News / #IAmBristol
#IAmBristol: Uniting against Islamophobia
People of Bristol are uniting to fight the Islamophobia that impacts the lives of individuals and communities within the city.
A number of key organisations have come together to launch #IAmBristol in a bid to challenge stereotypes and also help provide support for those who have been victims of hate crimes.
The Students’ Union at UWE Bristol is spearheading the campaign which will run throughout November, as part of Islamophobia Awareness Month.
is needed now More than ever
It has gained the backing of UWE, Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND), University and College Union (UCU) and the Bristol Muslim and Cultural Society (BMCS), making it Bristol’s biggest Islamophobia awareness campaign to date.
“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,” says president of the UWE Students’ Union Zain Choudhry.
“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 support we’ve received emphasises the need for a campaign like this in Bristol and the desire to unite the city in the fight against Islamophobia.”
Totterdown Mosque responded to an Islamophobic attack by hosting a tea party which had an overwhelmingly positive response
The campaign will have a visible presence across the cities as the message is splashed across public transport, schools, community locations and university campuses.
There is also a programme of events that are open to everyone to raise awareness and encourage discussion, while profiling issues that Muslim men, women and children face.
Regional manager of 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 organisations leading and participating in it.”
Posters around the city will provide information for bystanders who witness Islamophobia, advising them how to diffuse the situation without being confrontational.
Muslim women in particular are all too often targeted and the campaign aims to raise awareness among the public and create an impact of positive change.
The first event takes place on Monday (November 6) with ‘Ask A Muslim’, an open panel event at UWE’s Frenchay Campus. For more information on the campaign, visit www.thestudentsunion.co.uk/representation/campaigns/iambristol/
Main photo: Zain Choudhry
Read more: Bristol stands united against racism
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
