Muslim community explored through speaker and film series

Spies, war and helping the helpless…it may sound like a movie plot, but all of these things were major events in Noor Inayat Khan’s life. Later this April, Saginaw Valley State University will screen a documentary of Khan’s life as part of the Dr. Raana Akbar Memorial Lecture Series.

The event consists of a lecture and a documentary film screening, titled “Enemy of the Reich: The Noor Inayat Khan Story.” The documentary features the true story of a young Muslim woman, Noor Inayat Khan, who lived in Paris. She joined Winston Churchill’s covert spy operation to aid the allies in the fight against the axis powers, eventually being captured and taken to a concentration camp.

The creator of the film, Michael Wolfe, is a Muslim American poet and author. He is known for covering the 2001 pilgrimage to Mecca for CNN and will lead a conversational lecture before the screening.

The event will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 in Saginaw Valley State University's Curtiss Hall - Rhea Miller Hall. Refreshments will be served before and after the presentation.

“There’s so many misconceptions about the Muslim community, especially with Muslim women throughout history,” said Ray Lacina, Delta College English professor and a prominent figure in the local Muslim community. “They’ve really done some remarkable things and they aren’t someone with no voice hidden behind a veil. Women play a central role in the Muslim community and Khan’s (role) can help prove that.”

The suspenseful story of Noor Inayat Khan proves that with enough hope and compassion, someone can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles and help those who seem helpless. The speaker and film series focuses on this idea, which Lacina said will prove to be very enlightening and eye-opening after listening to Khan’s struggle through her time in World War II.

“The whole series covers some extraordinary and remarkable people,” said Lacina, “It may be a documentary but it has reenactments on what happened and whatever topic (Wolfe) tackles, he does it well. He thinks deeply on what he does. Michael Wolfe is worth hearing.”

Lacina said he hopes after hearing Wolfe speak and once the film is finished, those in attendance may be presented with more opportunities to understand Muslim culture.

“It’s like any faith and teaches many of the same things as other religions,” said Lacina.