Middle-EastEnders is probably a big hit in the Islamic Republic of Iran…
The show’s writers traditionally shy away from the social taboos of go-karting, liking America or talking to women. The British however, have no such idea of tact and religious sensibility. Their version of the show often goes down like halal-packaged pork chops and recent developments in the East End will probably lead to nuclear winter.
BBC soap, EastEnders, plans to feature a gay Muslim, played by an actor who is possibly taking his life into his own hands.
Sharia Law aside, most sensible zealots will tell you that ‘God hates fags’, and Muslims are no exception. Punishable by death in most Islamic countries, homosexuality is definitely not a popular theme in Middle-Eastern soaps. But in Britain, we like to experiment.
New character, Syed Masood (played by actor Marc Elliot) will represent the gay Muslim minority when he shares a kiss with the openly gay Christian Clarke (John Partridge). This could be a big problem for his mother, Zainab (Nina Wadia), who is desperate to marry him off to a suitable woman. EastEnders has always sided with the underdog and Elliot’s controversial character represents a ‘visible minority’ in Britain.
Yusuf Wehebi of Imaan, a support organisation for gay, lesbian and transgender Muslims said:
“It is entirely possible to be Muslim and gay and there’s many of us in Britain today. It is great that the BBC have had the courage to raise such an important social issue in our society.”
Traditional Muslims don’t seem to be happy on the other hand and accused EastEnders of jumping the gun with wacky Muslims who don’t quite fit the bill. Asghar Bokhari of the Muslim Public Affairs Committee criticised Elliot’s character, saying:
“There’s a lack of understanding of Muslims already and I think EastEnders really lost an opportunity to present a normal friendly Muslim character to the British public.”
Both are slightly missing the point, in our opinion. EastEnders is about a handful of cockneys getting pissed, generally talking rubbish and flaunting the trivial crap of their mundane lives. The show does not contain a moral message, and if it did, we’d all be married to ugly women and doing business in the pub. What’s important is that the show depicts what London really is: a modern Babylon, a weird and wonderful place where anything can happen and anyone can come together. Congrats to the producers for adding some flavour to the meat and potatoes of British television.
So everyone, here’s a moral message from us: Soaps aren’t political broadcasts – They’re fictional scenarios that generate cash. Gay Muslims do exist and British people aren’t that bothered. If you’re offended by everything you see on TV – go and find yourself a cave.
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
more to the point, how did an Indian couple end up with a biological white son? answer me that.
i wont accept bad casting as an answer. eastenders is reeeeeeel.
They’re not Indian, they are Pakistani. Muslims normally come from Pakistan, Hindus and Sikhs normally come from India.
There are more muslims in india than there are in pakistan you cretin
I disapprove of this news.
me too, as a muslim
Gee, something refreshing from Muslims that is not full of hate, oppression, and Jihad. Long live the real Muslim freedom fighters who are now dying on the streets of many Islamic Republics; at the hands of ignorant misguided Muslim “leaders”. I see a lot of misinformation here from truly World Class haters. A curse on you all and your families.
This is TOTALLY a madeup story by people who want to insult the Muslim Image!
There is NO way this guy is a Muslim.
He looks like a JEW.
I completely agree with you
Well like it or not, there are gay Muslims out there. I am a perfectly respectable example of that. I have a loving relationship with a man, I am myself a man and was raised a Muslim by my Pakistani parents. Thing about homosexuality is that it’s rife in Muslim countries (more men have gay sex in Muslim countries than other countries because relationships between men and women are banned, my first gay experience was in Pakistan). Don’t be a Jew-hater, it’s really not becoming. I am a Muslim and I work for Marks and Spencers, that’s a company with Jewish links. Just get over your prejudices and try to live a happy life.
No one is suggesting it’s a true story, it’s called a ‘Soap Opera’. Now who’s forgetting to use their little brains today? Hmm?
