It's My Country Too: Muslim Americans
| Company type | Documentary film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film |
| Founded | 2005 |
Key people | Clifford Bestall (director), Ruhi Hamid (producer) |
| Products | Documentary film |
It's My Country Too: Muslim Americans is a 2005 documentary film directed by Clifford Bestall and produced by Ruhi Hamid. This documentary captures the United States tour of the South Asian rock group Junoon and delves into the lives of Salman Ahmad alongside the broader Muslim community in America, highlighting the political engagement of the Muslims for Bush organization.
The film was broadcast on March 3, 2005, as part of BBC's This World series.
Synopsis
Centered on Pakistani rock musician Salman Ahmad, a US citizen with Pakistani heritage, the documentary portrays his interactions with American Muslims to gain insight into their realities following the events of 9/11.
In the lead-up to Election Day, Ahmad travels across the United States with Junoon, addressing the political dynamics where approximately 55% of Muslim voters support the Republican Party, illustrating an unexpected connection between Islam and Republicanism. Nevertheless, since September 11, Muslims have encountered intensified media scrutiny and challenges to their religious beliefs. The film investigates how these circumstances affect their electoral decisions.
Once mostly disengaged from politics, Muslims now face complex dilemmas amid racial profiling and legislation such as The Patriot Act. Ahmad encounters affluent conservative Arabs and Pakistanis who back Republican candidates, as well as activists against the war in Iraq who align with Democratic ideals.
Ultimately, Salman contends that the supposed conflict between Western and Islamic principles actually mirrors deeper societal divisions within America. As Muslim Americans shape their communal identity, the nation simultaneously wrestles with its foundational values.
See also
External links
- "It's My Country Too", This World, BBC Two, 11 March 2005
- Junoon official site
- Articles with short description
- 2005 films
- Junoon (band)
- American documentary films
- British documentary films
- Documentary films about the September 11 attacks
- Pakistani documentary films
- 2005 documentary films
- Documentary films about Islam in the United States
- 2000s English-language films
- 2000s American films
- 2000s British films
- English-language documentary films