#MuslimsAreSpeakingOut is a campaign 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.
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April 2024 – MACFEST launched last month its 2024 Festival in Manchester. FFEU is a proud and longtime sponsor of MACFEST – a 16-day festival with over 50 events celebrating art, literature, music, culture and the heritage of the Muslim diaspora. MACFEST led by our colleague Qaisra Shahraz aims to bring Muslim and non-Muslim communities together, promote social inclusion and overcome barriers.
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.
More about MACFEST (2017-2024)
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.
The Interfaith platform TV Dialogue Program – an initiative launched by our esteemed colleague Imam Abdulkareem Shefiu Majemu and co-sponsored by FFEU – hosted 5 religious leaders to discuss “Peaceful coexistence in Nigeria: Role of Religious leaders”. The panel featured our colleague and partner Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, Chairman of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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[
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.
2008 FFEU PSA denouncing Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism featuring Imams and Rabbis from across the United States.
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