~ UK TV LISTINGS ~

[HOUDA-K]

Colombia's Secret War

This week Unreported World travels to Colombia where President Bush's administration has declared that the country's 40-year-old civil war is a vital front in the War against Terror. The US says right-wing paramilitaries and left wing guerrillas are 'narco-terrorists', trying to take control of Colombia so they can flood the US with drugs. That portrayal has helped allow the administration to funnel over $3bn in military aid to the Colombian Government. It's now the largest recipient of military aid outside the Middle East, and its forces are helped by a growing army of US advisors and private contractors. The paramilitaries and the guerrillas are certainly responsible for appalling atrocities, but the US is failing to win hearts and minds. On the ground, as Sandra Jordan reports, the US aid is helping to fund an old-style dirty war in which Colombian forces carry out extra judicial killings, and in which a blind eye is turned to the bloody activities of the powerful right-wing paramilitaries. Travelling through the violent Arauca region, she finds the Colombian Army and its US advisors are fighting a war that seems to have little to do with fighting terror or even the drugs trade. Instead it has everything to do with securing Colombia's oil fields for US companies, and ensuring the US keeps a presence in a part of the world where many countries are becoming increasingly anti-American.

Time: 03:00 to 03:30 (30 minutes long).
When: Friday 23rd December on Channel 4




What Makes Me Happy: Mahmoud's Film

Short films written by children living in disadvantaged circumstances around the world. Mahmoud lives with his parents, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins in a Palestinian refugee camp. As an active and necessary part of the family unit, Mahmoud is at everyone's beck and call. He longs for a moment of peace and solitude, but each time it is within his reach, another job is found for him.

Time: 09:20 to 09:35 (15 minutes long).
When: Friday 23rd December on five





Bush's Fire of Freedom

President Bush believes spreading democracy in the Muslim Arab world will help end global terrorism. But do people there think democracy can deliver any more than past regimes have done? Humphrey Hawksley investigates in Morocco.

Time: 20:10 to 20:35 (25 minutes long).
When: Sunday 25th December on BBC World





Xinjiang Province

Irish writer/global traveller Manchán Magan explores the modern face of China, the oldest surviving culture in the world. Today Manchán heads north-west to Xinjiang Province, 3000 miles from Beijing. China desperately needs to control this harsh region and is shipping millions of people out there to colonise the under populated Gobi Desert. But Xinjiang is as distinct from modern China as one could get. Closer to Afghanistan than Shanghai, the people are mostly Muslim Kazaks and Uighers. It is both one of the hottest, and coldest regions on the planet, and Manchán concludes that if China ever did break up, Xinjiang would be the first province to pack its bags!

Time: 21:30 to 22:00 (30 minutes long).
When: Sunday 25th December on Travel Channel





Belief

Series in which Joan Bakewell talks to guests about their beliefs, the influences that have shaped them and their ideas about life's big questions. This edition features Tariq Ramadan, a controversial Muslim academic and champion of the reform of Islam.

Time: 21:50 to 22:20 (30 minutes long).
When: Monday 26th December on BBC Radio Three


Test of Faith With Rageh Omaar: 7/7

Rageh Omaar meets people who lost loved ones in the 7th of July London bombings and asks them how their faith has been challenged in the wake of the attack. Those from all faiths and those without faith were killed by four Islamic Fundamentalists. Their motive was religion. Victims' families, many of whom have never spoken publicly before, talk about how they feel about their faith and what comforted them most in the midst of their grief and suffering.

Time: 23:00 to 00:05 (1 hour and 5 minutes long).
When: Wednesday 28th December on ITV1





Glasgow Dreams

Yasmeela and her father, Arob, live on a Glaswegian council estate where, being muslims, they are ridiculed and avoided. A story of hope, determination and humour unfolds as they meet their neighbour Dino.

Time: 13:00 to 14:00 (1 hour long).
When: Friday 30th December on BBC Prime

[HOUDA-K]

Gaza: The Fight For Israel

In August 2005 the Israeli government forcibly removed 8,500 Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip as a prelude to handing control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. Gaza: The Fight For Israel follows the man that commanded the evacuation, Brigadier General Gershon Hacohen.

