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A TURKISH Cypriot family is to feature in a BBC 1 programme called “Being Muslim”, which will depict how British Turkish Cypriots bury their deceased.

The 40-minute programme produced by Worker Bee – A Banijay Company – is part of the “Being” series focusing on different religions.

Being Muslim is currently being shown online on BBC iPlayer, but is to be broadcast on BBC 1 on Tuesday, April 6, at 10.45pm UK time.

Directed by Ziyaad Desai, the executive producer is Michelle Chappell and Production Manager is Sophie White.

Examining the birth, life and burial rituals of Muslims from selected families in the UK, the programme focuses on the funeral at London’s Tottenham Park Cemetery last September of 83-year-old Turkish Cypriot Gülsün Remziye İndje, who had previously been featured in Cyprus Today as being the oldest Turkish Cypriot to have beaten both Covid-19 and cancer.

Mrs İndje was originally from Larnaca and had two children and was a grandmother of six, including Cyprus Today chief reporter Kerem Hasan.

In Being Muslim, Mrs İndje’s daughter Emine Hasan and Kerem give an account of their feelings and the funeral customs of the UK Turkish Cypriot community.

“A microphone was put on me for the day, after having been coincidentally approached by them to film us,” Mr Hasan said.

“The family were happy that my grandmother, who was a much respected woman in the community because she would recite mevlit prayers for the deceased and was a woman of faith, will be remembered with this documentary, which has also sought to educate people on how British Turkish Cypriots conduct their funeral affairs and our general beliefs on Islam.”

The programme also features an interview with UK Turkish Islamic Trust funeral director Erkin Güney, who explains the rituals followed when a person passes.