What happens behind closed doors at Islamic schools Filmmaker Shaheen Dill-Riaz looks for answers to this question in Bangladesh in his new film, "Korankinder". Eren Güvercin spoke with the filmmaker
Mr. Dill-Riaz, your new documentary, "Korankinder", has just been released. What inspired you to make a film about madrasas, the Islamic schools in Bangladesh?
Shaheen Dill-Riaz: The film isn't just about Islamic schools. I try in each of my films to discover a world where I have never been before and where I can take European audiences along with me on the adventure. That's how I came up with the idea of Islamic schools, because it also has something to do with the present situation in Bangladesh.
You frequently hear that there are more and more Islamic schools there. And very often people also accuse these Islamic schools, although they don't have direct ties with extremists, of being politically active, something I was unable to prove in my film. I was interested above all in what madrasas actually are and what kind of standing they have in Bangladesh.
Islamic schools are regarded as very close-doored. How did you manage to obtain permission to shoot a film? How were you able to gain the trust of the people in charge?
Dill-Riaz: It was very difficult. In the beginning the schools completely refused to allow any filming to take place. Some of them said that this was not possible due to Islam's prohibition of imagery. I tried to contact several Islamic schools and make use of my personal connections.
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