Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl

Following the Lebanese Civil War thousands of refugees, more than half of them Muslim, pour into the Sydney suburb of Punchbowl sparking a clash of cultures.

By the late 1990's the Lebanese community is being terrorised by a violent criminal minority for whom drugs and criminal delinquency are the preferred lifestyle.

As 9/11 and the War on Terror puts thousands of Lebanese Australian Muslims in the firing line, their loyalty is questioned like never before and tensions explode.

After the Cronulla Beach riots in December 2005, lots of Lebanese Australians were left outraged at what they perceive as an attack by wider Australia on their Australian identity, their culture and religion. After rumours spread of reprisals against the Lakemba Mosque thousands met up to protect the building.