The new documentary The Mosque in Morgantown, premiering on PBS tonight, features the internal battled in the Muslim community revolving around the opening of the mosque in Morgantown in 2003 and what happens when one woman stands up for what she believes is right.
Morgantown resident and journalist Asra Nomani, upon the opening of the new mosque, found that the women had a separate entrance in the back. The day she went in through the front door to pray right behind the men in the men’s section was the day she began her ordeal with the mosque, directly going against the conservatives of the mosque while using this issue as a platform for women’s rights in Islam.
Nomani’s methods to bring awareness of how she felt about the mosque included trying to pray behind the men in the men’s section, airing her grievances in front of the mosque, organizing a protest march with a group of activists, and even posting her very own 99 precepts on the front door of the mosque, all in front of the media.
While the creators of the documentary could have just shown Nomani’s side, they also talked to those who did not share in Nomani’s view, creating a balanced documentary. Various people who were part of the mosque were interviewed, such as Hazem Bata, a moderate Muslim. He wondered why Asra Nomani went to such extremes to air her issues. Why not talk to the Muslims who belong to the mosque before going right to the press? Bata wondered. I have to say, I agree with Bata’s point of view. It’s too late to say how things would have turned out had Nomani picked another way to fight her battle but one would think that sitting down and having a proper discussion with the community before going straight to the media may have fared a better outcome.
The Mosque in Morgantown isn’t necessarily about who’s right and who’s wrong but instead offers an interesting look into the events that highlight an issue that is still being debated today in the United States. However, this documentary isn’t just about the issue of barriers in the mosque and women’s rights. It also documents the struggle that a Muslim community faces and how they all go about trying to solve it. The Muslim community is far from perfect and it’s definitely intriguing to see how one such group deals with dissent. At one point, the Muslims of the Morgantown mosque even discuss banning Nomani from the mosque, which seems to be a bit extreme.
The Mosque in Morgantown premiers tonight on PBS at 10 pm. Check your local listings since timings may differ in your area.
I also recommend Zarqa Nawaz’s Me and the Mosque for a documentary that really explores the theme of women’s place in the mosque (Asra Nomani appeared in this documentary as well). It doesn’t appear to be readily available, but if you have a chance, watch it.
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