We were extremely delighted to interview brother Mohamed Ali from Islam Channel, this exclusive interview gives you an insight into the man behind the channel. We wanted to share with our readers the work that goes on behind the channel.
We would like to thank brother Mohamed Ali for his time in giving this interview.
Q. Brother Mohamed, we hear so much about Islam Channel, literally, as most of us watch it everyday, but please tell us about the person behind the channel. How was growing up in Tunisia and has it influenced you with your work in England?
I grew up in a large conservative Muslim family. My father was involved in the National Liberation Movement; he was sentenced to death for his involvement. Later his sentence was reduced and the execution did not take place.
At the age of 11 I was sent to an old French regime boarding school where pupils woke as early as 4am, everything was according to a schedule.
At an early age I joined the Islamic Movement; I took part in all aspects of its activities and was arrested and jailed several times for my involvement.
For advice on all disciplines of Islamic knowledge I regularly interacted with scholars. My passion for Islamic knowledge took me on my travels to Iran and many other Muslim countries. I would say my time in Tunisia has influenced my work in England.
Q. As a CEO with a packed out schedule, how do you find time to relax, to take a break and catch up with the enjoyment of life? Outside of your working hours what are your interests?
A. I do have an extremely busy schedule therefore don’t have much time to relax. I spend the majority of each day working. Reading is a great passion of mine. I’m also studying a MA in diplomatic studies.
Q. When you initially started Islam Channel, what was your vision? Did you ever expect it to become such a well known household brand? And what were the challenges?
A. A key component of Islam Channel from its initial stages has always been dawah. Islam Channel aims to appeal to Muslims wanting to further educate themselves as well as curious non-Muslims.
If Allah SWT blesses something he will make it known.
The challenge is to build something new as there is no other Islamic channel in the English language. Islam Channel does not fall into any business model, all aspects are analysed from an Islamic angle. The monitoring of the international political climate is also a challenge.
Q. The GPU; it is one of the largest events in the UK, it is in fact the largest Muslim event in the UK and in its modest lifetime it has grown to be able to be accommodated by one of London's greatest venues, the Excel centre. What kind of preparation goes into an event as large as this?
A. Extensive planning is done for the GPU from various angles such as marketing, production, focus groups for content ideas & the GPU preview show which is aired on Islam Channel weeks prior to the event.
The planning stages of GPU are extremely stressful. Each year members of parliament from the House of Commons and Lords from the House of Lords are invited to the GPU. During GPU 2008’s preparations a dossier was distributed among Policy Exchange encouraging ministers not to engage with GPU. Nick Clegg MP and Leader of The Liberal Democrats came across this dossier; he was outraged at its content and made his opinion on the dossier public. When attacked the government responded by sending six ministers as well as other Lords to GPU 2008.
Q. With such a large viewership around the world and with such a large event, do you ever receive any complaints? What is the most common complaint from the viewers?
A. Most common complaints are about music and free mixing at GPU. Zionist groups have said Islam Channel is biased when concerning the issue of occupied Palestine.
Rightwing press and politicians think Islam Channel is radicalizing Muslims in the UK by teaching an extremist form of Islam, which of course is incorrect.
Q. Browsing the internet, we've found all sorts of rumours, one of which is the channel costs in excess of £10,000 a day to run, are these just rumours or is this true? If this is true, how does Islam Channel sustain these costs and how can the general public help to keep the channel running?
A. This is not a rumour, it is the truth. If we consider a tiny fraction of costs incurred, £10,000 does not even cover transmission costs. £10,000 means nothing in the media industry. Al Jazeera began with a capital of 1billion dollars; the salary of David Frost, one of Al Jazeera’s presenters is in the figure of a few million. Jonathon Ross and Paul O’Grady are paid millions for their presenting roles by the BBC.
(view source via the link below). When compared with the likes of BBC and Al Jazeera, Islam
Channel operates from a barely adequate shoestring budget.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-389872/Ross-highest-paid-presenter-BBCwoo-
18m-deal.html
There is no upper limit on how much to spend when aiming to produce quality television. Islam Channel is not backed by any government body or businessmen, our trust remains with Allah swt and then the Muslim Community who subscribe to Islam Channels dawah project.
Islam Channel operates on income received through advertising and sponsorships as well as from voluntary subscriptions. The general public can help by voluntarily subscribing to Islam Channels dawah project by logging onto www.thedawahproject.com
Q. What is your future vision for the television station? Where do you see Islam Channel 5 years down the line and what changes would you like to see?
A. We hope to increase Islam Channels global footprint by including South Africa, America, Australia & New Zealand, including local content in the years to come inshAllah.
Also would like to envisage Islam Channel becoming mainstream, so that it appeals to the ordinary English speaking person regardless of race and religion.
Q. How important is technology and the internet to the channel? How do you wish to expand your online presence, especially with new trends like social networking, does Islam Channel hope to incorporate some sort of interactive technological platform to create an even greater viewer experience?
A. Technology is extremely important. Our viewers interact during shows and during their personal time via SMS’s, emails, online discussion forum and by calling our live shows.
We try our best to keep up to date with the latest technology trends however, this is something that requires funding and we can only go as far as our financial means permit.
Q. What other interests do you have, does Islam Channel plan to expand its services into other markets? What are the future business interests of the channel and your own personal interests in the business world?
A. I have personally operated many businesses; I am a business minded person, I see businesses as a means of achieving goals not goals by themselves. My aim in this life is to spread the word of Allah swt through peaceful means, whatever Allah swt provides me with, spending on dawah will be my priority.
Q. So for our readers, is there anything new and exciting coming up from Islam Channel? Exciting inside information always works a treat.
Islam Channel is working towards launching its very own Film Festival. Muslims and Muslim values are not represented in the film industry at all. With Allah’s will and if our means allow we will be launching the Islam Channel Film Festival
Q. Islam Channel has many millions of viewers, what would you like to say to our readers and all of the Islam Channel viewers? And what would you say to the critics?
A. We need our critics to tell us what is wrong with our activities, we need the critics to be a mirror which reflects Islam Channels successes and failures, through which we can learn from and rectify our mistakes. Only messengers of Allah are perfect, no human is. I would like to express my gratitude to the readers for showing interest in humble people like myself. Please pray for Me and support Islam Channel by voluntarily subscribing to Islam Channels dawah project.
Interview conducted by Adil Zarnosh.
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