So the new season of Little Mosque on the Prairie began in Canada tonight on CBC and as a Canadian Muslim I felt I should watch. Also, as someone who watched every episode last season I felt the need to catch the first episode of the second season. It began quite funny. I was very impressed with what seemed to be an improvement in humour and jokes. However, very soon my satisfaction became a cringing discomfort.
In this episode we see Rayyan, the young, beautiful, opinionated, feminist, Muslim doctor, trying to convince Amaar, the young, progressive, beardless (and might I add handsome) Imam to let her announce community events. He opposes it only because he believes it will be too controversial. The men in the congregation will never accept a woman standing in front of the congregation, talking to them! What horror! She insists, as she should, that this is precisely the reason that a woman MUST make the announcements – to bring the men into the 21st century. After some argument Amaar gives in and agrees to give it a try. However, he appoints Rayyan’s mother, Sarah, to present the announcements. She however is very hesitant. Rayyan, disappointed, decides to write the announcements for her mother.

