۱۰ فروردین ۱۴۰۳ |۱۹ رمضان ۱۴۴۵ | Mar 29, 2024
Anti-Islamophobia billboard in UK defaced with black paint

New Bristol city center billboard campaigning against Islamophobia defaced with black paint. The signs are part of a campaign aims to unite the city against Islamophobia by challenging the stereotypes around Islam and Muslims.

Hawzah News Agency (Bristol, UK) - The striking new billboards displayed in city of Bristol in UK, as part of an anti-Islamophobia campaign, have been vandalized days after being put up.

The signs are part of the #IAMBRISTOL campaign which aims to unite the city against Islamophobia by challenging the stereotypes around Islam and Muslims.

 

Signs and posters have been put up across the city throughout November as part of the project which is run by The Students' Union at the University of the West of England, Bristol University student’s union and Islamic Society. But now the sign at The Bearpit has been splashed with black paint.

President of the UWE union, Zain Choudhry, said: "It's really disappointing to see our campaign vandalized this week. #IAMBRISTOL was launched to build upon peace and unity within our city, as well as raising awareness of the issues that people within our community are facing.

 

"I think this shows exactly why we as a city, regardless of our background, should stand together."

The posters in The Bearpit have been splattered with black paint, covering up much of the message which reads 'A city united against Islamophobia'.

 

Signs and posters across the city also give advice on how bystanders can react if they witness Islamophobia and how they can defuse the situation.

Speaking about the #IAMBRISTOl campaign, Mr Choudhry, said: “The issue of Islamophobia has existed in the city for a long time, especially because of the number of Muslim citizens that live in Bristol and Muslim students at both universities.

 

 “This campaign aims to challenge some of the stereotypes around Muslims and Islam, while encouraging people to talk openly about the subject, as well as helping those who might fall victim to harassment.

The project also aims to highlight the issues Muslim members of the community face through a number of events open to the public.

 

Regional manager of the anti-Islamophobia group MEND, Sahar Al-Faifi, said: “Islamophobia is real and is impacting individuals as well as the community and the wider society and needs to be tackled. That is why we have the #IAMBRISTOL campaign, and I am very glad to see many organizations leading and participating in it.”

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