Alwaght- After getting death and rape threats for being a Muslim, a Canadian activist, Asoomii Jay, decided to raise awareness about Islamophobia, asking people to hug a man labeled a “terrorist” in the streets of Toronto. She shared people’s moving reaction with RT .
Jay decided to take matters into her own hands after she experienced the growing hatred towards Muslims first-hand. Together with other Canadian activists, she carried out an inspiring social experiment called “Blind and Trust,” in which a Muslim man, Mustafa Mawla, stood blindfolded on a busy street in Toronto with his arms outstretched and open. The man had a sign beside him reading: “I am a Muslim. I am labeled as a terrorist,” and another that read, “I trust you. Do you trust me? Give me a hug .”
“Due to the rise of Islamophobia, due to the rise of hate crimes that have been happening around the world and due to personal experience … it really moved us to try to raise awareness, to show people how we are made to feel in our own countries, our own homes,” Jay said
She cited the recent tragic incident in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where three Muslim students – activists themselves – were shot by their neighbor. According to the victims’ relatives, the suspected murderer was motivated by racial or religious hatred .
People are confused by disinformation in the aftermath of tragedies such as the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris, Jay said. Instead of blaming individuals who committed the horrible terrorist acts, some media “blamed the whole faith,” she added .
“That has made us raise awareness, show people what we are made to feel, as well as encourage people to think for themselves, not believe everything they hear and see,” the activist explained .
Jay said that the project was inspired by her own experience. Studying at Carleton University, she made into the top two in the school’s ‘Next Top Model’ competition and wore a hijab to show it’s not harmful. Some people got intimidated, however, and started calling her a terrorist because she was Muslim .
“I’ve always dealt with bullying or harassment because of my faith growing up, especially after 9/11 ….”
“http://t.co/MCIxo51zu6#BlindTrustProject” Radicals do not represent the whole. People are just people, full of love and trust. Stay woke
The video has gone viral since it was posted on YouTube in January. The project received a heartwarming response on social media, where people have been posting their reaction under the hashtag #BlindTrust and #BlindTrustProject .
Islamophobia in US
A recent survey suggests that many Americans believe it is acceptable to ridicule Islam, highlighting the depth of anti-Islamic sentiment and widespread Islamophobia in the United States .
According to the HuffPost/YouGov survey, 46 percent of Americans thought it was acceptable to mock Islam .
American scholar and journalist Dr. Kevin Barrett said the Zionist-controlled media is seeking to “destroy” Islam while promoting hatred against Muslims .
“The Zionist-dominated media here in the United states is helping foment a clash of civilizations against Islam, but which is secretly designed not only to destroy Islam, but also Christianity,” Barrett said .
“I am not terribly surprised about this, because if one follows the mainstream media… in the United States, there has been a constant spin on the Middle East and on Islam, which is designed to provoke these very feelings on the part of most Americans,” said Mark Dankof – a broadcaster and former US Senate candidate .
“So if we look at all of this, it paints a very, very ugly picture of what’s happening, and I think we are going to see more of it,” he noted .
“The average American still has no idea of why we are in the Middle East, and what the Islamic religion... is really all about,” he pointed out .
The victims caused no trouble in their neighborhood, they were actually recently seen providing free dental and food supplies to the poor and homeless, but the relentless demonization of Muslims by the US mainstream media made some US citizens see all Muslims as terrorists .
Such murders previously occurred in the US and it does not seem they will stop, until US changes its policies in media stopping the Islamophobic wave, and also stop legalizing personal weaponry.
