On Sunday night, the Muslim Council of Calgary hosted the premiere screening of a unique documentary called Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think.

The documentary, by Unity Productions Foundation, is based on the largest gallup poll ever done on Muslim opinion.

It focuses on issues such as gender justice, terrorism and democracy by using input from thousands of interviews representing 1.3 billion Muslims from over 35 countries.

It is hoped the film will foster a better understanding. "Muslims in Calgary, around the world have felt profoundly marginalized by this perception, which is promoted by both Islamophobs and radical Islamists that there is a clash of cultures and that conflict is inevitable." said Muslim Council of Calgary spokesperson, David Liepert.

The documentary, which played at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, is based on the statistics gathered in 2006.

"We have so much to gain from dialogue with one another and so much to lose if we let the, either people on either side of the spectrum, get to us." Adam Idris from the Muslim Council of Calgary told CTV.

The Muslim Council of Calgary hopes the documentary helps open doors, dialogue and understanding.

Updated: Sun Jan. 03 2010 13:07:11

CTVcalgary.ca