‘Love a Muslim’ day to counter hate letters

“LOVE A Muslim Day” events are being held across Yorkshire today to counter a twisted social media and letter hate campaign.

Hundreds are expected in Leeds city centre, as well as Wakefield, Bradford and Sheffield, and across the country, in the wake of the hateful Punish A Muslim Day letters.

The letters, offering points for committing violent acts against Muslims, were posted to homes, businesses and politicians last month.

Shahab Adris, from Leedsbased Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND), turned the letters on their head with the #LoveAMuslimDay idea, which has gone viral, being picked up as far afield as the US, Australia, India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

It invites people to do nice things for Muslims and people in need – starting with 10 points for smiling at a Muslim.

Mr Adris said the letters – sent to a mosque in Leeds and a councillor in Bradford among others – had tried to sow fear in the hearts of Muslims and MEND had been contacted by many people, particularly mothers, who were scared to let their children go out. But he said they were encouraging them to come to the events.

He said: “We have been in touch with South Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Police and they have said there will be a higher number of visible patrols especially in public spaces. They will be doing what they can with their limited resources. We want people to go on with their daily lives.”

Mr Adris said the worldwide response to his Love A Muslim idea showed what people were yearning for against a background of an “Islamophobic landscape, with the media and certain politicians, the far right and the casualist Islamophobia many are experiencing.” He said: “People were rather relieved to see something like this.”

Free food will be served at the Leeds event, from noon to 2pm, at Leeds Art Gallery, and there will also be speakers, a band, and a release of peace balloons. The Bradford event starts in centenary Square at 5pm. Wakefield’s will be outside Wakefield Cathedral at noon and Sheffield’s at Sheffield Town Hall from 5pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend.