Lifting veil on abuse of Muslims
“ARE you going to blow us up?” yelled one neighbour as Katie Freeman strolled through her town while wearing a hijab.
She donned the traditional clothing as part of a social experiment for the documentary, My Week As A Muslim.
Katie, 43, is a healthcare assistant who said she had prejudices that led her to fear Muslims, but as part of a Channel Four programme she lived for a week with Saima Alvi, a Muslim teacher and mother-of-five from Altrincham. As well as changing her clothes, Katie was given a makeover to darken her skin – which has been criticised.
But taking part in the programme challenged Katie’s views and opened her eyes to Islamaphobia.
Katie said: “I didn’t know what to expect or what they would think of me. Would they think I was a racist? And what would I think of them?
“But Saima opened the door and put her arms out. I was quite taken aback.”
Katie admits that she didn’t know any Muslims before making the programme. “I would never class myself as racist but I was perhaps quite fearful of them,” she said.
“I would see a Muslim and I would be on my guard because of what I had seen on the news.”
Saima, 49, and her family, invited Katie to spend a week with them to see what life is like in a Muslim household. Katie spent time shopping for a hijab in Rusholme, meeting worshippers at the Altrincham Islamic Centre and attending a vigil at the British Muslim Heritage Centre – where Saima is vice-chair.
She also spent time with Saima’s daughters at their Altrincham home, at a soup kitchen and observing a marriage meeting.
“I wanted Katie to get an idea of everything we do in our community,” said Saima. “What was emotional for me was seeing a person who had opinions based on ignorance and fear who was willing to give it a go. She was willing to learn and immerse herself in the community and as a result it was a very positive response. Katie was willing to go beyond her prejudices. It was an emotional rollercoaster.”
The documentary was filmed, by chance, in the immediate aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing – which killed 22 people.
It was only when Katie ventured home to Winsford, Cheshire, that she received any abuse.
Walking through her home town Katie was told, ‘Muslims are not welcome here,’ while one passerby yelled ‘are you going to blow us up?.’ “The first time I went into Rusholme I felt intimidated,” she said. “There were lots of people in traditional dress. Where I live it’s a 97 per cent white population – you don’t see people in burkas. Slowly, bit by bit, I felt more comfortable.
“But I went back to Winsford and that’s where I got the abuse. I felt frightened and vulnerable.
“I have never had any verbal abuse before in my life. This is what it’s like every day for people like Saima.”
Executive producer Fozia Khan said: “The programme allowed Katie to meaningfully walk in the shoes of someone from a different background.”
Today, 9pm on Channel 4