Australian Islamic Leaders Support Muslim Cartoons
Sheik Shady Alsuleiman, the president of the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC), has urged followers to favor programs embracing and illustrating Islamic principles, ethics and values.
The council has thrown its support behind One4Kids, a Sydney company that produces children's shows with Islamic themes and which is currently raising funds to finance the production of Barakah Hills, an Islamic show pitched as an "alternative" to British cartoon Peppa Pig.
"As we know Muslims are averaging much higher birthrates, plus increased amount of time children are watching various videos on devices, computers, and television," the fundraising page reads.
"With your support, One4Kids hopes to complete production on this new ongoing series inshallah (God willing)."
The show tells the story of the Abdullah family in the predominantly Muslim town of Barakah Hills, One4Kids says on a fundraising website.
"Children will learn everything from how to have good manners, to how to get actively involved with community projects," One4Kids says.
The Islamic-themed shows provided an alternative to some "rubbish" on television said Subhi Alshaik, a One4Kids producer and director, "things that just don’t really teach children the best things that they need to learn."
Alshaik told The Australian that Peppa Pig was "a great show" but there were reports about its themes being "not good" for children, including "teaching kids to be snobs."
Alsuleiman urged parents to donate money to the production of the cartoons.
"These days, in this modern age, our children have been embedded and very well-occupied watching different cartoons on TV and it’s our responsibility not to stop them from watching but give them another alternative," the cleric said in a video posted on the One4Kids' Facebook page.
Source: The Telegraph
