[Music] [Applause]
let me tell you a personal story last
let me tell you a personal story last July my life and work partner Muhammad
July my life and work partner Muhammad
July my life and work partner Muhammad and I decided to go on a vacation for
and I decided to go on a vacation for
and I decided to go on a vacation for the first time in five years of our
the first time in five years of our
the first time in five years of our marriage because we are workaholics we
marriage because we are workaholics we
marriage because we are workaholics we usually only travel for work fast
usually only travel for work fast
usually only travel for work fast forward to JFK Airport we were waiting
forward to JFK Airport we were waiting
forward to JFK Airport we were waiting for our flight of Frankfurt there was a
for our flight of Frankfurt there was a
for our flight of Frankfurt there was a white man in his thirties sitting nearby
white man in his thirties sitting nearby
white man in his thirties sitting nearby he did not stop staring at me in a
he did not stop staring at me in a
he did not stop staring at me in a suspicious way that scared me I received
suspicious way that scared me I received
suspicious way that scared me I received such uncomfortable stairs before but
such uncomfortable stairs before but
such uncomfortable stairs before but never like this
never like this
never like this Mohamed and I boarded the plane and took
Mohamed and I boarded the plane and took
Mohamed and I boarded the plane and took our seats holding hands with the – wrote
our seats holding hands with the – wrote
our seats holding hands with the – wrote prayer asking God to make this trip safe
prayer asking God to make this trip safe
prayer asking God to make this trip safe peaceful and joyful I kissed him on the
peaceful and joyful I kissed him on the
peaceful and joyful I kissed him on the cheek and laid my head on his shoulder
cheek and laid my head on his shoulder
cheek and laid my head on his shoulder ten minutes more to take off it seemed
ten minutes more to take off it seemed
ten minutes more to take off it seemed like it’s going to be the best vacation
like it’s going to be the best vacation
like it’s going to be the best vacation ever until to airport security employees
ever until to airport security employees
ever until to airport security employees came to my seat and asked me
came to my seat and asked me
came to my seat and asked me respectfully please come with us with
respectfully please come with us with
respectfully please come with us with all your belongings
all your belongings
all your belongings I was shocked like why me after they
I was shocked like why me after they
I was shocked like why me after they already did the random secondary
already did the random secondary
already did the random secondary security screening on me so at that
security screening on me so at that
security screening on me so at that point I was really scared they refused
point I was really scared they refused
point I was really scared they refused Mohamed request to join me and they took
Mohamed request to join me and they took
Mohamed request to join me and they took me out of the plane worried
me out of the plane worried
me out of the plane worried I followed the security officer and many
I followed the security officer and many
I followed the security officer and many questions are running through my mind
questions are running through my mind
questions are running through my mind they took me to our room
they took me to our room
they took me to our room they inspected me and asked me questions
they inspected me and asked me questions
they inspected me and asked me questions and then I was feared we returned to the
and then I was feared we returned to the
and then I was feared we returned to the gate and the same guy who was staring at
gate and the same guy who was staring at
gate and the same guy who was staring at me stood up got so angry and started
me stood up got so angry and started
me stood up got so angry and started shouting in front of everyone there is
shouting in front of everyone there is
shouting in front of everyone there is no way you are going to let her back in
no way you are going to let her back in
no way you are going to let her back in are you crazy I told you she is
are you crazy I told you she is
are you crazy I told you she is dangerous
dangerous
dangerous I hope so confused embarrassed angry
I hope so confused embarrassed angry
I hope so confused embarrassed angry the security officer looked at me and
the security officer looked at me and
the security officer looked at me and said you have one minute to catch this
said you have one minute to catch this
said you have one minute to catch this flight so I left without arguing I
flight so I left without arguing I
flight so I left without arguing I remember I was walking with the jet
remember I was walking with the jet
remember I was walking with the jet bridge with my head down feeling so
bridge with my head down feeling so
bridge with my head down feeling so broken knowing now why I was taken out
broken knowing now why I was taken out
broken knowing now why I was taken out of the plane I arrived to the plane
of the plane I arrived to the plane
of the plane I arrived to the plane walked in the eyes trying to reach my
walked in the eyes trying to reach my
walked in the eyes trying to reach my seat trying to smile in the faces of all
seat trying to smile in the faces of all
seat trying to smile in the faces of all the people who are staring at me hating
the people who are staring at me hating
the people who are staring at me hating me for making their flight late always
me for making their flight late always
me for making their flight late always suspicious about me why they took me in
suspicious about me why they took me in
suspicious about me why they took me in the first place finally I reached my
