by Islam and woman cover only by choice. She said that there is no mention in the Quran that a woman needs to cover. I would like to clarify this by giving you the verse from the Quran which does instruct Muslim women to cover their heads with a scarf or some sort of headcovering. This translation is taken from that of Yusuf Ali.

"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! Turn ye all- together towards God, that ye may attain bliss." Quran Chapter 24: v:31

As can be seen clearly from this verse, a specific injunction has been laid out for the Muslim women to cover their heads. The Arabic word 'khimar' refers to a headcovering. In the above translation the word 'khimar' has been translated as 'veil' whereas in other translations the word used is 'headcovering' to mean 'khimar'. The Quran does not specify what kind of headcovering to use. This is why one can see that Muslim women from different parts of the world use different kinds of covering.

There are many Muslim women, such as Yasmin Said in the program, who do not wish to cover and they go on to say that it is not mentioned anywhere in the Quran. It is certainly upto the individual whether she wants to cover or not but it is incorrect to state that it is not mandated by the Quran.

I hope that PBS will continue to air more documentaries on Islam and Muslims in the future.

Thanks

Shahina Bashir

Shahina Bashir
Germantown, MD

Dear FRONTLINE,

I think it is total dicatorship that the turkish governmet forces women not to wear the hijab. Other countries in the region have left this matter to the people. For example in Jordan 50% women do not wear the hijab on their own choice while another 50% wears the hijab freely. Turkish government has got to abondon it's way of trying to teach it's people how to leave.

Ehsan Samani
Austin, TX

Dear FRONTLINE,

It was an AWESOME presentation on Islam and muslims!! It is the best documentary I have ever seen.... Very accurate and represents the mainstream muslims often unseen in the US media.

Living in both cultures, I believe there is a big gap in understanding between east and west. That was clear in some of the comments such as 'Islam has declared war on west' or 'one-sided because it didn't talk about "military" Islam?',etc.. These comments show how much Islam is misunderstood by many Westerners, as a religion of blood and uncivilization!

By the same token, a lot of people who are living in the east, don't see but the ugly face of the US in its blind support to the state that occupied their land, and destroyed their lives.. They don't see the freedom and liberties that are in the West and that can't be found in many muslim countries although these meanings freedom, liberty, human rights.. are integral parts of Islam..

I want to thank Frontline for this great effort in showing the truth and helping bridge such a gap, and want to tell those who still think of Islam as a bloody or military religion one thing: terrorism these days is more a reality than an ideology!! It has nothing to do with Islam, a religion that the history has witnessed its civilization in all terms freedom, human rights,....

Ahmad Hoblos
Ypsilanti, MI

Dear FRONTLINE,

I am continually amazed and impressed at how inclusive Frontline is in its portrayal of major current events. Whether is is Islam, Globalization, Economics, or major historical events.

I just caught the broadcast on Islam and was happy to see there was such an emphasis on women. Islam in my view has a tendancy to be a very male-centric religion much like it's counterparts in Christianity and Juddaism. I think women will be a driving force in creating the new face of Islam and religions in general we're getting a heavy dose of Islam lately due to the turmoil in the Mid-East and in NYC in Sept '01. They are not just the bearers of children and the rock of the home. They have a voice and it deserves to be heard. They are not second class citizens they were created equal like all of us in the eyes of GOD in general, not just the god of a particular religion.

I am even more intrigued that in Iran, the youth of the country are making great strides in political and religious reform. It's comparable to the baby boom in the 40's and 50's here in the US. This is going to be an exciting time in this once and sometimes tumultous part of the world. I think all eyes will be watching and if the Arab and world communities are observant enough, they may see something incredibly awesome come out of it in the coming generations tolerance, peace, and a revived culture.

