Canadian activist, Asoomii Jay, has received death and even rape threats for being a Muslim. In order to raise awareness of growing ‘Islamophobia,’ she has asked complete strangers to hug a blind-folded man who was labelled ‘terrorist’.
“We didn’t expect to receive so much positive reaction, this much encouragement and support. But we are happy to see Canadians react this way to Islamophobia,” she said in an RT report.
With the help of other Canadian activists, Jay decided to take matters into her own hands by conducting a social experiment she called ‘blind and trust’. A Muslim man named Mustafa Mawla, stands blindfolded on a busy street in Toronto with arms outstretched. Mustafa 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 mentioned the recent tragedy in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where three Muslim students (also activists) were shot by their neighbor. The murder suspect was said to have been motivated by religious/racial hatred. So when cartoonists get shot it’s terrorism, but when a few kids get shot it’s not even a cover story… how depressing. A life is a life, regardless of the faith. However, simply giving a particular story more coverage or screen-time allows the mass media to push the agenda of fear/war-mongering politicians.
Confused by the disinformation being spread by the mainstream press, people began to blame whole communities, the entire religion, for the actions of a few. 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,” she explained.
Jay started the project when people started calling her a terrorist for wearing a hijab while competing in the school’s ‘Next Top Model’ contest; she placed second. The video of the blind trust activist has gone viral, receiving a truly heart-warming response from social media, where the hashtags #BlindTrust and #BlindTrustProject have been used.
I always support you Anonymous …
Cause we are Anonymous !
this isnt an actual gesture- he did it in a western nation where people ARE SAFE. I challenge him to dress up as a jew and do this little act in afghanistan or iran
I understand what she is saying. Question though….the guys who killed all those people in Paris did have a direct connection and trained with a group somewhere. Right? The world leaders came because of Freedom of Speech right? They guy in Chapel hill was a freak right? The towing company said they wouldn’t take the guys complains anymore over the parking. I’m glad she did the test I hope she realizes there are a lot of loving people in the world and we are fighting against a group of people who want to kill anyone Even Muslims but they are trying to cover themselves political movement by using her religions name. That is why people are confused and have hate Back at what is happening.
The sad truth is that If you are a non-muslim in ANY practising muslim country and dare to be critical of Islam in anyway good luck living for the next 24hrs. The western media I believe is actually not blaming Islam how much it truly needs to be blamed. Muslims always play the victims and many times have faked hate-crimes to just be looked at as victims. Whilst in the Arab world were non-muslims, especially Jews and Christians, get killed for simply being Christian, not just by supposed Islamic Terror groups, but by the State or groups approved of by the state. Please people actually look up the Hadith and Quran and READ the commentaries by respected Muslims and see the truth for yourselves. For example read Surah 9:29 which EVERY Islamic Authority and commentary proclaims that verse teaches to destroy non-muslims and their power. I mean its in history long before ISIS or AL Qaida.
its just because Canadians rock and could care less about what skin color or what religion u are, Canadians love to hug 😀