the first place finally I reached my
the first place finally I reached my seat and sat next to Mohammed he asked
seat and sat next to Mohammed he asked
seat and sat next to Mohammed he asked me what’s the problem dear I answered
me what’s the problem dear I answered
me what’s the problem dear I answered simply this wearing hijab is a personal
simply this wearing hijab is a personal
simply this wearing hijab is a personal choice I make every single day but at
choice I make every single day but at
choice I make every single day but at that moment I felt very vulnerable and
that moment I felt very vulnerable and
that moment I felt very vulnerable and thought maybe I would not make this
thought maybe I would not make this
thought maybe I would not make this decision tomorrow
decision tomorrow
decision tomorrow I couldn’t sleep during that flight I
I couldn’t sleep during that flight I
I couldn’t sleep during that flight I kept thinking about that man why did he
kept thinking about that man why did he
kept thinking about that man why did he hate me maybe he just doesn’t know me
what happened to me at the airport was
what happened to me at the airport was an incident of Islamophobia Islamophobia
an incident of Islamophobia Islamophobia
an incident of Islamophobia Islamophobia is real it is unfortunately skyrocketing
is real it is unfortunately skyrocketing
is real it is unfortunately skyrocketing in the United States and it’s dangerous
in the United States and it’s dangerous
in the United States and it’s dangerous some might shout like that man are
some might shout like that man are
some might shout like that man are therefore dead and some might shoot and
therefore dead and some might shoot and
therefore dead and some might shoot and I’m not exaggerating these are all we’re
I’m not exaggerating these are all we’re
I’m not exaggerating these are all we’re dia you sir and a van they were all one
dia you sir and a van they were all one
dia you sir and a van they were all one family
family
family they were also passionate about
they were also passionate about
they were also passionate about volunteering helping their community
volunteering helping their community
volunteering helping their community they were all under the age of 24 years
they were all under the age of 24 years
they were all under the age of 24 years old they were all American citizens and
old they were all American citizens and
old they were all American citizens and they were all tragically shot and killed
they were all tragically shot and killed
they were all tragically shot and killed execution-style in their house my dear
execution-style in their house my dear
execution-style in their house my dear neighbor this is the point
neighbor this is the point
neighbor this is the point when Islamophobia becomes not only a
when Islamophobia becomes not only a
when Islamophobia becomes not only a phenomena but an illness we can boldly
phenomena but an illness we can boldly
phenomena but an illness we can boldly blame the media and the United States
blame the media and the United States
blame the media and the United States for feeding the stereotypes and painting
for feeding the stereotypes and painting
for feeding the stereotypes and painting all Muslims with a broad brush but at
all Muslims with a broad brush but at
all Muslims with a broad brush but at the same time we cannot spare berbay and
the same time we cannot spare berbay and
the same time we cannot spare berbay and Isis the blame for feeding the media
Isis the blame for feeding the media
Isis the blame for feeding the media narrative in the past few years and
narrative in the past few years and
narrative in the past few years and igniting Islamophobia in the West all
igniting Islamophobia in the West all
igniting Islamophobia in the West all over again
over again
over again 90% of Isis victims are Muslims all
90% of Isis victims are Muslims all
90% of Isis victims are Muslims all Muslim leaders around the world are
Muslim leaders around the world are
Muslim leaders around the world are against Isis and the latest hit list
against Isis and the latest hit list
against Isis and the latest hit list issued by Isis had many of them slim
issued by Isis had many of them slim
issued by Isis had many of them slim leaders on it but if turrets are
leaders on it but if turrets are
leaders on it but if turrets are unfortunately succeeding in feeding the
unfortunately succeeding in feeding the
unfortunately succeeding in feeding the hatred between the East and the West
hatred between the East and the West
hatred between the East and the West Muslims and people from other religions
Muslims and people from other religions
Muslims and people from other religions they are succeeding in making the gap
they are succeeding in making the gap
they are succeeding in making the gap wider so because of that building
wider so because of that building
wider so because of that building bridges is my ultimate goal I’ve started
bridges is my ultimate goal I’ve started
bridges is my ultimate goal I’ve started to understand they have three different
to understand they have three different
to understand they have three different factors that helped me to achieve this
factors that helped me to achieve this
factors that helped me to achieve this goal being a filmmaker it’s both a
goal being a filmmaker it’s both a
goal being a filmmaker it’s both a privilege and a responsibility at the
privilege and a responsibility at the
privilege and a responsibility at the same time the ability of reaching out to
same time the ability of reaching out to
same time the ability of reaching out to millions of viewers being a social-media
millions of viewers being a social-media
millions of viewers being a social-media influencer and having hundreds of
influencer and having hundreds of
influencer and having hundreds of thousands of followers on my social
