292:"I had some life experience which really affected me. In 2009, the government killed my father. He was Muslim and they said he wanted to establish Sharia in America. They shot him 20 times! He was the victim of Islamaphobia. He's gone and there was no way to defend himself. Later, they put a small clip on the news confirming he really wasn't a terrorist. I didn't want to make a hate film in response to that, but instead to re-educate the public. I want to focus on changing the mindset of people- so they don't automatically look and judge. There are over 1 billion Muslims worldwide, so why is it that everyone is painted with the same brush?"
218:), who proudly shows his religious values. Together, they have to solve a case involving the disappearance of several Muslims as well as a respectable Muslim leader who is charged with an assault arrest. The Chief wants them to "Speak Muslim To The Muslims" which he thinks will guarantee his re-election and results in ending rising Islamophobic tensions between the police and the community.
281:, and it is the first production under his company Halalywood Entertainment. In 2012, Regan wrote the story and it then took about two years to get the film project started. Before production for the film even began, Regan created a two-minute trailer in hope of selling the project to investors. In December 2013, the campaign for the film was launched, Regan used
209:
The Chief of Police (Joshua Salaam) wants to gain the trust of the Muslim community in order to get re-elected, but
Attorney Leila Rodriguez (Yasemin Kanar) is standing in the way with a discrimination lawsuit against Officer Richardson and the Motor City Police Department. The Chief calls, Mohammed
370:
is a
Hollywood motion picture that sets out to use comedy to reverse the prejudices held against Islam and help promote the religion in a more positive way. It's an alternative form of entertainment, during a time where we are surrounded and exposited to increasing negativity and profanity." Whilst
358:
after a month-long shoot around Metro
Detroit that employed dozens of Muslims and Arab Americans from California, New York and Michigan. On the last day of production at the Berwyn Senior Citizen Center, more than 100 extras turned out, many dressed in Islamic attire, to shoot a scene depicting a
338:
is a
Hollywood motion picture that sets out to use comedy to reverse the prejudices held against Islam and help promote the religion in a more positive way. It's an alternative form of entertainment, during a time where we are surrounded and exposited to increasing negativity and profanity."
320:
is a
Hollywood motion picture that sets out to use comedy to reverse the prejudices held against Islam and help promote the religion in a more positive way. It's an alternative form of entertainment, during a time where we are surrounded and exposited to increasing negativity and profanity."
349:
City officials in
Dearborn Heights were lenient regarding the production of the film, allowing the cast and crew to shoot at several prime locations, including at the Berwyn Senior Citizen Center. Scenes were also shot at the Alsadek Market on Warren Avenue in Dearborn and in and around
424:
rated the film 1/5 and said, "...the cheesy comedy and stiff acting paved the way for this movie to be a much hyped let down... On the other hand it was a good effort in trying to shed light on some of the misunderstandings surrounding Islam." Steve
Bennett of
29:
303:. The two actors play Muslim cops from completely opposite backgrounds, who band together to fight crime in Detroit and learn a few things about religion, culture and stereotypes along the way. The film aims to be humorous and respect the
206:) profiles every Muslim he sees as a terrorist. He goes on an arrest frenzy, which makes the community activists, Jihad (Adam Saleh) and Osama (Sheikh Akbar) take to the streets and rally the people to stand up for their rights.
402:
said of the film "action packed comedy that's a sure fire way to tickle your funny bone... It explores real-life situations where
Muslims are mistakenly seen to be 'radicalised' and uses comedy to defy such assumptions."
499:
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214:) who keeps his faith to himself and his own prejudices against Islam, following constant exposure to Islamophobia, and partners him with a Middle Eastern, Detective Abdul (
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The exclusive film tour helped the
British Muslim community raise £1 million to help vulnerable orphans in Bangladesh, The Gambia, India, Pakistan, Palestine and Sudan.
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at specially selected venues in 22 cities. The film is due to be released in
Malaysia, Qatar, Dubai, Canada and the United States.
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to generate funds for the film and the film earned $ 122,000 in donations in less than 40 days. The film cost £124,000 to make.
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to maintain power while two Muslim police officers attempt to solve a case involving the disappearance of several Muslims.
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he added, "...The message of the film is that we all need love and unity because we all are the creation of Allah."
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When the project became financially secure, Regan decided to bring the production to the diverse communities of
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Between February and March 2015, British charity Penny Appeal are due to exclusively host the UK screenings of
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is a buddy-cop comedy-drama film starring Detroit-born comedian Omar Regan and Iranian American comedian
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675:"Preview: 'American Sharia' - "The First Ever Halal Comedy/Action Feature Film Of It's [
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346:. The film crew is composed of people from diverse backgrounds, religions and ethnicities.
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called the film "an action comedy that lifts the curtain on real Muslim lives."
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500:"'Halalywood' comes to metro Detroit with film production of "American Sharia""
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934:"American Sharia helps British Muslim community raise £1 million for charity"
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will stay, as it's hard to see the movie to making a mainstream crossover."
190:. Written by Omar Regan, the film is about rogue government officials using
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Billed as "the first ever Halal Comedy/Action feature film of its kind,"
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912:"American Sharia comes to the UK! The Muslim comedy film of the year!"
835:"American Sharia comes to the UK! The Muslim comedy film of the year!"
