MONTREAL - Rising Muslim-Canadian comic Eman dropped into CTV Montreal to say a few words about her self-imposed mandate of trying to build comedy bridges between Muslims and other groups.
Eman has driven right into the heart of some touchy battles, including disagreements between Israel and Palestine, but any divisions she skewers are not reflected in her personal comedy environment.
"I wanted to celebrate the fact that in Montreal Jews and Muslims get along together so well, even in the comedy community I feel we're drawn together, we have a similar sense of humour," she said.
And while she doesn't promise world peace, she figures that her work contributes to promote understanding where prejudice sometimes exists. She thinks comedy is a useful way of sliding that message into the public discussion.
"I'm trying to send a clear message and the best way to do it is through humour, I'm not going to shove it down people's throats."
Eman's more-traditional parents are "as supportive as they could be," but they didn't think their daughter would become a stand-up comedian.
"They thought it was going to be a hobby," she said. "As proud as they are of my TV special, they ultimately want me to get married and have children."
Eman has brought her stand-up routine to the Middle East and found audiences to be very receptive to a form of expression that isn't quite as common over there.
Eman's TV special airs on CTV Thursday at 10:30 p.m. Click on the videoplayer to the right to watch the full interview.