thousands of followers on my social
thousands of followers on my social media platforms and the ability of
media platforms and the ability of
media platforms and the ability of reaching out to them as well and my
reaching out to them as well and my
reaching out to them as well and my mutual understanding of both the east
mutual understanding of both the east
mutual understanding of both the east and the west these three factors have
and the west these three factors have
and the west these three factors have helped me to tell different natives to
helped me to tell different natives to
helped me to tell different natives to break some stereotypes they helped me in
break some stereotypes they helped me in
break some stereotypes they helped me in building bridge between people and
building bridge between people and
building bridge between people and connecting them especially people from
connecting them especially people from
connecting them especially people from different cultures the incident that
different cultures the incident that
different cultures the incident that happened to me at the airport inspired
happened to me at the airport inspired
happened to me at the airport inspired me to spread awareness through my work
me to spread awareness through my work
me to spread awareness through my work as a filmmaker many people have never
as a filmmaker many people have never
as a filmmaker many people have never met a Muslim woman and even if they did
met a Muslim woman and even if they did
met a Muslim woman and even if they did many have misconceptions about us and
many have misconceptions about us and
many have misconceptions about us and some are even afraid what many people
some are even afraid what many people
some are even afraid what many people think Muslim women are forced to wear
think Muslim women are forced to wear
think Muslim women are forced to wear hijab or oppressed other thing Muslim
hijab or oppressed other thing Muslim
hijab or oppressed other thing Muslim women are ignorant or less educated and
women are ignorant or less educated and
women are ignorant or less educated and the list goes on
the list goes on
the list goes on I’ve been asked many questions like are
I’ve been asked many questions like are
I’ve been asked many questions like are you allowed to travel are you allowed to
you allowed to travel are you allowed to
you allowed to travel are you allowed to drive a car do you wear this in front of
drive a car do you wear this in front of
drive a car do you wear this in front of your family and husband do you sleep
your family and husband do you sleep
your family and husband do you sleep with the and shower with it as a
with the and shower with it as a
with the and shower with it as a filmmaker this was my answer let’s watch
filmmaker this was my answer let’s watch
filmmaker this was my answer let’s watch together
together
together [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
we’re just like you and they don’t think
we’re just like you and they don’t think a piece of fabric should create a
a piece of fabric should create a
a piece of fabric should create a barrier between us we produced the PSA
barrier between us we produced the PSA
barrier between us we produced the PSA video with modern ISA and in less than
video with modern ISA and in less than
video with modern ISA and in less than two weeks
two weeks
two weeks it reached over 3 million viewers across
it reached over 3 million viewers across
it reached over 3 million viewers across social media platforms another project
social media platforms another project
social media platforms another project that we did for the same purpose just
that we did for the same purpose just
that we did for the same purpose just wait for it for the same reference
wait for it for the same reference
wait for it for the same reference aesthetic awareness was Islamophobia and
aesthetic awareness was Islamophobia and
aesthetic awareness was Islamophobia and though Islamophobia is a very serious
though Islamophobia is a very serious
though Islamophobia is a very serious issue we decided to tackle it with the
issue we decided to tackle it with the
issue we decided to tackle it with the humor and comedy let’s watch this
humor and comedy let’s watch this
humor and comedy let’s watch this together do you think your neighbour is
together do you think your neighbour is
together do you think your neighbour is a terrorist hey does your fear of
a terrorist hey does your fear of
a terrorist hey does your fear of Muslims get in the way of living a
Muslims get in the way of living a
Muslims get in the way of living a normal life yeah all right I didn’t know
normal life yeah all right I didn’t know
normal life yeah all right I didn’t know I didn’t know do you judge people by
I didn’t know do you judge people by
I didn’t know do you judge people by their outer appearance introducing
their outer appearance introducing
their outer appearance introducing Islamophobic now in an easy and
Islamophobic now in an easy and
Islamophobic now in an easy and convenient chewing gum starts working
convenient chewing gum starts working
convenient chewing gum starts working within five minutes to relieve bigotry
within five minutes to relieve bigotry
within five minutes to relieve bigotry and intolerance all your doctor if your
and intolerance all your doctor if your
and intolerance all your doctor if your Islamic phobia worsens or you have
Islamic phobia worsens or you have
Islamic phobia worsens or you have hallucinations that discrimination isn’t
hallucinations that discrimination isn’t
hallucinations that discrimination isn’t real side effects include a fondness
real side effects include a fondness
real side effects include a fondness Brotherhood acceptance loss of bigotry
Brotherhood acceptance loss of bigotry
Brotherhood acceptance loss of bigotry increase in rationality and possible
increase in rationality and possible
