“Journey Into Europe,” a brand new documentary asks, “Is Islam and European identity incompatible?” The triumphant feat covers vast swaths of geography and time, divided into three segments, (1) 10th century Andalusia, (2) 13th century Ottoman expansion, and (3) 20th century post-colonialization of former British territories. Through conversations with mayors, ministers, academics, artists, activists, and people from all walks of life, the viewer is left to answer the provocative question at hand with facts from the past to today.
“Journey into Europe” launched at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) 52nd annual convention in Chicago, Illinois on September 6, 2015. This first ever public viewing of the documentary attracted a packed audience, including prominent figures, Imam Mohamed Magid, ISNA President and Executive Director of All Dulles Area Muslim Society of ADAMS; Rizwan Jaka, ISNA Board Member and Chair of the ISNA Interfaith and Government Committee; and Rabbi David Saperstein, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. Producer, writer, and director, Ambassador Akbar Ahmed introduced the documentary and conducted a question and answer session, together with key members of the production team, after the showing.
Starting in Andalusia, the film brought to life la convivencia, the concept that people of all faiths can live together peacefully, as it was implemented by Muslims in Spain from 711-1492. From art and science to civics and religion, the documentary showed how Islam elevated women, brought justice between peoples, and compassion as a rule of the land. The Mayor of Cordoba, José Antonio Nieto Ballesteros, attested in the film to the ways in which the Islamic empire shaped Spanish culture and progress today, "The first message I would like to give to the Muslim World is 'thank you,' because we owe them our culture, we owe them our character, we owe them the effort they put into Cordoba. They left their living footprint here in Cordoba. You should know that Cordoba is a home for Muslims as well. We don't perceive you as a threat and are ready to receive you, and that you should feel comfortable in this city." The impact of Islam continues in modern day Spain in ways that the average Spaniard may not even know: upon witnessing an act of beauty in an artistic performance or a show of strength in a sports tournament, the crowd cheers, “Olé, olé!,” the remnants of what once was “Allah, Allah!”
Secondly, in the Ottoman Empire, which spanned from modern day Turkey through the Balkans and into the Middle East and North Africa, the picturesque vision of Islam that brought technology and justice to the region is countered by recent pre and post 9/11 oppression and bloodshed. One of the scenes most heart-wrenching traces the lives and deaths of victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of Bosnians. A grandmother tells the story of losing all of the men in her family as the camera zooms into the names etched on their tombstones, one by one, and out to row upon row of bodies beneath the ground, in a cemetery too large to capture in a single shot. In a place where the memories of the dead haunt the living, the people are resilient, and there to stay. Former Prime Minister, Dr. Haris Silajdzic, of Bosnia- Herzegovina, proclaims, “Islam is a domestic religion here, like Christianity and Judaism.”
In the third part of the film, the viewer remembers the time when the sun never set on the British Empire, and the resulting unexpected twin of colonization: immigration. After the colonial period, Britain, France, Denmark, and Germany received sizeable populations of their former subjects, collectively groups of individuals that had mastered the best of their mother countries with the work ethic of immigrants. In a comic reprieve, the documentary shows a clip of Indians playing cricket, a game introduced by Brits, at a level that far exceeds the Brits themselves. Upon immigrating to Britain, Muslims from India and Pakistan worked in fields from textiles and manufacturing to education and medicine. At this critical juncture following the Second World War, Muslim immigrants worked to rebuild and propel the country forward.
Sir Nicholas Barrington, a prominent diplomat featured in the film says, “Today Mohammed is the number one name in Britain.” Sir Barrington continues, “Two British cabin ministers have been Muslims.” While Muslims make important contributions to British society, some Brits view this prominence as a threat. Jim Dowson, the founder of Britain First, expresses his fear of Muslims taking over.
Addressing the fundamental question of whether Islamic and European identity live at odds with one another, the documentary does not shy away from images that fill the typical human being with fury: people being discriminated against because of their faith; places of worship being burned to flames; and especially difficult to watch, man killing man at random in the name of God. However, for every horrifying scene that makes the insides tangle, there is a scene more powerful that is fueled by love instead of hate: the story of the great German poet, Goethe, who wrote a poem about Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him; the human shield that people of all faiths formed around the site of a proposed mosque in Cologne, Germany to stand up in support of the project; and the rise of the principle of universal humanism, treating the other with justice, in Denmark.
In the perspective of human existence, the once upon a time when people of all faiths lived peacefully in Europe was not a long time ago. The continent faces significant challenges today; however, the narrator concludes, “If it can overcome these challenges, Europe will once again become a beacon of civilization.”
The documentary spans one hour and fifty minutes, and some scenes feel longer because of the weight of the content. One scene, the story of Ahmetu, brought tears to many. Dr. Amineh Hoti, a key member of the production team gave us a glimpse from behind the camera: “Ahmetu, the 17 year old, told us that to fill his stomach, he has to drink water, and pick up people’s dirty and left over food. Ahmetu symbolizes the plight of the migrants today in Europe.”
At the end, the documentary proves rewarding to watch. Following the event, members of the audience continued the conversations. Nejat Ibrahim, from Philadelphia, PA reflected, “It exposed Europe in a different light. I didn’t know a lot about Eastern Europe and about all the Muslims in Cordoba—the way they were perceived back then, and how it is now. In Palermo, I wasn’t aware of how the Arab influence was in Christianity.” Fatimah from Rochester, NY also gave a glowing review, concluding, “I want to see it again.”
The film leaves the viewer educated not only on the facts of the past and the present of Islam in Europe, but also with critical analyses on the etiology of peace and conflict. In the discussion following the film, Ambassador Akbar shared the take home message, “How much compassion you can show for different communities and build bridges between them.” Dr. Hoti emphasized the point, “The key question is will we show compassion or will we turn away? That is the question for humanity.”
The film team also shared stories on the production process. When asked how long it took to make, Dr. Akbar answered, “two years,” and then he elaborated, “But really it’s been 50 years.” He talked about his life in between Europe and Pakistan throughout his distinguished career as a diplomat, and shared, “You saw me talking to Sir Nicholas Barrington; he’s not going to talk to anyone, but I’ve known him for decades.” This special access results in unparalleled content. The result is a triumph that is a must-see for anyone who wants to understand the historical and modern marriage of Islam and Europe.
The documentary is also an opportunity for us to tell our story. It is fueled by passion and experience despite an unfortunate lack of funds. Dr. Hoti shared, “The most difficult part was the funding.” Ambassador Akbar elaborated, “Muslim communities are very good at building mosques and schools. When it comes to art and journalism, it is mashaAllah and alhamdulliilah. They do not understand that we live in a world of images. So and so is running Hollywood and they’re defaming us.” Although it is not all sunshine and roses, “Journey Into Europe” is an opportunity to set the record straight.
Ambassador Akbar urged, “Every Muslim needs to be an ambassador for this film.” Visit http://journeyintoeurope.com/ to find a viewing near you, or to organize one today.
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