The messages written in black and white at his feet are for passersby and shoppers outside a Toronto mall in Canada to read and choose to react to. And they do.
One by one, complete strangers approach the blindfolded Muslim man and put their arms around him. They give him a hug.
The footage filmed in Toronto has been released on YouTube. It’s a social experiment dubbed the ‘Blind Trust Project’ that has been produced to challenge anti-Muslim and anti-Islamophobic sentiments across the world.
Recent acts of Islamic extremism carried out in Syria, Iraq and France has led to a rise in anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic hate crime. Tell MAMA, which monitors the levels of hate crime in Britain logged 112 report of physical and verbal violence following the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris.
So to bigots out there, let's be clear. Where you promote your hate, we will peacefully counter so silent majority can say 'Not in our Name'
— TellMAMAUK (@TellMamaUK) February 11, 2015
YouTuber Aso Omii Jay joined up with Time Vision Production to carry out the social experiment. Their intention is to show their community how Muslims are made to feel in their own countries. He says:
“Our message to the world is that we wish to break down the barriers and eliminate the fear and ignorance that’s projected toward Muslims and Islam. The video is an effort to eliminate stereotypes and Islamophobia”.
And as the video plays out, more and more men and women go and hug the blindfolded Muslim man who stands and smiles, warming hearts in Canada’s cold climate.