increase in rationality and possible denouncement of superiority I didn’t
denouncement of superiority I didn’t
denouncement of superiority I didn’t realize I had a problem but admitting is
realize I had a problem but admitting is
realize I had a problem but admitting is the first step
the first step
the first step Islamophobia worked for me
Islamophobia worked for me
Islamophobia worked for me ask your doctor is right for you that’s
ask your doctor is right for you that’s
ask your doctor is right for you that’s why we went for comedy because comedy
why we went for comedy because comedy
why we went for comedy because comedy acts like a wooden sword it hits the
acts like a wooden sword it hits the
acts like a wooden sword it hits the point without harming anyone so the gun
point without harming anyone so the gun
point without harming anyone so the gun was reduced by care national and we
was reduced by care national and we
was reduced by care national and we produced a PSA along with Pizza house
produced a PSA along with Pizza house
produced a PSA along with Pizza house and this video got over 10 million
and this video got over 10 million
and this video got over 10 million viewers on social media platforms many
viewers on social media platforms many
viewers on social media platforms many people in the East have never traveled
people in the East have never traveled
people in the East have never traveled to the west and many people in the West
to the west and many people in the West
to the west and many people in the West have never traveled to the east so
have never traveled to the east so
have never traveled to the east so probably they never met each side have P
probably they never met each side have P
probably they never met each side have P judgments about each other and still
judgments about each other and still
judgments about each other and still types about each other so I’m not only
types about each other so I’m not only
types about each other so I’m not only trying to bring more understanding from
trying to bring more understanding from
trying to bring more understanding from the east to the west but also the other
the east to the west but also the other
the east to the west but also the other way around social media is a very
way around social media is a very
way around social media is a very powerful tool in connecting people
powerful tool in connecting people
powerful tool in connecting people through my social media platforms
through my social media platforms
through my social media platforms I shared many stories of amazing people
I shared many stories of amazing people
I shared many stories of amazing people in my life like that NYPD officer I
in my life like that NYPD officer I
in my life like that NYPD officer I remember his kindness very well when we
remember his kindness very well when we
remember his kindness very well when we were filming on set and when he saw me
were filming on set and when he saw me
were filming on set and when he saw me shivering he invited me to warm up in
shivering he invited me to warm up in
shivering he invited me to warm up in his police car I’m like the story of my
his police car I’m like the story of my
his police car I’m like the story of my amazing friend Yvonne who called me and
amazing friend Yvonne who called me and
amazing friend Yvonne who called me and suggested we go get some water and snipe
suggested we go get some water and snipe
suggested we go get some water and snipe for the volunteers at Washington Dulles
for the volunteers at Washington Dulles
for the volunteers at Washington Dulles Airport and then she volunteered as a
Airport and then she volunteered as a
Airport and then she volunteered as a lawyer and when I got tired and went
lawyer and when I got tired and went
lawyer and when I got tired and went home she stayed there helping people
home she stayed there helping people
home she stayed there helping people during the night hours these were only
during the night hours these were only
during the night hours these were only two stories out of many stories I have
two stories out of many stories I have
two stories out of many stories I have shared in my facebook these two kind
shared in my facebook these two kind
shared in my facebook these two kind people were American and through their
people were American and through their
people were American and through their kindness I tried to show the world how
kindness I tried to show the world how
kindness I tried to show the world how great the majority of Americans are
great the majority of Americans are
great the majority of Americans are hoping that this would help people to
hoping that this would help people to
hoping that this would help people to stop generalizing and to stop believing
stop generalizing and to stop believing
stop generalizing and to stop believing Co types like all Americans are racist
Co types like all Americans are racist
Co types like all Americans are racist well like all Arabs and Muslims are
well like all Arabs and Muslims are
well like all Arabs and Muslims are terrorists I want to show you another
terrorists I want to show you another
terrorists I want to show you another personal story that happened to me when
personal story that happened to me when
personal story that happened to me when I was in Italy I’ve always wanted to
I was in Italy I’ve always wanted to
I was in Italy I’ve always wanted to visit Rome and the Vatican City and
visit Rome and the Vatican City and
visit Rome and the Vatican City and learn more about history culture and art
learn more about history culture and art
learn more about history culture and art after I visited Saint Peter Basilica I
after I visited Saint Peter Basilica I
after I visited Saint Peter Basilica I was walking with my friends when we
was walking with my friends when we
was walking with my friends when we passed by two priests sitting nearby
