From 2000 to 2003 Aaqil was Deputy Editor of Documentaries in the BBC’s Religion and Ethics department before heading up Channel 4’s religion and multicultural programming. His high-profile TV projects include PANORAMA, EVERYMAN and BBC news specials such as THE FUNERAL OF DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES.
Aaqil is also responsible for award winning productions such as SAVING AFRICA’S WITCH CHILDREN, THE QUR’AN, INSIDE THE MIND OF A SUICIDE BOMBER, and KARBALA: CITY OF MARTYRS. In 2005 he was voted No 4 on the list of The 20 Most Powerful Asians in Britain.
In 2009 he became head of BBC Commissioning and Religious and Ethics creating highly praised productions including OTTOMANS: EUROPE’S MUSLIM EMPERORS, THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD, BRITAIN’S MUSLIM SOLDIERS and SREBRENICA: NEVER AGAIN? He has been responsible for the UK’s leading religious programme SONGS OF PRAISE as well as the BBC’s coverage of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the UK in 2010.
Aaqil is a Professor at the School of Media and Performing Arts, University of Bolton, is a Non-Executive Director of the Advertising Standards Authority and a Trustee of leading development charity Muslim Aid.