Time: 17:55 to 18:55 (1 hour long).
When: Saturday 31st December on Channel 4





What the Ancients Did for Us: The Islamic World

Examining the innovations and inventions of ancient civilisations. Adam Hart-Davis builds and tests some of the most extraordinary inventions from the early Islamic World. From soap to torpedoes and from water pumps to windmills Adam shows the lasting effect the culture has left on the technology we use today. Also, reporter Amani Zain tells us the stories behind the golden age of Islamic discovery.

Time: 20:00 to 21:00 (1 hour long).
When: Saturday 31st December on UKTV History





The Doha Debates

The Doha Debates are chaired by Tim Sebastian. The motion before the house at this month's Doha Debate is "This House believes that all foreign troops should leave Iraq immediately.

Time: 20:10 to 21:00 (50 minutes long).
When: Saturday 31st December on BBC World





Globe Trekker: Istanbul

Estelle Bingham begins her tour of this ancient city of at Topkapi Palace, once home to sultans and their concubines. She interrupts her sight-seeing for a day trip to Gallipoli, the site of an infamous World War I battle in which thousands of Anzac soldiers died. Continuing her journey around Istanbul, she visits the opulent Pera Palace hotel, visited in the past by Agatha Christie, and has a belly dancing lesson from some gypsies. A visit to the Florence Nightingale museum, the Grand Bazaar - one of the largest markets in the world - and her last day has her visiting the famous Blue Mosque and a spin with the Whirling Dervishes.

Time: 12:30 to 13:30 (1 hour long).
When: Sunday 1st January on Travel Channel





30 Days: Muslims and America

David Stacey, 33, is a good Christian husband and father from West Virginia. Like many of his fellow Americans, he has gained new awareness in recent years of the Muslim presence in the country, but has yet to gain any real understanding of the religion or community beyond his own assumptions.

Time: 00:00 to 01:00 (1 hour long).
When: Wednesday 4th January on more4





Kingdom of Heaven

Set in one of the most fascinating periods in world history, the time of the Crusades, Ridley Scott's epic drama starring Orlando Bloom, tells of the clash between East and West, Muslim and Christian, for the holy city of Jerusalem. Bloom plays Balian, a Frenchman re-united with his noble father, Crusader Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson). Together they travel to the centre of the Holy Land to help in its defence. At the moment a fragile peace prevails there, while Jerusalem's enlightened King Baldwin attempts to establish a "Kingdom of Heaven" (a peaceful oasis in a warring world). But he is dying of leprosy, and his vision could die with him. Balian is one of a group of knights who swear to defend his dream of a place where all races, colours and creeds can live together in harmony. Spectacular and stunning, this film from the director of Gladiator is another epic that brings a legendary period of history to life.

Time: 13:00 to 15:19 (2 hours and 19 minutes long).
When: Wednesday 4th January on Front Row





HARDtalk: Rory Carroll

In a year of atrocious violence in Iraq, one story ended well. Rory Carroll, a journalist for a British newspaper, the Guardian, was kidnapped and released, apparently because he is Irish. He tells Sarah Montague what it was like.

Time: 19:30 to 20:00 (30 minutes long).
When: Thursday 5th January on BBC World





Ultimate Middle East

The Middle East is known as the 'cradle of civilisation' for good reason. The area has been home to some of the most formidable empires the world has ever known and is the birthplace of the world's three biggest monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Pilot team go in search of the major empires, religions and conflicts that have, and continue to shape the region. Their itinerary includes Egypt, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Time: 22:00 to 23:00 (1 hour long).
When: Thursday 5th January on Travel Channel

[HOUDA-K]

Hajj: The Essential Journey

Zain Verjee reports on sacred Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca that more than two million Muslims undertake each year. Focusing on the personal experiences of the travellers.

Time: 16:30 to 17:00 (30 minutes long).
When: Saturday 7th January on CNN





Gaza: The Fight For Israel

In August 2005 the Israeli government forcibly removed 8,500 Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip as a prelude to handing control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. Gaza: The Fight For Israel follows the man that commanded the evacuation, Brigadier General Gershon Hacohen.

