DETROIT — A documentary chronicling the lives of students at Al-Ikhlas Training Academy, an Islamic school based in Detroit, debuted on HBO Monday, Jan. 6. 

“The Education of Mohammad Hussein” was created by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady. The pair also produced the documentary “Detropia” that focused on the city’s economic crisis and premiered in 2012.  

Both documentaries appeared on HBO and were produced in Detroit. The film is 38 minutes long. Al-Ikhlas Academy is described as one of several Islamic schools around metro Detroit. The region has one of the highest concentrations of Arabs and Muslims in the United States. 

In the film, Muslim students discuss some of the widespread discrimination they have faced as a result of their faith. 

Many scenes in the film show that the students are no different than typical American teens. Facebook and American pop star Justin Bieber are mentioned.  When discussing her large family, one girl compares it to the “Brady Bunch.”

Other scenes, where students discuss the hatred surrounding Muslim Americans after 9/11, are more touching and emotional. One student named Mohammad says a lot of people in metro Detroit are not accepting of Muslims. 

The film also covers Florida Pastor Terry Jones controversial visit to Detroit when he came to demonstrate against Muslims. Jones is seen protesting in the film outside Dearborn City Hall in 2011 while a crowd rallies against him. 

In another scene, a supporter of Jones approaches him at a restaurant saying,  “They can blow our stuff up, but we can’t burn a book?”

The documentary also features the interfaith rally in support of religious tolerance that was held in response to Jones’ visit. The film shows that Jones’ visit failed to divide the community. 

While the filmmakers were granted easy access to the Al-Ikhlas Academy, they say it was a bit tough to get inside  the homes of Muslim Americans. 

According to a news report, Ewing says while people were very friendly, at one point there was a rumor circulating that they were not really a film crew but rather the FBI in disguise. 

In 2013, “The Education of Mohammad Hussein” was shown at the International Documentary Film Festival. The film made the Oscar short list in 2012 for best short documentary film, but it did not receive a nomination.