Malala Yousafzai becomes film executive producer

Malala Yousafzai becomes film executive producer:

Malala Yousafzai becomes film executive producer

The Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai, has encouraged political and religious leaders to reject the Taliban and all kinds of terrorism and extremism.

It should be noted that Malala is an executive producer of a film on violence, Islamophobia, racism, and the need of forgiving one’s adversaries.

So wonderful to see STRANGER AT THE GATE receive an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Short! Congrats to @JSeftel, Smarty Pants Pictures & especially the good people of the Islamic Center in Muncie, IN. I am honoured that you invited me to be part of such a noble story. pic.twitter.com/qY2W6MOauP

— Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) January 24, 2023

Malala asked Pakistan’s leadership to “unite together for peace, say no to terrorism of all forms, and fight together against the extreme mindset using the name of Islam” when questioned about the increase of violent militancy in the area, particularly in Pakistan.

She stated:

“Everyone has to come together against the Taliban, challenge them, and say that there is no justification for terrorist acts in Islam.

The Taliban should not be allowed to use the name of Islam, our values, and our traditions.

We need peace and stability and security for the ordinary people.”

She went on to say that she became the executive producer of the Oscar-nominated documentary Stranger at the Gate to promote community harmony and to emphasise the film’s theme of forgiveness and peace.

Mac McKinney, a former US Marine who planned to assault a mosque but changed his mind, discusses his true experience in the documentary.

According to the Nobel Peace Prize winner:

“I decided to become executive producer of this film so that we could tell stories of those who are not heard enough.

I wanted to project the issue of Islamophobia, stereotypes, and Muslims in the West.

“This film has the power to create harmony, which can become possible through connecting to people to know about their personal lives and stories.

It [the film] is a powerful true story of forgiveness and redemption.”

She went on to explain that the film illustrated how little people vary from one another when they first meet, exchange stories, and get to know one another.

“Faces and appearances can be different but we are fundamentally the same; we can gossip together, listen to each other and we can add value to each other’s time.”

When asked what she learned from the film, she emphasised two important points.

2 Points:

“One is that our values have a wonderful impact. Forgiveness is very important as it changes lives.

We should have a bigger heart for others.

The Muslim wife in the film has a big heart.

She has a big heart for the attacker.

“Two, that we should not get into stereotyping others.

We should connect with other people directly and broaden our perspectives based on our own first-hand understanding.

We must keep challenging stereotypes.”

Mr. McKinney, a US marine and combat veteran, discusses how he learned to regard Muslims as opponents while serving in the military in his book Stranger at the Gate.

He intended to attack the Islamic Center of Muncie when he returned to Muncie, Indiana, to carry out this conviction.

However, when he enters the masjid and is greeted by the Muslim organisations in the neighbourhood, his life takes an unexpected turn.

Dr. Saber Bahrami, a Muslim residing in Muncie, gave McKinney a great hug and invited him to the mosque since he felt he was a vulnerable man.

When McKinney joins the mosque, Bibi Bahrami and the other worshippers learn of his plan to bomb them. However, they decide to forgive him.

“Mac was like my little brother who needed help, so we were there for him,” Bahrami says.

Stranger at the Gate is distributed by The New Yorker as part of the publication’s New Yorker Documentary series. Stranger at the Gate is the latest part in Seftel’s ten-year film campaign to combat Islamophobia.