Muslim Drag Queens: Viewers praise stars of controversial documentary for bravery
VIEWERS have shown their support of the three stars of Channel 4's provocative documentary Muslim Drag Queens.
Muslim drag queen Ibrahim
The hour-long film followed the lives of three gay Muslim men Asif, Ibrahim and Imran, who live in the UK and performing on the drag circuit.
The documentary was directed by Marcus Plowright and narrated by LGBT activist and actor Sir Ian McKellen.
Muslim Drag Queens offered a rare insight into the lives of a hidden community living in Britain today and explored the taboo subject of being gay and Muslim - something which is explicitly condemned in Islam.
Many people watched the factual film and offered their thoughts on the programme and commended the three men for their bravery.
So I'm watching "Muslim Drag Queens" on channel 4. Core blimey... I didn't even know it was a thing! ? #MuslimDragQueens
— Fredro Starr (@TinaRosella) August 24, 2015
Feeling really sorry for the Muslims who can't be themselves #MuslimDragQueens #EqualityForAll
— Adam Britton (@adzbritton) August 24, 2015
#MuslimDragQueens must be very brave of them to appear on TV opposition from strangers is bad enough but when its your own community ,Eesh
— Ra??? (@Rach247X) August 24, 2015
I didn't think Channel 4 could shock me anymore but I'm so intrigued by #MuslimDragQueens and think these guys are so brave! #islam
— Safia Yallaoui (@journoSaf) August 24, 2015
The participants in #MuslimDragQueens are showing bravery I can't even imagine and can only envy.
— Colum McGuire (@ColumMcGuire) August 24, 2015
Jeez I thought growing up as a gay in a middle class village in Hampshire was hard... Lol. #MuslimDragQueens
— Stephen Leng (@steveleng) August 24, 2015
Raj Kaur tweeted: "Kudos to @AsifaLahore for having balls of steel to expose #MuslimDragQueens - and look fabulous while telling haters to f*** off!"
"These men on #MuslimDragQueens are absolutely brave to show the world who they really are! Go them!," wrote Sabrina Lagden.
A user named rantan waltz posted: "10 minutes into #MuslimDragQueens and the bigots are already spouting their bile! The people on the programme are brave folks!"
Muslim Drag Queens - Monday 10pm - Channel 4
While Sharquisha was equally supportive of the three drag queens and said that not all Muslims had the same attitudes about being gay and following Islam.
She wrote on Twitter: "People need to realise that not all Muslims have the same attitudes towards #MuslimDragQueens as the ones who were sending the death threats."
One user summed up the thoughts of many who were unaware of the underground gaysian community.
"So I'm watching "Muslim Drag Queens" on channel 4. Core blimey... I didn't even know it was a thing! ? #MuslimDragQueens," said Fredro Starr.
Britain's first Muslim drag queen Asifa Lahore
Two of the drag queens who took part in the documentary revealed that they have been verbally abused for their sexuality and their lifestyle.
Asif, who Britain's first out and proud Muslim drag queen and better known as his alter-ego Asifa Lahore, admitted he feared for his safety post-broadcast. He also admitted that there was extra security in place for his protection.
However Asif said he knew the risks of taking part in the programme but decided to do it because he didn't want to give in to fear.
Speaking to Express.co.uk in a recent interview he said: “I totally understood the risks and I totally understood the impact that it would have on my life and I decided to do it because the issue is really important to me."