Time: 19:05 to 20:10 (1 hour and 5 minutes long).
When: Saturday 7th January on more4





Secrets of the CIA

They promoted the Khmer Rouge, helped bring the Taliban to power and armed Osama Bin Laden. Danny Wallace presents moments from history the CIA would rather forget.

Time: 21:00 to 23:00 (2 hours long).
When: Saturday 7th January on Sky One





Michael Moore's The Awful Truth

In this episode, discover the awful truth behind the US-led sanctions against Iraq, and how these sanctions are doing more harm to the children of Iraq than to Saddam's PR.

Time: 02:00 to 02:30 (30 minutes long).
When: Sunday 8th January on Reality TV





What I Believe: Yvonne Ridley

Conversation series presented by Sally Magnusson in which she explores people's religious faith. This week, she talks to Yvonne Ridley, the journalist who was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001 when she was on a story for the Sunday Express, and who converted to Islam two years later.

Time: 08:05 to 08:30 (25 minutes long).
When: Sunday 8th January on BBC Radio Scotland





Spooks: The Nest of Angels

Reports of extremist activity at a Birmingham mosque alert the team to the existence of suicide bomber training. When one MI5 agent is exposed as an infiltrator and tortured, help arrives in the form of an Algerian spy, but when a terrorist outrage is planned, it becomes a race against time to identify the target before his cover is also blown. Guest starring Alexander Siddig, best known as Dr Bashir in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, with Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes.

Time: 22:00 to 23:00 (1 hour long).
When: Sunday 8th January on Hallmark





Why We Went to War

The Iraq: The Bloody Circus season - a series of provocative films which offer a range of critical perspectives on the war in Iraq and its devastating consequences - opens with a revelatory examination of how Tony Blair reached the decision to join America in the invasion of Iraq.

Time: 21:00 to 22:35 (1 hour and 35 minutes long).
When: Monday 9th January on more4





Iraq The Disaster: On The Front Line

A chance for More4 viewers to see an episode of the critically-acclaimed foreign affairs strand, Unreported World, screening as part of More4's Iraq: The Bloody Circus season. In the wake of the July London bombings, On the Front Line looks at the fact and fiction in 'The War on Terror'.

Time: 22:35 to 23:05 (30 minutes long).
When: Monday 9th January on more4





Why The Arabs Hate The West

Why the Arabs Hate the West is the second More4 documentary premiere in the Iraq: The Bloody Circus season - a series of provocative films which offer a range of critical perspectives on the war in Iraq and its devastating consequences. Palestinian academic, author and al-Jazeera broadcaster Khaled Hroub argues that the actions of Western powers have generated a furious resentment within the Middle East.

Time: 21:00 to 22:00 (1 hour long).
When: Wednesday 11th January on more4





Torture: The Guantanamo Guidebook

Powerful and shocking film, screening as part of More4's Iraq: The Bloody Circus season. The conditions and coercive methods used at Guantanamo Bay have been recreated using detailed information about the cells and cages in which men are held and the techniques which are being used.

Time: 22:00 to 23:05 (1 hour and 5 minutes long).
When: Wednesday 11th January on more4





Pakistani Serial Killer

Shocking profile of Javed Iqbal Moghul, the serial killer sentenced to death in Pakistan. After being accused of rape by two homeless boys in 1992, the scandal brought immense shame upon his well-respected family. When his mother died of a heart attack soon after, Iqbal decided to avenge her death by killing 100 young runaways in 200 days.

Time: 00:00 to 01:00 (1 hour long).
When: Thursday 12th January on UKTV People





TV Iraqi Style

The Iraq: The Bloody Circus season, a series of provocative films which offer a range of critical perspectives on the war in Iraq and its devastating consequences, concludes tonight with TV Iraqi Style. Confined to their homes because of curfews, and often too afraid to venture onto the streets, the Iraqi population has become a captive audience for the bourgeoning TV channels.

Time: 21:00 to 22:00 (1 hour long).
When: Thursday 12th January on more4





Belief File

Exploring Islam through the experiences of young muslims, including texts from the Qur'an to illustrate the link between belief and practice.