304:
354:. At the end of June 2014, the production of the film completed in
468:"Halalywood: The rise of the Islamic entertainment industry"
739:"American Sharia – Of Comedy, Action and Sharia-compliant"
764:"INTERVIEW: American Sharia comedy film set to tour UK"
616:"First 'Halalywood' film American Sharia on UK tour"
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812:"American Sharia – Muslim comedy film of the year"
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936:. Redhotcurry.com. March 17, 2015. Archived from
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652:"American Sharia- Coming to a screen near you!"
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429:said, "This limited circuit is probably where
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859:. Penny Appeal. December 2013. Archived from
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359:homeless shelter being raided by the police.
8:
783:
781:
712:"American Sharia & Halalywood (Trailer)"
880:
878:
334:In February 2015, Regan told Asian Image, "
1108:English-language action comedy-drama films
326:—Omar Regan, writer, director and star of
27:
18:
248:Yasemin Kanar as Attorney Leila Rodriguez
537:"Omar Regan presents 'American Sharia'!"
277:is the director, producer and writer of
673:Obenson, Tambay A. (January 29, 2014).
458:
614:Choudhury, Imran (February 12, 2015).
7:
982:Bennett, Steve (February 17, 2015).
910:Choudhury, Nila (February 5, 2015).
417:called it a "family-friendly film".
650:Malik, Aneesa (February 16, 2015).
543:. February 12, 2015. Archived from
1113:English-language independent films
1048:American action comedy-drama films
833:Hijazi, Samer (January 15, 2015).
710:Hadzic, Aldin (January 11, 2014).
413:called it a "hilarious new film".
14:
1053:American buddy comedy-drama films
886:"American Sharia comes to the UK"
789:"American Sharia comes to the UK"
567:""American Sharia" by Omar Regan"
810:Khan, Aalia (January 26, 2015).
737:Sandur, Dar- (January 1, 2014).
714:. Taqwa Magazine. Archived from
1063:American police detective films
1043:2010s action comedy-drama films
766:. Asian Image. January 27, 2015
791:. Asian Lite. January 12, 2015
595:. Filmstarts.de. December 2013
498:Hijazi, Samer (July 3, 2014).
466:Shahid, Omar (April 3, 2014).
270:Development and pre-production
1:
959:Khan, Aalia (March 2, 2015).
888:. Desi News. February 3, 2015
362:In February 2015, Regan told
288:In February 2015, Regan told
245:Joshua Salaam as Police Chief
174:is a 2015 American buddy cop
1093:2015 directorial debut films
1068:2010s English-language films
311:Filming and post-production
126:February 11, 2015
1129:
1058:American independent films
448:Islam in the United States
837:. British Muslim Magazine
182:and starring Omar Regan,
26:
1083:Islamic comedy and humor
1078:Kickstarter-funded films
963:. Asian Sunday Newspaper
961:"American Sharia review"
814:. Asian Sunday Newspaper
178:action film directed by
112:Halalywood Entertainment
1098:2015 independent films
1088:Persecution of Muslims
1073:Films shot in Michigan
505:The Arab American News
422:Asian Sunday Newspaper
373:Asian Sunday Newspaper
323:
254:Sheikh Akbar as Osama
242:as Officer Richardson
1103:2010s American films
691:on February 15, 2015
202:Officer Richardson (
134: (United States)
718:on February 1, 2014
305:boundaries of Islam
251:Adam Saleh as Jihad
741:. Munsyeed Dot Com
654:. Asian World News
16:2015 American film
984:"American Sharia"
857:"American Sharia"
626:on April 25, 2015
593:"American Sharia"
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988:. Retrieved
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861:the original
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192:Islamophobia
188:Eric Roberts
176:comedy-drama
170:
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143:Running time
119:Release date
74:Eric Roberts
59:Micah Brandt
867:February 1,
745:February 1,
722:February 1,
695:February 1,
620:Eastern Eye
599:February 1,
577:February 1,
571:Kickstarter
516:February 1,
474:February 1,
411:Urban Asian
364:Asian Image
283:Kickstarter
230:as Mohammed
57:Couni Young
54:Produced by
36:Directed by
1038:2015 films
1032:Categories
454:References
275:Omar Regan
265:Production
228:Omar Regan
212:Omar Regan
180:Omar Regan
147:98 minutes
130:2015-02-11
105:Production
67:Omar Regan
49:Omar Regan
46:Written by
40:Omar Regan
986:. Chortle
841:August 1,
684:Indiewire
415:Desi News
394:Reception
99:Jeff Bass
88:Edited by
818:April 1,
795:April 1,
770:April 1,
437:See also
301:Baba Ali
236:as Abdul
234:Baba Ali
216:Baba Ali
184:Baba Ali
160:Language
96:Music by
70:Baba Ali
64:Starring
990:June 1,
967:June 1,
944:June 1,
918:June 1,
892:June 1,
658:June 1,
630:June 1,
551:June 1,
427:Chortle
379:Release
163:English
152:Country
128: (
107:company
1023:IMDb
992:2015
969:2015
946:2015
920:2015
894:2015
869:2015
843:2015
820:2015
797:2015
772:2015
747:2015
724:2015
697:2015
660:2015
632:2015
601:2015
579:2015
553:2015
518:2015
476:2015
222:Cast
198:Plot
186:and
1021:at
677:sic
366:, "
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
