‘Meet A Muslim’ Breaks US Barriers
Seeking a better understanding for their religion after the Boston bombing, three young Muslim teens have stood in a busy street in New York with a sign inviting Americans to meet Muslims to better know them.
“Just like race does not define who you are as a person, religion does not define your character,” read a message at the end of a video released by a group of Muslim youth calling themselves TrueStoryASA.
“It is what’s inside your heart that shows who you truly are.”
A video showed three young Muslims holding up a poster reading “Meet a Muslim person”.
The three New York teens, identified as Adam Saleh, Sheikh Akbar and Abdullah Ghuman, said they were hoping to "spread love and happiness and unity".
Many of the people passing by stop to shake their hands, talk to them and take photos.
But as the clip ends, one man walks past them and says, "I've killed them when I was in the army, I don't need to meet them".
The video has received more than 297,000 views on YouTube since being uploaded on Wednesday.
The Muslim endeavor comes after a deadly bombing rocked Boston marathon earlier this month and killed three people.
The attacks, which were carried out by two brothers of Chechen origin, have drawn widespread condemnations from Muslims inside the United States and around the world.
The bombings have also triggered a wave of anti-Muslim rhetoric across the country.
Making a record of views in a few days, the video won plaudits, with some praising its "amazing" and "powerful" message of love and tolerance.
“Love, Respect, tolerance should be above all, your or my beliefs are a personal choice that should never be a reason to fight or argue,” a YouTube user identified as mariohds86 said.
“Cheers my fellow human brothers.”
“I'm proud of you guys. Keep doing great things,” Sara Beara, another user, said.
American Muslims, estimated at between 7-8 million, have launched several initiatives to clarify the true image of Islam.
For instance, Muslims have championed ad campaigns to explain the true meaning of jihad as practiced by the majority of Muslims.
The campaigns come amid rising rhetoric against the minority questioning their loyalty.
Since the 9/11 attacks on the United States, many Muslims have complained of facing discrimination and stereotypes in the society because of their Islamic attires or identities.
A recent report by the umbrella Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has found that Islamophobia in the US is on the rise.
A Gallup poll had found that the majority of Americans Muslims are loyal to their country and optimistic about their future in the United States.
Source: On Islam
“It is what’s inside your heart that shows who you truly are.”
A video showed three young Muslims holding up a poster reading “Meet a Muslim person”.
The three New York teens, identified as Adam Saleh, Sheikh Akbar and Abdullah Ghuman, said they were hoping to "spread love and happiness and unity".
Many of the people passing by stop to shake their hands, talk to them and take photos.
But as the clip ends, one man walks past them and says, "I've killed them when I was in the army, I don't need to meet them".
The video has received more than 297,000 views on YouTube since being uploaded on Wednesday.
The Muslim endeavor comes after a deadly bombing rocked Boston marathon earlier this month and killed three people.
The attacks, which were carried out by two brothers of Chechen origin, have drawn widespread condemnations from Muslims inside the United States and around the world.
The bombings have also triggered a wave of anti-Muslim rhetoric across the country.
Making a record of views in a few days, the video won plaudits, with some praising its "amazing" and "powerful" message of love and tolerance.
“Love, Respect, tolerance should be above all, your or my beliefs are a personal choice that should never be a reason to fight or argue,” a YouTube user identified as mariohds86 said.
“Cheers my fellow human brothers.”
“I'm proud of you guys. Keep doing great things,” Sara Beara, another user, said.
American Muslims, estimated at between 7-8 million, have launched several initiatives to clarify the true image of Islam.
For instance, Muslims have championed ad campaigns to explain the true meaning of jihad as practiced by the majority of Muslims.
The campaigns come amid rising rhetoric against the minority questioning their loyalty.
Since the 9/11 attacks on the United States, many Muslims have complained of facing discrimination and stereotypes in the society because of their Islamic attires or identities.
A recent report by the umbrella Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has found that Islamophobia in the US is on the rise.
A Gallup poll had found that the majority of Americans Muslims are loyal to their country and optimistic about their future in the United States.
Source: On Islam
