Mosque Next Door, The (Study Guide)

For many non-Muslim Australians, the mosque is a symbol of growing fears that Islam is antithetical to the Australian way of life, even dangerous. But many Australians have never stepped inside a mosque, let alone seen what goes on there. Now with exclusive, unprecedented 24/7 access for the first time, this 3 x 1-hour observational documentary series goes inside one of Australia's oldest mosques, the Holland Park Mosque in Brisbane, to join a community rarely seen from the inside. We meet its cricket-loving patriarch, mosque leader Imam Uzair; his best mate and community fix-it man, Ali Kadri; as well as a diverse congregation, including outspoken change-maker, Galila Abdelsalam and fourth generation mosque-goer Janeth Deen. Filmed over the course of a year like no other, we join our larger-than-life cast as they go about their daily religious practices and lives. Along the way, they must also tackle Islamophobia, extremism, as well as a host of other everyday adventures, challenges, romance and tragedy. As their mosque comes under increasing pressure, both from inside and out, this is a never-before-seen look at a community on the frontline of seismic change in Australia and the world today.

This study guide is aimed at middle and upper secondary school levels, with relevance to Studies of Religion, English, Media Studies, Health and Human Relations, Psychology, Social Studies, Society and Culture, Family and Community, and Values Education.