Time: 04:00 to 06:00 (2 hours long).
When: Friday 13th January on BBC 2

[HOUDA-K]

Iraq: The Failure Of War

Veteran war reporter Martin Bell kicks off the new series of 30 Minutes with a powerful film arguing that war is an increasingly unreliable and unjustifiable means of solving conflicts in the 21st century. It is the first in a ten-week run of provocative polemics in which high-profile authors address important current affairs subjects.

Time: 19:30 to 20:00 (30 minutes long).
When: Friday 13th January on Channel 4





Church and Mosque - Venice and Istanbul

The similarities and differences between two great religious buildings, built at the same time by neighbouring but very different cultures.

Time: 02:00 to 02:30 (30 minutes long).
When: Saturday 14th January on BBC 2





The Government Inspector

The story of Dr David Kelly - caught in the crossfire between the government and the BBC over the war in Iraq - is told in this factually-based drama written.

Time: 22:45 to 00:15 (1 hour and 30 minutes long).
When: Saturday 14th January on more4





Postcards From Bangladesh: Living

These three ten-minute programmes look how people in Bangladesh have adapted to living with flooding and what is being done to improve access to safe water and hygiene awareness. Each programme is presented in short sections and starts with a geographical question designed to stimulate the viewer's thinking.

Time: 05:20 to 05:30 (10 minutes long).
When: Sunday 15th January on BBC Prime





Postcards From Bangladesh: Flooding

These three ten-minute programmes look how people in Bangladesh have adapted to living with flooding and what is being done to improve access to safe water and hygiene awareness. Each programme is presented in short sections and starts with a geographical question designed to stimulate the viewer's thinking.

Time: 05:30 to 05:40 (10 minutes long).
When: Sunday 15th January on BBC Prime

[HOUDA-K]

Far Flung Floyd: East Malaysia

Floyd shares a dish with Othman - a devout Muslim and serious gourmet. A surreal meeting with chicken rice in a house built on stilts.

Time: 16:30 to 16:55 (25 minutes long).
When: Sunday 15th January on Sky Travel





The Root of All Evil?

Whitbread prize winning historian Michael Burleigh argues that the modern world's rejection of faith and embrace of reason has been a disaster.

Time: 21:00 to 22:00 (1 hour long).
When: Monday 16th January on more4





Asylum

Documentary following three very different families of asylum seekers over three years - a Hindu family who fled religious persecution in Afghanistan, a schoolteacher who escaped from war-torn Somalia and an investigative journalist forced to flee Algeria. How are they coping with life in the UK?

Time: 02:30 to 04:00 (1 hour and 30 minutes long).
When: Tuesday 17th January on BBC 4





3 Minute Wonder: Becoming British

3 Minute Wonder joins four people from around the world on the day of their citizenship ceremony and finds out what Becoming British means to them. Marwan escaped from Saddam Hussein's Iraq and found refuge in Britain, but can he ever feel truly at home here?

Time: 19:55 to 20:00 (5 minutes long).
When: Tuesday 17th January on Channel 4




Seven Journeys in the American West

The stories of the pioneers' search for land and gold, and of their involvement with the Native Americans. Followed by Arab-Israeli Conflict, an investigation of the historical processes which have led to the current situation in the Middle East.

Time: 02:00 to 04:00 (2 hours long).
When: Wednesday 18th January on BBC 2





Black Peoples of the Americas

Investigating why and how people from Africa came to live in the Americas, the effects of slavery, after emancipation and civil rights in the US.

Time: 04:00 to 06:00 (2 hours long).
When: Wednesday 18th January on BBC 2





Marrakech and Dubai City Guide

Megan McCormack takes in the sights of two very different Islamic cities. In Marrakech, she explores the fantastic souks that have made this city world-famous, and stays in a beautiful renovated riad, before checking the entertainment in the unique square Djemaa al Fna. In Dubai, which is often referred to as the Las Vegas of the Middle East, Megan discovers the beautiful mosques, and the crazy sport of dune-bashing, and visits the only seven star hotel in the world.

Time: 11:00 to 12:00 (1 hour long).
When: Wednesday 18th January on Travel Channel





The Hejaz Railway

In this four-part series Malcolm Billings takes a look at the cultural heritage of Islam as he traces the route of the forgotten Hejaz railway built 100 years ago to carry pilgrims from Istanbul to Mecca.

