Denmark: Ramadan on TV

After facing harsh criticism for the insulting cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, Denmark continues to take conciliatory steps toward Muslims.

The state Danish television channel employed a Muslim woman wearing an Islamic headscarf and is now preparing to broadcast an program about Islam during Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims.

A program titled “Ramadan Calendar” will air at 7:55 p.m. everyday on the DR2 station.
The lives of families during Ramadan in the Avedore district, which has a predominantly Muslim population, shall be broadcast.

The program was filmed last year, where iftar (evening meal), sahur (pre-dawn meal), eid-el-fitr visits, neighborhood relations and the teravih (long prayer after sunset during Ramadan) of one Pakistani, one Egyptian and three Turkish families shall be televised.

Catechism information and recipes will also be given and posted on the program’s website.
DR2 authorities stated that although 200,000 Muslims live in the country, most Danish people know little about Islam, which was behind the decision to air this program.

Anna Gerd Allerbaek, the producer of “Ramadan Calendar,” said that their aim was to inform the society on the beliefs and lifestyles of Muslims.

She asked, “Today, how many people can say that they have Muslim friends? I think none. With this program, many Danish people will know that there are Muslims among us and see that living side by side with Muslims is not a threat.”

Allerbaek stated that traditionally a program titled “Christmas Calendar” is broadcasted from Dec. 1 to 24, hence the name, “Ramadan Calendar.”

Source: Zaman (English)

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