Islam show - shows UK the realities of Sharia law.

IT is known more for its cream teas than calls to prayer, but the spa town of Harrogate is the setting of a new reality show in which people are persuaded to live under Islamic conditions. Will the programme aid religious cohesion or create division?

A CONTROVERSIAL reality TV show to be broadcast next month aims to challenge preconceptions about Muslims.

But the programme, which sees non-Muslims living under strict Sharia law for three weeks, could also reinforce some people’s intolerance towards Islam.

One participant accused Imams featured in the three-part series of being prejudiced towards her and said she experienced “animosity” from them.

Another, however, was surprised by the “confrontational” and “aggressive attitude” British people had towards her as a result of her temporary conversion to a Muslim way of life.

Film maker Narinder Minhas chose the affluent market town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire for his bold experiment . . . a place that is home to just 311 Muslims in a population of 60,000.

His guinea pigs include a mixed race couple, a gay hairdresser, an atheist taxi driver and a glamour model . . . all of whom are called upon to give up unmarried sex, alcohol and pork, pray regularly and dress modestly for three weeks.

Minhas, the man behind reality shows Priest Idol and Indian Finishing School, wanted to make the documentary after tiring of too many “po-faced” programmes about Islam.

He said: “I wanted to make a series that had some humour in it. I’m tired of seeing guys with beards who are a bit scary. I wanted to explore how white people come to grips with a religion they’ve kind of heard of. I wanted to portray those people as human beings who go through a range of emotions.”However, one of the show’s participants, Carla Newbury-Jones, had mixed feelings about it . . . and found little to laugh about.

The property entrepreneur’s partner, Muslim Ashley Ashiq, proposed to her during filming.

But Carla, 34, said she found the Imams’ strong disapproval of their relationship very disturbing. She believes they were prejudiced towards her because she is Christian and white.

She revealed: “It was a really uncomfortable experience and I was so glad when it was over.

“I was so proud of Ashley when he proposed in front of them because we had experienced a lot of prejudice.

“They told us we could not hold hands and could not sleep in the same bed because we were sinners. You could not get more prejudiced if you tried.

“I felt they looked down at me because I was white and not a Muslim. We have a beautiful relationship and refuse to let other people’s biased attitudes get in the way.

“Ashley is so open minded. He is a great example of someone who is a Muslim and British. We both have strong faith in God and pray together, which is why it is sad there was this animosity.”

Another of the show’s participants, Haylie Winter, relished the opportunity to learn about a new religion . . . but was shocked by reaction it caused.

The skin consultant, 33, said: “There is a lot of negativity about Islam and you cannot know about something just from what you read in the media.

“What shocked me was other people’s prejudices and the confrontational, aggressive attitude people had. And I was surprised by people’s reactions to the Burka.”

Haylie revealed she almost quit the programme because she found the experience emotionally intense and draining.

What she found most difficult of all was not giving up sex or alcohol, but rising at the crack of dawn to pray.

She said: “Getting up at 5am and praying five times a day was difficult. You have got to be so disciplined and I am just too lazy.”

V The three-part programme, yet to be titled, will be broadcast on Channel Four on December 16, 17 and 18.

Meanwhile across the water, the traditional autumn riots in France have started again. The rioters being the usual suspects.

Tags: Prophet Mohammed, Mohammed Cartoons, Jihad, Moslems, infidels, umma

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