At risk of being too wordy. What I would really like to see, is that all people educate themselves not only about Islam but also about Christianity, Juddaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Metaphysics. It has been my longstanding observation that most people are afraid to look outside of the conventional views of these religions, or have an incredibly difficult time incorporating these ideas w/ politics, law, economics, et al in theirown societies. All of these religions in essence say the same thing they are even a major part of rehabilitation or step programs: we are all part of the same great power, we are all equal in the eyes of whatever god we see or choose to worship. We all need to take the time to step away from our complicated and busy lives and learn from other cultures and religions, this is when we will all truly come together and I'm glad the producers and journalists at Frontline took the time they did to bring this to all of us.

c m pearson
st petersburg , florida

Dear FRONTLINE,

I greatly appreciate your efforts to seek a clearer view of Islam and at the same time I would like to remind the viewers that a religion that has been around for over 1400 years can barely be explained in a two hour segment.

Islam is an intense religion with an answer to every single question one may have. The only objective is to fairly and patiently seek the correct and accurate answer instead of solely relying on media and propoganda. This show by frontline, as well as a previous PBS program titled "Islam: Empire of Faith" truly and fairly attempt to bring to light the religion of Islam. Truly commendable work that by God's will, should be rewarded. Thank you.

Asma Jarad
Chicago, IL

Dear FRONTLINE,

coming from a muslim country, I have to totally disagree with frontline. I also agree with the many points brought up by other viewers of the biased side that frontline portray. First, the quran did not in its entirety preach peace, frontline should have quoted other verses that encourage violence to show a balance view.

In my country, which I am afraid to name, christians who share or are either accused of sharing their faith with a muslim can be killed "in the name of Allah" and the murderer would be set free by the government. In fact, my friend and his family has to flee from my country because his father became a christian.

I do agree most muslims do not practice violence day in and day out, but do consider the fact that around the world, many christians are persecuted by muslims because of their faith, so if frontline see so much similiarity between christianity and muslims, why is there such treatment of christians, also, if muslim religion is all about peace, then why are there so many cases of violence in the name of Allah, where is the root cause? I believe it is in the teaching itself, not bin ladin or whoever that was used to disguise the inherent nature of the religion.

I am disappointed in PBS, which is a station I watched so often, to use public funds to support such propaganda and misguided many others. I personally do not hate muslim and I grew up with them, but we should still let truth be truth even though it might be ugly.

brenda pee
columbus, oh

Dear FRONTLINE,

Dear Frontline.

You need need to go back and read the quran before you do any more programs on islam especialy surah 9:5. It needs to be known that when the quran speaks of inocents it is refering to muslims. Muslims are the only inocent people in the islamic faith. Every one else is considerd and infidel and if they cannot convert you they are instructed to kill you.

It is a shame that every one listens to the lies muslims speak of there own religion to gain favortism from the rest of the world. It is also a shame that people speak of intepeting when refering to religious texts. These texts were not writen to be interpeted in any symbolic way. What was writen is what was ment. Anyone that belives otherwise is in for a big surprise in the near future.

Gregory LaFarlette
Oak Harbor, WA

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thanks for a well put together program in the manner that we have come to expect from Public Broadcasting. Well thought out and edited, and yes perhaps a bit slanted to a certain extent... but who cares? The important message is that we all need to take the time and make the effort to understand each other, no matter what our differences, if we expect to find common ground on which to build a peaceful global society.

I would like to think that every one of our Service personnel involved in the current conflict, has had an opportunity to view a slimilar documentary.

Not all Christians hate Muslims, and verse-vica... The Quoran doesn't teach hate, nor does the Bible. But it is awfully easy for even the "true" word of God to be corrupted in a society where only the clergy are literate enough to read it.

Corvallis, Oregon

Dear FRONTLINE,

Dear Frontline,

Your documentary was one-sided presenting a soft Islam only in some economically progressive Islamic countries. It never considered representatives of the 2/3 of the other Islamic/non-islamic countries with substantial Muslim population [Pakistan, Indonesia and India; combined muslim population of @ 450 million]. There was no historical context at all.

The most surprising element was the absense of Saudi Arabian representation! Most likely Saudi Arabia never allowed you any filming and intervews.

I would say that the documentary is a white wash. It did not even represent militant Islam. May be it was the intention that Islam is not militant?

Prakash Bhirud
Windsor, Ontario

home · portraits of ordinary muslims · introduction · major themes · interviews · faqs
readings & links · discussion · teacher's guide
producer chat · tapes & transcripts · press · credits · privacy
FRONTLINE · wgbh · pbsi

web site copyright WGBH educational foundation