Time: 19:05 to 19:30 (25 minutes long).
When: Wednesday 18th January on BBC World Service Radio

[HOUDA-K]

Hammam Memories

Christians, Muslims and Jews from the Greek island of Rhodes recall their times at the hammam, or Turkish bath, a place where differences were forgotten and all were equal under Ottoman rule.

Time: 09:00 to 09:25 (25 minutes long).
When: Thursday 19th January on Community Channel





The Smell of Paradise

Filmmakers Mariusz Pilis and Marcin Mamon traverse the world to explore what drives people to fight against the Western world with the Koran in one hand, a rifle in the other and truth as their argument. What drives people to sacrifice their lives, utterly convinced that this is the only way to save or create the world as they want it to be?

Time: 21:00 to 22:00 (1 hour long).
When: Sunday 22nd January on BBC 4





Afghan Ladies' Driving School

Sean Langan returns to Afghanistan to see some of the changes in society that have taken place since the overthrow of the Taleban, epitomised by the women from all walks of life who are learning to drive.

Time: 21:00 to 22:30 (1 hour and 30 minutes long).
When: Monday 23rd January on BBC 4





Culture Shock

It's Cultural Appreciation Week and Penny and the gang all have to swap households with other students and write a report on the experience. Once Penny gets past the hurdle of fasting during Ramadan with her Pakistani family, she learns to appreciate a culture she knew very little about.

Time: 22:45 to 23:10 (25 minutes long).
When: Monday 23rd January on Disney





What Is it about the Maghreb?

The North African countries of Morocco and Tunisia are both celebrating fifty years of independence from French colonial rule. They are two of the most pro-western states in the Arab world and both claim to be on the road to political democracy, yet young Moroccans and Tunisians are prominent among those accused of involvement in Islamic terror groups in western Europe. Mark Whitaker investigates.

Time: 20:00 to 20:40 (40 minutes long).
When: Tuesday 24th January on BBC Radio Four





Munich: Operation Bayonet

With Steven Spielberg's film Munich about to hit cinemas, this documentary examines the real story behind the Israeli Mossad unit, Operation Bayonet, responsible for Israel's retaliation against the Palestinian Black September terrorist organization, following the 1972 massacre of eleven Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics. This film revisits the actual scenes of the operations with the Mossad agents responsible, as well as presenting the personal accounts of CIA operatives.

Time: 23:20 to 00:10 (50 minutes long).
When: Tuesday 24th January on BBC 2





Munich: Mossad's Revenge

In September 1972, at the Olympic Games in Munich, 11 Israeli athletes were killed after being taken hostage by Palestinian terror group Black September. It was an event that shook the world, nowhere more so than in Israel, where grief swiftly turned to anger.

Time: 22:00 to 23:05 (1 hour and 5 minutes long).
When: Thursday 26th January on Channel 4





Gulf News

Documentary series which looks behind the glitz and glamour of Dubai. Gulf News photographer Paul Velasco is new to the Arab world and has to get used to reporting in a country that, despite appearing very western, exercises strict control of the press. When getting David Beckham on the newspaper's front page is classed as a major victory, his disillusionment with the place begins to grow.

Time: 00:25 to 00:55 (30 minutes long).
When: Friday 27th January on BBC 1





Guerilla Warfare

Explaining the tactics used by armed forces throughout history. The programme looks at the history and principles of guerrilla warfare. Examples include Afghanistan 1979-88, where guerrilla warfare won the military campaign and then went on to political victory. Vietnam 1961-73 is another classic study as Vietcong guerrillas were steadily ground down by superior American firepower and mobility.

Time: 16:00 to 17:00 (1 hour long).
When: Saturday 28th January on UKTV History





Passport to Terror

This programme tells the story of Mohammed Jabarah, a young Canadian who became a high level operative for Al Qaeda and an acquaintance of the September 11th hijackers.

Time: 23:00 to 00:00 (1 hour long).
When: Sunday 29th January on Reality TV

[HOUDA-K]

Gay Vicars

Homosexuality and the Church have never been the most comfortable of bedfellows. But when the Civil Partnership Act, which allows gay men and women to tie the knot, came into force in December 2005 the Church of England was forced to sit up and reconsider its position on homosexual relationships.

