Shariah TV: Well No, It's R.E.M. at the Isle of Wight, No it's Shariah TV After All

Shame, I was looking forward to wise interpretations of the Holy Quran and related hadiths.

But I do love R.E.M.

First saw them at the Mandela Building in 1984 or thereabouts, perhaps 1985.

Looking like just a small cog or a prophet in a big wheel of US Guitar Bands - Lone Justice, Long Ryders, Del Fuegos, Gun Club, Beat Farmers and the like that were coming up.

Plus boring old farts like The Byrds and Flaco Jiminez. Really sad to have to see them in little clubs instead of at a stadium. But anyway, after an excellent left field guitar set, Stipe did a cheesy Moon River for an encore. I remember that I thought that "outrageous" and said so. Don't think I could justify that comment then either.

Hey, Shariah TV is back. From the Dome of the Rock. A brilliant, liberal, free discussion among Muslim people. More free of the holy chapter, verse, revelations and anecdotes than the usual UK studio programme (which is pretty liberal) or typical post prayers chat in the mosque.

The Strict Sheik* is cool as ever. But 'Strict'. The crowd though are liberals and/or open conservatives. I throughly recommend this programme.

* Shariah judge in Nazareth.