Salam Cafe is a 10-week comedy panel and sketch show aimed at young Australian Muslims. Clearly intended to influence perceptions of young Muslims in the current global climate, this series wants to show that being a Muslim can be as much about going to the footy as to the mosque and that Muslims have no trouble laughing at themselves and the way they are misrepresented.

There are gags about Muslims flying on one-way tickets, owning mobile phones with extra room on the SIM card and playing footy for the Essendon Bombers. Panel member Susan Carland is introduced by host Ahmed Imam as 'the Imelda Marcos of hijabs', there's a "Where's Osama" segment, and the Idol rip-off "Australian Imam, the search for Australia's most controversial Imam".

Non-Muslims, of course, could never make these jokes but it's refreshing to see Muslim comics and community leaders taking ownership of the prejudice they feel to make it funny and entertaining.

Published: 6^th May 2008 | Source: The AGE