Project NUR Film Screening Sheds New Light on Islamic Culture

“As long as there is no faith in people’s hearts, there is emptiness.”

Project NUR presented the PBS documentary “Frontline: Muslims,” discussing the wide spectrum of cultural, social and political values within the Islamic culture. Taking viewers through a journey across the world, the film focused on traditional Muslim values as well as its biggest problems including divorce, political governments and sexuality.

Several cities were examined, as the Islamic culture and religion is able to strongly influence the daily lives of citizens.

In Cairo, Egypt, the largest city in the Arab world, “traditional values are threatened by Western values,” especially in urban cities where custom attire is no longer required in public.

Southeast Asia may be well-recognized for its white, sandy beaches and clear blue waters. Although Americans view this as a touristic destination, it may threaten values in the Perhentian Islands of Malaysia. The prayer leader of the island admitted that he did not mind it but the situation may be uncomfortable at first. “Sexuality in the west is too liberal,” he said, as the segment focused on women wearing bikinis, which is considered acceptable in the U.S.

Recently, a chain of social and identity movements have been taking place in Istanbul, Turkey. As the fear of Islam has risen, women are no longer allowed to wear head scarves in public universities and government buildings. Elif Antalyali, former student in her fourth year of medical school in an Istanbul university, was escorted out by police for wearing her veil, or hijab.

A panel discussion took place after the film with four guests, all with Muslim background and clear knowledge of their native ancestries. The guests were Salsabeel Al-Busaidi, born in Oman; Mary Jaber, descendant of Lebanese parents; Nasser Weddady, a Mauritanian civil rights director of the American Islamic Congress; and Abdul Aziz, from Senegal.

To the audience’s surprise, the spectrum of perspectives within the religion varied on the subject. In the end they all had one common goal and purpose, to tell their story and present the truth to Western cultures – being one-fifth of the world’s population.

The Suffolk University Chapter of the club is only in its second year here on campus. Their main goals are simple, yet they thrive for a cause that can affect perceptions of students not only in Boston, but all throughout the United States.

“Project NUR is the student lead initiative to educate others about Muslims, promote coexistence and interfaith,” said Dawn Qadir.

Qadir, a Broadcast Journalism and International Affairs major, became the President of Project NUR this year. Although she was born on American soil, her Pakistani roots tie her to the Islamic culture and drive her to carry out events – such as their first film – on behalf of those oppressed and to bring light to Muslims throughout the world.

via Project NUR Film Screening Sheds New Light on Islamic Culture – The Suffolk Voice – Arts & Entertainment.