gmork
10-09-2007, 06:55 AM
My first thought when I read this was that it was some kind of satire. Apparently not. :eek:
Link (http://www.islamonline.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=43589)
TV contest for UK Model Mosque
Eight mosques in Britain are vying for the country's Model Mosque 2007 in a televised contest to show thier contributions to society.
CAIRO - With the knock-out rules of reality TV and Islamic principles, eight mosques in Britain are vying for the country's Model Mosque 2007 in a televised contest aimed primarily at highlighting mosque contributions to society and clear stereotypes on Muslims, the Guardian reported.
"There is so much disparity between mosque standards and the show is a way for mosques to see the positive work that is already being done," said Abrar Hussain, producer of the Model Mosque TV contest.
Hussain said it was thanks to a model mosque supervised by one of his friends that he initiated the contest.
"I wasn't too keen on my local mosque and my friend's one sounded better, it was doing stuff that mine wasn't and I was a bit jealous," said the 29-year-old Muslim activist.
The eight contesters have reached the final stage after a tough competition with about 500 mosques.
The finalists hail from Bradford, Birmingham, Cricklewood, Croydon, Glasgow, Haringey, Leyton and Manchester.
Over the past 14 months, representatives of two rival mosques used to appear every week in a live show on Britain's Islam Channel to be grilled by a presenter on their contributions to society and the Muslim minority.
After the presentation, viewers vote in a reality-TV style for their favorite, knocking out the second.
The final voting will be held in November in front of the 25,000-strong Muslim crowd attending the Global Peace and Unity event at London's Excel Centre, and it will be broadcast to a potential audience of billions worldwide.
It would also be broadcast worldwide to be viewed by a potential audience of millions.
The winner would be rewarded £35,000, which will support mosque funding and training proposals.
No X-Factor
Participating mosques are assessed according to their contribution to interfaith activities, the women and youth representation and their financial and administrative transparency.
"It's not the X-Factor because there is no singing and dancing and it's not mosque idol because worshipping idols is forbidden," said Mohammed Ali, chief executive of Islam Channel, which broadcasts the contest.
The X Factor is a British television music talent show contested by aspiring pop singers drawn from public auditions.
Hussain added that the contest is not about "horrible and embarrassing bad mosques."
"There's no nastiness," he laughed.
He said the contest is meant to dispel stereotypes about mosques and how people there are helpful not radicals as right-wing media often claims.
"We did inte research, looked at press coverage, spoke to regular worshippers, prayed there ourselves - like mystery shopping. We did our homework," he said.
"We did not find any evidence of this radicalization that's supposed to be everywhere. The big surprise is how many good mosques are out there. I was also surprised to see how willing people were to help out," added Hussain.
The organizers also hope that the popularity of the show would lure Muslim youths to participate more effectively in mosque activities and pick the torch from the old generations.
The mosque contest judges include Salma Yaqoob, vice-chair of Respect party and a Birmingham City Councilor, and Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the former Secretary General of the umbrella Muslim Council of Britain.
Link (http://www.islamonline.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=43589)
TV contest for UK Model Mosque
Eight mosques in Britain are vying for the country's Model Mosque 2007 in a televised contest to show thier contributions to society.
CAIRO - With the knock-out rules of reality TV and Islamic principles, eight mosques in Britain are vying for the country's Model Mosque 2007 in a televised contest aimed primarily at highlighting mosque contributions to society and clear stereotypes on Muslims, the Guardian reported.
"There is so much disparity between mosque standards and the show is a way for mosques to see the positive work that is already being done," said Abrar Hussain, producer of the Model Mosque TV contest.
Hussain said it was thanks to a model mosque supervised by one of his friends that he initiated the contest.
"I wasn't too keen on my local mosque and my friend's one sounded better, it was doing stuff that mine wasn't and I was a bit jealous," said the 29-year-old Muslim activist.
The eight contesters have reached the final stage after a tough competition with about 500 mosques.
The finalists hail from Bradford, Birmingham, Cricklewood, Croydon, Glasgow, Haringey, Leyton and Manchester.
Over the past 14 months, representatives of two rival mosques used to appear every week in a live show on Britain's Islam Channel to be grilled by a presenter on their contributions to society and the Muslim minority.
After the presentation, viewers vote in a reality-TV style for their favorite, knocking out the second.
The final voting will be held in November in front of the 25,000-strong Muslim crowd attending the Global Peace and Unity event at London's Excel Centre, and it will be broadcast to a potential audience of billions worldwide.
It would also be broadcast worldwide to be viewed by a potential audience of millions.
The winner would be rewarded £35,000, which will support mosque funding and training proposals.
No X-Factor
Participating mosques are assessed according to their contribution to interfaith activities, the women and youth representation and their financial and administrative transparency.
"It's not the X-Factor because there is no singing and dancing and it's not mosque idol because worshipping idols is forbidden," said Mohammed Ali, chief executive of Islam Channel, which broadcasts the contest.
The X Factor is a British television music talent show contested by aspiring pop singers drawn from public auditions.
Hussain added that the contest is not about "horrible and embarrassing bad mosques."
"There's no nastiness," he laughed.
He said the contest is meant to dispel stereotypes about mosques and how people there are helpful not radicals as right-wing media often claims.
"We did inte research, looked at press coverage, spoke to regular worshippers, prayed there ourselves - like mystery shopping. We did our homework," he said.
"We did not find any evidence of this radicalization that's supposed to be everywhere. The big surprise is how many good mosques are out there. I was also surprised to see how willing people were to help out," added Hussain.
The organizers also hope that the popularity of the show would lure Muslim youths to participate more effectively in mosque activities and pick the torch from the old generations.
The mosque contest judges include Salma Yaqoob, vice-chair of Respect party and a Birmingham City Councilor, and Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the former Secretary General of the umbrella Muslim Council of Britain.