Two participants in the BBC's new reality show Muslims Like Us drew a lot of attention - with viewers slamming the 'prejudiced' Abdul Haqq, and praising the 'magnificent' Mehreen.
The two-part series, airing on BBC Two, saw ten British Muslims from a variety of backgrounds come together to live in a house in York.
The cast included Sunni Muslims, Shia Muslims, and Muslims of Asian and African descent, with a range of views when it comes to their faith and how to practise it.
On the more fundamentalist end of the scale was Haqq – a former professional boxer who grew up in a Christian household and converted to Islam.
Upon entering the house, he handed out leaflets outlining his views on ‘free-mixing’ between men and women.
Muslims Like Us - the cast
“We must take heed of the separation between males and females,” he said.
“I’ve got the evidence with me in paper form to give to the ten members of the house.”
Viewers took to Twitter to share their views on Haqq’s interpretation of the Muslim faith and its relation to British cultural values, with one labelling him ‘deluded and nasty’.
However, the reaction wasn’t all negative – one viewer said he was “vulnerable” as a convert to the religion, while another labelled him “misguided”.
Winning over plenty of viewers was Mehreen – a glamorous young woman who described herself as “your average, normal, British Muslim person”.
“I’m scared that I’m going to walk in and Mr Sharia Law is going to see the hair and the heels and attack,” she said upon entering the house.
“A lot of Muslim people have a really warped view. They think that I’m the ‘Muslim girl gone bad’. But my religion is a very, very, very important part of me.
“I’m your average, normal, British, Muslim person. They’re in the majority, but our voice is the least heard.”
One viewer praised her for “breaking down barriers” by appearing on the show.
Taking to Twitter after the episode aired, she thanked viewers for their ‘phenomenal’ response.
The second episode of Muslims Like Us airs on BBC Two on Tuesday, December 13 at 9pm.