Time: 20:00 to 21:00 (1 hour long).
When: Monday 30th January on Channel 4





Afghanistan: War Without End

Veteran broadcaster Sandy Gall recounts the history of Afghanistan from the time of Alexander the Great to the Taliban. A long and turbulent journey of invasion and resistance.

Time: 09:00 to 10:00 (1 hour long).
When: Tuesday 31st January on History Channel




Heritage - The Hejaz Railway

In this four-part series Malcolm Billings takes a look at the cultural heritage of Islam as he traces the route of the forgotten Hejaz railway built 100 years ago to carry pilgrims from Istanbul to Mecca.

Time: 19:05 to 19:30 (25 minutes long).
When: Wednesday 1st February on BBC World Service Radio




Cat Stevens

One of pop's biggest talents. He's sold 40m records but turned his back on fame, changed his religion and his name. Yusuf Islam resurrects the ghost of Cat Stevens.

Time: 16:00 to 17:00 (1 hour long).
When: Thursday 2nd February on Biography Channel





Secret Files of The Inquisition

For more than 500 years, Christians waged a ruthless campaign against heresy, using secret courts, torture and public executions to stamp out the enemies of the Catholic Church. This docudrama miniseries reveals the horrifying events of these dark ages. Spain's greatest painter, Goya, depicts the Inquisition openly for the first time, and then must run for his life.

Time: 21:00 to 22:00 (1 hour long).
When: Thursday 2nd February on UKTV History





Travels With My Beard

Series of films that take a witty and mischievous approach to serious issues. Filmmaker Rajesh Thind challenges our post-July 7th perceptions of terrorism by growing some facial hair and confronting the issue, beard on. He journeys to London, Leeds and Beirut to play 'Spot the Terrorist' with ex-intelligence officers, underground jihadis and the British police.

Time: 22:30 to 23:30 (1 hour long).
When: Thursday 2nd February on BBC 3





Islamic Monuments (Part 1 of 13)

The Alhambra, the Taj Mahal, Hassan Mosque. Granada's exquisite palace, Shah Jahan's iconic memorial for his wife in Agra, and Morocco's remarkable 'floating monument.'.

Time: 12:40 to 13:00 (20 minutes long).
When: Friday 3rd February on Artsworld





The Doha Debates

The Doha Debates are a public forum for dialogue and freedom of speech in Qatar - each month invited speakers debate the burning issues of the Arab and Islamic world in front of an audience who are encouraged to participate by asking questions.

Time: 20:10 to 21:00 (50 minutes long).
When: Saturday 4th February on BBC World





Declassified: The Taliban

Afghanistan was a pawn in a deadly game between the US and Russia. This is the story of how the pieces turned on the players and New York felt the force of jihad.

Time: 22:00 to 23:00 (1 hour long).
When: Saturday 4th February on History Channel





Rooted: Turkey

Second-generation British children go back to their parents' country of origin. 12-year-old Teoman lives in south-east London with his taxi-driver father, mother and younger brother. He was born in Turkey and came to the UK at an early age. On Rooted, he realises his dream of visiting the world-famous Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and is surprised to discover it's not as blue as he thought it would be.

Time: 12:05 to 12:30 (25 minutes long).
When: Sunday 5th February on five





Globe Trekker: Iran

Ian starts his journey in Tehran, the busy and polluted capital, where he visits the Shrine of the Ayatollah, last resting-place of Khomeini. After skiing in Dizin, he travels 300 miles to Bandare - E Torkaman on the Caspian coast, where he goes sturgeon fishing and sees a Turkman wrestling bout, before embarking on a 22-hour train journey to Esfahan, Iran's most popular tourist destination. Taking a flight to Shiraz, he experiences the Islamic festival of Ashura, treks out to find the Qashqai Nomads in the south of Iran, then hitch hikes to the 2500-year-old city of Persepolis and the magnificent Citadel at Bam which was sadly destroyed in an earthquake.

Time: 15:00 to 16:00 (1 hour long).
When: Sunday 5th February on Travel Channel