EXCERPT: An advertising campaign to tackle Islamophobia has been unveiled on buses across the UK. Vehicles in several cities will carry the message “Muslims for loyalty, peace and freedom” in an attempt to challenge negative stereotypes of the faith.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, the group behind the campaign, said it hoped it would educate people about Islam and remove misconceptions. But some Muslim groups have criticised the campaign as “unrealistic”.
The campaign, which began on 26 March, will see almost 100 buses in London and 60 in Glasgow display the poster for four to eight weeks. It will then be rolled out to other cities including Leicester, Birmingham, Leeds and Bradford over the next six months. Volunteers will also distribute leaflets door-to-door throughout the UK explaining the peaceful and positive principles of the faith.
”Through this campaign we are trying to clarify the true teachings of Islam, to speak out against injustices, suicide bombings and terrorism,” said Rafiq Hayat, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association’s national president.