Source: CNN

(CNN) — If laughter is the best medicine then few are more qualified to offer a prescription than Riaad Moosa.

The South African comic-turned-movie-actor is a fully trained doctor, but it’s his Indian heritage and Muslim faith that provide the basis for his stand-up material.

“I’m a comedian who happens to be Muslim [and] my comedy stems on all forms of my identity,” he says.

Moosa came to prominence on the comedy-club circuit of his native Cape Town around the turn of the century and became known for poking fun at Islamic stereotypes.

He believes this serves to highlight the prejudices many people have developed about Muslims due to fears of terrorism or violent extremism.

“When I started out it was around the whole 9/11, Islamophobia was just sort of hitting a second wind,” he says. Read more