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#MuslimsAreSpeakingOut

Launched in 2016, with the support of major American Muslim organizations, #MuslimsAreSpeakingOut is a three-year campaign combating extremism and Islamophobia. The campaign is directed against the canard that Muslims do not speak out against terrorist attacks, citing the overwhelming condemnation of terrorist violence by virtually all Muslim leaders and organizations in the United States and around the world. The campaign showcases their leading role in the fight against extremists who have hijacked the narrative of Islam.

It also highlights the positive contributions Muslims bring to our societies and their sustained efforts to nurture ties with other faith communities.

 

Click here to watch videos about the campaign.  See here our Facebook page.


#MuslimsAreSpeakingOut landmark events:

 

Muslim Arts and Culture Festival (MACFEST)

December 4, 2023, Qaisra Shahraz, Founder of MACFEST – an initiative supported by FFEU- , won yesterday the Manchester People’s Cultural Award in recognition of her dedication and commitment to culture in Manchester and for building intercultural bridges through arts and culture.
March 12, 2023, FFEU Executive Director Chris Sacarabany participated as the Chief Guest in a most moving and powerful panel in honor of 4 young courageous Afghani women artists based in Kabul.
The event, organized by MACFEST led Qaisra Shahraz MBE, was hosted by Angelika Hoff M.A., teacher Training College Stuttgart, Germany.
𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
A few days earlier, Chris Sacarabany addressed a congratulatory message to MACFEST on the occasion of the Festival’s 5th anniversary.

 

More about MACFEST (2017-2023)

FFEU UK coordinator, Ms. Qaisra Shahraz MBE JP FRSA, Founder, Curator and Executive Director of MACFEST – an award-winning festival celebrating art, music and culture that brings Muslim and non-Muslim communities together – receives the distinguished MBS order of the British Empire Award and the Cultural Champion Award, from the Prince William of Wales for her outstanding work in MACFEST. Since its inception in 2017, with the support of FFEU, MACFEST has organized over 70 events in its hometown Manchester, UK, United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Morocco, Azerbaijan, among other countries.

Muslim-Jewish events in India (2022)

Indian Pluralism Foundation led by Mr. Owaiz Aslam – a partner of FFEU based in India, led a delegation of youth peacebuilders to Maghen David Synagogue for interactive Muslim-Jewish discussions with Rabbi Beneli. Indian Pluralism held interfaith events and discussions on how Muslim and Jews can team up to combat antisemitism and islamophobia.


Interfaith Vigil in Response to New Zealand Terror Attack, Jamaica Muslim Center, New York, March 17, 2019 – Nusantara President Imam Shamsi Ali and Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) President Rabbi Marc Schneier held an interfaith vigil in response to the terror attack in New Zealand’s Al Noor and Linwood Mosques at the Jamaica Muslim Center, the largest Muslim community in New York City.

Council Member Rory I. Lancman, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, Rabbi Michael Miller and other distinguished interfaith and community leaders joined New Yorkers from various faiths and ethnicities to declare their solidarity with the victims and families of the New Zealand attacks and to express their commitment to work together to fight anti-Muslim hatred.

“The tragic event last night in New Zealand are an attack on the Muslim community,” said Imam Shamsi Ali. “We condemn it fully and urge authorities to bring the perpetrator to justice quickly. The events in New Zealand, Quebec City, Pittsburgh and Charleston remind us that terrorism does not discriminate between religions. Jews, Christians and Muslims have all been targeted. It is time to come together to combat bigotry.”

“Standing together in the face of terrorism is a communal responsibility. As a member of the Jewish community, I see it as my responsibility to the Islamic community to be at the forefront of battling Islamophobia and any attack or form of bigotry against the Islamic faith and Muslims,” added FFEU President Rabbi Schneier. “I stand with my Muslim brothers and sisters and condemn in the strongest terms the attacks which took place at Al Noor Mosque and at Linwood Mosque in New Zealand. We must stand together against Islamophobia.”

The two have held joint events in the past, such as the “Today I am a Muslim Too” rally as well as co-authored, “Sons of Abraham” about how they overcame the temptations of bigotry and work together to bridge the chasm between Muslims and Jews.

See more in The New York Daily News


British Islam Conference, February 23-24, 2019 – FFEU European Coordinator Samia Hathroubia and Laura Marks OBE, co-founder of Nisa-Nashim and founder of Mitzvah day, spoke about Muslim-Jewish cooperation and engagement in the UK, France, and Europe on a panel at the New Horizons British Islam Conference in London. Together they highlighted multiple ways to build bridges between Jews and Muslims across borders.


Congratulations to Qaisra Shahraz for winning the British Muslim Awards 2019 for her groundbreaking work on MACFEST, Muslim Arts and Culture Festival!

