Dinara Sadretdinova: ‘According to backroom talks, a presenter in hijab is an absurd for a federal channel’

'I put hijab on and never took it off then'

Before my appearance on Russia TV channel, I was a presenter in World of Islam programme in AST-Prometey satellite TV channel. Having graduated from Musical Theatre of Russian Academy of Theatre Arts, I already did not see my future on the stage of the modern theatre because I tried to follow the religious precepts.

Once an acquaintance of my sister called me and offered to participate in a TV project about Islam. I decided to try to be a correspondent. This programme was designed for a male presenter, and at that moment no one could imagine that a girl wearing a hijab might appeared on the screen. But it turned out that the first edition was not shot well, so I was offered to shoot together with a male presenter. During the shooting of a new pilot programme, I looked the following way: I had a formal suit, put a kerchief on my head but had naked knees under the table.

'Having graduated from Musical Theatre of Russian Academy of Theatre Arts, I already did not see my future on the stage of the modern theatre because I tried to follow the religious precepts.' Photo: ardexpert.ru

After the shootings I look at myself in the mirror with a 'hijab till my knees' and I understood I could not lie the viewers and specially wear hijab while I did not do it in real life. Because on the screen me is me, Dinara Sadretdinova and I don't perform any roles… For the next shooting I put a hijab on and never took it off then.

At that time it helped me to make a choice and finally wear clothes according to the religious canons. Two years later the work in the programme stopped, I started to think what to do then and decided to study, get a second univsersity degree and have a new speciality, to be a teacher.

'Let her work! She is funny!'

My sister just came back from a long-term business trip. She came across the producer of a new programme on Russia channel Elena Korshak in the corridors of a mosque. She was impressed by a rare combination of beauty and intelligence, the producer invited my sister to Shabolovka to acquaint with her better. But my sister Nailya has a philological education, she was interested in editing, not journalism, and told about my experience in television.

Elena Koshar invited us together. We came to the editorial, got acquainted with the head of the programme Vasily Antipov, he watched my works and we were carried out by a talk. It turned out he also graduated from Russian Academy of Theatre Arts. He offered me to try the role of a presenter of a programme, though, initially, the programme was planned to be without any presenter. My sister and me wrote the lead-in. It was remarkable that my screen test was on the same day of the shooting of the mufti Hazrat Ravil Gaynutdin. And he was the presenter in the two first programmes.

On that day I was asked to tie back my kerchief to look in a secular manner. They even asked if it was possible to take it off. At that moment I had been wearing hijab for more than two years. This is why I was not going to wear my kerchief шт another way and take it off just to be on the screen of a federal channel.

'Oleg Dobrodeyev, director general of the TV channel, designated me as the presenter of the programme. 'Let her work! She is funny!' he concluded. He was not confused even by my kerchief…' Photo: kommersant.ru

Despite these requests and questions, the atmosphere in the studio was very inviting, and for some reason it seemed to me the screen tests would be successful. So was it: not only the administration of the programme but also the Department of Social and Political Programmes liked it. Oleg Dobrodeyev, director general of the TV channel, designated me as the presenter of the programme. 'Let her work! She is funny!' he concluded. He was not confused even by my kerchief…

It was my little victory! I started to work in Muslims to break the mold about a diminished position of a woman in Islam and tell the Russian about a kind face of our religion and its followers.

The programme had been existing for over 13 years. It told to our compatriots about the history, culture, traditions and customs of the people who confess Islam. And not only celebrated representatives of their people but also ordinary people like countryside workers, engineers, teachers and doctors were the main characters in Muslims.

After the closure

Changes were made in the summer 2015. The producer changed, it was decided to reduce the Service of Series and Thematic Programmes, close a number of programmes, including Muslims.

The administration promised to create a new programme on Russia 24 channel. But this programme was going to have another format, content and a male presenter.

According to backroom talks, a presenter in hijab is an absurd for a federal channel. Given that no one told it to me personally, I did not pay attention to it because I perfectly knew not all people liked that I appear on the screen wearing a kerchief and greet the viewers saying 'Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh' which in Arabic means 'May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be with you'.

'I hope so much that my co-religionists will have a new programme on Russia 24. And I will work on my project that, God willing, you will see! Might peace be with you!' Photo: facebook.com

When the programme was not aired any more, I started to receive letters from different regions asking: Where did Muslims disappear? The viewers did not understand why the programme closed at such a tumultuous time when it was necessary to explain what Islam was and who the Muslims were.

But the strongest response was after an interview to Kavpolit portal. I received a huge deal of opinions and letters on the official page on Facebook and pages in other social networks. Both Islamic and secular printed and online mass media reacted quickly.

TNV channel took part in the coverage of this topic. The head of Muslims programme and me were asked to comment the closure of the project, representatives of the Spirituality of Tatarstan were invited to the studio to discuss the situation. Even the administration of the President was interested in the interview. Consequently, there were made measures on the launch of another programme.

I hope so much that my co-religionists will have a new programme on Russia 24. And I will work on my project that, God willing, you will see! Might peace be with you!