Whats wrong with a gay muslim,or gay anyone for that matter. Jesus was probably gay.
‘Jesus was probably gay?’ based on?
Well, he never married, left home to travel the world with 12 male ‘friends’, had a fag hag (Mary) who was a prostitute, but never touched her in the biblical sense… I reckon there’s a very good chance young Jesus was either gay or at least open to a little homo-fun with the boys.
People, regardless of their religion have been confused between being gay and practicing sodomy. God forbids sodomy regardless whether the doer is homo or hetreo. There are heteros who practice sodomy on their wifes (or on other men) and there are homos who do not practice sodomy on their partners. Statistics show that only about 10% of the world population is gay, could People of Luth be 100% (or 70% to 100%) gay? Think about it…
the actors playing the massouds are all Indian, parents and children. Including syeds girlfriend. Although they are playing Pakistani characters. Syed himself not sure of his background, does look asian or half asian to me.
When are people gonna understand gayness isnt just about the anal sex involved….-_-, its about how if you feel like such a freak you are suicidal, loathing your self and you feel like that god him self hates you (without having sex at all), and that there has to be some tolerance unless you have a way of making a practical solution to a gay person to become not gay or not have to fake everything he wants out of this life for the sake of God
A gay person has a lot of self loath and self judgment already believe me, muslims needs to have a non superficial no ritualistic perspective on what being a human is, and integrate that with religion.
Don’t talk so profoundly of a human condition that you your self and most probably never encountered someone you really love that is indeed gay but is living his life in fear of God the muslims and his own soul screaming yourrrr a Fagggoooot!!!!!:(
If in other countries they still kill homosexual (gay men) I can almost support it because, here in America these gay men are using their financial power forcing heterosexual men to convert to their sodomy life style or lose their employment, particularly in the movie industry where gay men are in fact the power structure (producers, writers). Most actors if they don’t convert the amount of roles allowed to play is greatly reduced or lose employment completely. On Soaps recently an actor was fired because he refused to romantically kiss another actor and a actress was fired because she refused to do the scene as written that her Catholic character immediately accepts that her 40 years old single heterosexual son is all the sudden a homosexual. Any mother would not readily with great amusement, as the gay script writer wrote the scene, so comically accept this change in her beloved son!
The Nazis were primarily gay as were the sodomites who destroyed ancient civilizations via their lifestyles. To be against homosexuality is morally right and intelligent. The anus is the bodies sewage dump filled with feces, filth and other magnitude of germs that’s why the sodomites get AIDs. Even a male dog has the intelligence of Divine nature to want the vagina of the female dog not perversion of the anal of a male dog! When will humans learn that just because we have the brain power to pervert the innate Divine will does not justify our actions and will ultimately put us into a unhappy lifestyle. Heterosexuals need to stop being so gullible; the powerful homosexuals need your approval because they are unhappy, misery loves company, and don’t be stupid enough to join them. They also need converts since procreation cannot be done through the anus, so they need you and your sons and daughters. Hence their homosexual themes on Soaps and in other movies and talk shows! No I don’t hate homosexuals and have no fear of them but I hate the unhappiness that they seek to force upon others by their propaganda upon the innocent hearts and minds of others who think they are being intolerant to speak up for their moral and religious beliefs. Is it intolerant to say no to : murder, stealing, adultery bestiality, etc. These are all moral prohibitions just like “no to homosexuality” remember when you start to throw away one you will eventually throw away others because you invalidate their meaning for existence.
Rachel as an Indian gay man I find your comments offensive. You clearly are uneducated and not civil enough to appreciate that gay people are as ”normal” as everyone else. I fail to see how you can generalise that Nazis were gays – unless you are one yourself and worked alongside them to validate this?
And also I do not need anyone’s son or daughters thank you very much, that is insuating recruitment of youngsters, for which I am against. Infact, I hear more in the news of heterosexual pedophiles than any other types so perhaps your ”morals” should be treating those such people.