Bigger the better for Salim family

Helen Johnson

May 22, 2008

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NUMBERS game ... the Salim family - mum, dad and the 11 children

NUMBERS game ... the Salim family - mum, dad and the 11 children 1/2 Play Slideshow

ROCHDALE’S own super-sized family is set to star in a Channel 4 documentary tonight (Thurs).

Mohammed and Noreen Salim and their 11 children spent four months being followed by cameras for a one-off show about big families called 13 Kids and Wanting More.

The documentary begins the month before the family’s youngest daughter arrived in January this year.

According to Mohammed, producers were keen to focus on the religious reasons behind his enormous brood.

Mohammed was filmed explaining that his large family came about because he doesn’t want, in his words, to ‘Interfere with God’s doing’ by using contraception.

The programme also shows a health visitor warning the couple about the strain being put on Noreen’s body by her numerous pregnancies.

The Salims weren’t the largest family on the show however.

One of the other featured families was about to welcome its 12th member and another couple already had 13 children.

And despite the show’s title, the Salims have yet to beat the record, though if Mohammed gets his way, a baker’s dozen sized brood won’t be far off.

Mohammed said: "I’ve not seen the finished documentary yet, but I think it’s going to be quite positive.

"They mainly wanted to find out what it’s like for us every day coping with lots of children.

"They told us having babies is putting a lot of strain on Noreen, but she’s fine, still just as great as the day I married her."

The show airs on Channel 4 at 9pm tonight.

Mohammed’s days in front of the camera aren’t over just yet.

He is currently filming for a Channel Five show called Seven Deadly Sins.

He will appear on the show which focuses on the sin ‘Sloth’ after revealing earlier this year that the family survive on state benefits.

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Shamas (22/05/2008 at 10:08)

Must be very busy life for the parents keeping an eye on everyone in the house as well as keeping them fed and clothed.
Good luck to them.

Anglosaxon, Norden (22/05/2008 at 21:36)

fed up of seeing this man first he is always in the paper with crazy comments now on t.v then as a political party leader, he is an embarassment to all the asian people I know , go and get a job Saleem you are a joke. If its a religious belief then why do most asian families have one or two children

newengland (22/05/2008 at 21:37)

Mr Salim is nothing more than a parasite... draining an already exhausted benefit system. what kind of example is he setting to his children? "7 British degrees" he boasts.. get a job and give back to a country that has given him and his family so much!

Shamas (23/05/2008 at 10:24)

After watching last night's Channel 4 documentary "13 kids and wanting more" which featured 3 large families, it did show, overall that all the children in the 3 families appeared to be happy and healthy. I must applaud all large families for the love they have for children and the hard work in trying their best to bring them up under very trying circumstances, must have been very though on the mothers. I feel sorry for Salim's family as their housing condition were shown to be little bit under the standard it ought to be. Never the less it must be very trying on all the families to bring the children up. They all must be having help hand from the Government services. That's is why in this Great Country of ours we had to have a "safety net" for all the citizens who need helping hand, health, education etc.
Good luck to all "large" families in this Country, as long as the families are healthy and happy .

obbyfan, rochdale (23/05/2008 at 11:35)

i read and thought WOW one big happy family, until i learned fact he doesnt work! with THAT many kids he cant be fussy with 7 british degrees he could get a job if He WANTED to!! IF us tax payers/social secrutity didnt pay for his brood how would he support them then? his poor wife looks absolutely shattered, shes young but bodys been emacipated, saleem sees it as more kids more money! get a job and teach your children that to gain a furture you have to work for one you want, not pop kids out and let everyone else pay for them!

Renigade, rochdale (23/05/2008 at 14:52)

Watching the programme last night made me realise that the goverment are so laid back that people like Mr Salim will get away without working! As for not getting a job because of his colour thats a load of rubbish and with a attitude like that no wonder people dont want to employ him, they'd be too scared of asking him to do something in case he played the race card! As Mr Salim considered a job in sales becuase he's got mouth for it!

Umzy (23/05/2008 at 19:26)

OH well atleast their all happy i wish em all the best!!

Big Brother (24/05/2008 at 07:53)

Cant get a job ..... there are so many like him who keeping producing and living of the tax payers ... has he ever worked and paid any tax???

He need to look at himself in the mirror, will his kids follow his foot steps and live of the tax payers!!!

And that "trump" card about ... is absolute RUBBISH. I am asian and I know my responsibilities to God, my family and society!!!

Milnrow Man (25/05/2008 at 09:19)

Why is it Mr Salim does not work for a living...? Well he mentioned it himself "I am a very clever man"

Lisa Ogden, Littleborough (27/05/2008 at 12:21)

I watched the programme on Thursday evening about the Salim family. It really annoys me that they are allowed to carry on reproducing when me and my husbands taxes are paying for this. We both work and have a daughter, yet we can not afford to have another child due to the nursery fees we are having to pay out. We are not entitled to any help for this so we will have to wait until she has left nursery. I can not believe they are on benefits when most people who are out of work are made to attend interviews whether they want the job or not. I'm sure with all his qualifications he would be able to get any job he wanted. This programme is yet another embarrassment to Rochdale.

G.Harris, Manchester Road, Rochdale (27/05/2008 at 13:10)

I feel very sorry for this man's poor wife. She is in an abusive relationship and her health and life are at risk becasue this arroragnt idiot wants to make a point about the host country he detests so much.
For someone with apparently so much education we saw "Dr Salim" prepared to disgrace his family and town by showing a dirty, slovenly household. Children sleeping in their school uniforms with no bed sheets and crayon grafitti on dirty wallpaper.
This was contrasted by the other 2 families in the programme where the fathers worked.
Rochdale on the map yet again for all the wrong reasons yet no doubt Dr Salim will rant ad infinitum in the letter page of the Observer with his poisonous words of malice rather than face reality.

Shazad (06/06/2008 at 11:39)

Thanks for proving the point that the system is for more lazy, ungreatfull people like yourself. Our prophet (pbu) has said, time after time god bless's people who earn their living then sit on your back side waiting for hand outs, your a shame to our asian society. You say it's gods will...God has also give knowlege to the doctor who invented the pill, maybe you should think again before opening your mounth again.

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