FFEU proudly co-sponsored Qaisra’s groundbreaking MACFEST as part of its #MuslimsAreSpeakingOut campaign launched in 2016 to fight Islamophobia, extremism and fanaticism, and to support Muslims speaking out against misconceptions about their faith and culture.

Qaisra Shahraz is the MACFEST Curator and Director. She is also FFEU UK Coordinator.

MACFEST (Muslim Arts and Culture Festival), Manchester, UK, November 17-25, 2018 – The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding is a proud supporter of MACFEST, a 10-day festival celebrating art, music, culture and the heritage of the Muslim diaspora, which aims to bring Muslim and non-Muslim communities together to promote social inclusion and to break down barriers. This great initiative is led by our partner and UK coordinator Qaisra Shahraz, who was recently featured in the prestigious Power 100 list of the most influential Muslims in the United Kingdom. She has dedicated her life to fighting Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and discrimination of all forms, and is building bridges between communities in the UK and around the world.


JINN (theatrical release on November 2018)

Always looking for new modes and modules to share our message of combating stereotypes and bigotry, notably toward Muslims, while helping them to take their narrative back and tell their own stories.  The Foundation For Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) produced Jinn (in conjunction with FFEU trustee Jason Kampf) to relay these messages to the millennial audience, and is proud that the positive response to this film has been overwhelming. Directed by Nijla Mu’min, a young African-American Muslim creative, the movie explores the themes of identity, religion and coming-of-age. Jinn was premiered at SXSW Film Festival 2018 and then featured at BlackStar Film Festival. Its cast won several awards (writing, and acting). Click on the link for more information.

Special screening of JINN hosted by FFEU, The Landmark Theater, December 10, 2018 – Award-winning film, Jinn, co-produced in association with Rabbi Marc Schneier and The Foundation For Ethnic Understanding will be screened at a special event in New York City. Jinn has received very positive reviews from a number of critics across the United States as a groundbreaking indie film.


On November 6, 2017, FFEU programs #MuslimsAreSpeakingOut and #TodayIAmAMuslimToo were acknowledged by Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality. FFEU received a special award for Standing up for Muslims, breaking down stereotypes, fostering interfaith dialogue and understanding.


32nd Muslim Day Parade under the theme “Building Bridges”, New York City, September 24, 2017 – The parade addressed Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, bigotry, fear, advocacy for Rohingya people. Rabbi Marc Schneier was a keynote speaker and has the honor to serve as Honorary Grand Marshal.

See more in the New York Times


Today, I Am A Muslim Too rally, Times Square, New York City, February 19, 2017 – Thousands of New Yorkers joined a coalition led by FFEU and Imam Shamsi Ali, in a demonstration of support for the American Muslim community. The rally received a tremendous media coverage with over one billion impressions on social media.

See more in the New York Post

 

The 1st Today I Am A Muslim Too Rally was led by FFEU in Times Square on March 6, 2011 to speak out against Islamophobia.


Launch of the #MuslimsAreSpeakingOut campaign at L.A. Reid’s House, New York City May 26, 2016 – with the participation of NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and leaders of the major American Muslim organizations.

The #MuslimsAreSpeakingOut PSA was then featured at 53rd Annual Convention of ISNA, Chicago, September 4, 2016.


Advocating for Muslim minorities

Rohingya People
FFEU is part of J.A.C.O.B (Jewish Alliance of Concern Over Burma) that advocates for the Muslim Rohingyas in Burma. During the 2017 UN General Assembly, FFEU was involved in several demonstration to support the Rohingyas and has contacted U.S. congressmen urging them to take a stand for the Rohingya people.

Letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee demanding action to stop the Rohingya genocide (January 2020)

Letter to US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in support of Elie Weisel Genocide and Atrocities Act (August 2018)

July 2018 Letter US Senate and Congress

Jan. 2018 Open Letter to US Senate.pdf

Dec. 2017 Joint Appeal to the UN Security Council to Act on Myanmar Rohingya Crisis.pdf


Crimean Muslim Tatars
In 2016, FFEU brought a delegation of Crimean Muslim Tatars to Washington D.C. and organized meetings with the State Department and interfaith organizations. FFEU also led #OurChildrenNow campaign on LaunchGood, a fundraising effort to support the Crimean Muslim Tatars’ families. In April 2017, FFEU team met in Kiev with the President of the Ukrainian Center for Islamic Studies and the Chairman of the Mejlis (National Council) of the Crimean Tatar people to follow on their situation.

Op-ed: Why We Care: Standing Up for the Crimean Tatars.


2008 FFEU PSA denouncing Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism featuring Imams and Rabbis from across the United States.