passed by two priests sitting nearby
passed by two priests sitting nearby one of them called me
one of them called me
one of them called me and asked me if I were Muslim I answered
and asked me if I were Muslim I answered
and asked me if I were Muslim I answered him smiling yes thinking that this
him smiling yes thinking that this
him smiling yes thinking that this question was only an introduction for an
question was only an introduction for an
question was only an introduction for an interfaith conversation but that priest
interfaith conversation but that priest
interfaith conversation but that priest looked at me and spit at me and
looked at me and spit at me and
looked at me and spit at me and discussed and said yeah Muslim I was
discussed and said yeah Muslim I was
discussed and said yeah Muslim I was shocked I was expecting him to be more
shocked I was expecting him to be more
shocked I was expecting him to be more understanding not only as a human being
understanding not only as a human being
understanding not only as a human being but as a legit spiritual leader I
but as a legit spiritual leader I
but as a legit spiritual leader I decided to ignore the hate again and I
decided to ignore the hate again and I
decided to ignore the hate again and I walked away but I didn’t hate all
walked away but I didn’t hate all
walked away but I didn’t hate all priests all Christians and they still
priests all Christians and they still
priests all Christians and they still loved my Christian friends they still
loved my Christian friends they still
loved my Christian friends they still love Jesus and for those who don’t know
love Jesus and for those who don’t know
love Jesus and for those who don’t know I can’t be Muslim without believing in
I can’t be Muslim without believing in
I can’t be Muslim without believing in and loving Jesus he wasn’t a good priest
and loving Jesus he wasn’t a good priest
and loving Jesus he wasn’t a good priest but obviously I didn’t ask anyone to
but obviously I didn’t ask anyone to
but obviously I didn’t ask anyone to apologize on his behalf because I know
apologize on his behalf because I know
apologize on his behalf because I know it’s his individual behavior and his own
it’s his individual behavior and his own
it’s his individual behavior and his own responsibility you don’t have to be an
responsibility you don’t have to be an
responsibility you don’t have to be an outstanding person to think this way you
outstanding person to think this way you
outstanding person to think this way you just need to be rational and to stop
just need to be rational and to stop
just need to be rational and to stop believing stereotype and to stop
believing stereotype and to stop
believing stereotype and to stop generalizing I have traveled so far to
generalizing I have traveled so far to
generalizing I have traveled so far to 15 different countries around the world
15 different countries around the world
15 different countries around the world and I’m so blessed I have many friends
and I’m so blessed I have many friends
and I’m so blessed I have many friends from all over the globe every single
from all over the globe every single
from all over the globe every single time I travel to a new country every
time I travel to a new country every
time I travel to a new country every single time I meet a new friend I
single time I meet a new friend I
single time I meet a new friend I realize how much more we are similar
realize how much more we are similar
realize how much more we are similar than we are different so if you believe
than we are different so if you believe
than we are different so if you believe in this – in our similarity as brothers
in this – in our similarity as brothers
in this – in our similarity as brothers and sisters in humanity and if you
and sisters in humanity and if you
and sisters in humanity and if you really want to do something you don’t
really want to do something you don’t
really want to do something you don’t have to be a filmmaker or a social-media
have to be a filmmaker or a social-media
have to be a filmmaker or a social-media influencer you don’t have to be an
influencer you don’t have to be an
influencer you don’t have to be an expert at interfaith and cultural
expert at interfaith and cultural
expert at interfaith and cultural conversation everyone can do something a
conversation everyone can do something a
conversation everyone can do something a cup of coffee with your neighbor from
cup of coffee with your neighbor from
cup of coffee with your neighbor from different background of religion or
different background of religion or
different background of religion or culture can be the first step in
culture can be the first step in
culture can be the first step in building these bridges if that man at
building these bridges if that man at
building these bridges if that man at the airport who reported me and called
the airport who reported me and called
the airport who reported me and called me dangerous had a converse
me dangerous had a converse
me dangerous had a converse with a Muslim woman in his community
with a Muslim woman in his community
with a Muslim woman in his community before my experience might have been
before my experience might have been
before my experience might have been different but if we work together
different but if we work together
different but if we work together building these bridges it would be a
building these bridges it would be a
building these bridges it would be a much more beautiful story in the future
much more beautiful story in the future
much more beautiful story in the future so take the first step take the lead and
so take the first step take the lead and
so take the first step take the lead and remember building a bridge takes two
remember building a bridge takes two
remember building a bridge takes two thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment