Learning about Islam - at the bus stop (News Feature)

By Anna Tomforde Jun 7, 2010, 17:04 GMT

London - 'I believe in women's rights,' says the caption below a picture of human rights lawyer Sultana Tafadar. 'So did Muhammad.'

Tafadar is one of the three public faces of the Inspired by Muhammad campaign launched Monday by a group of Muslim professionals in London who hope to combat negative perceptions of Muslims in Britain.

Rupon Miah, who works for a homeless charity, fronts a poster affirming his believe in social justice, while former TV presenter and Muslim convert Kristiane Backer states: 'I believe in protecting the environment. So did Muhammad.'

The campaign is being launched by the Exploring Islam Foundation (EIF), which will display around 100 of the posters at London bus stops, on taxis and at Underground stations.

According to Carlo Gibbs, of Apex Communications, EIF was founded by young Muslim professionals in Britain last year who felt that something needed to be done to counter the 'negative perception of Islam in Britain' reflected in opinion polls.

The campaign, which is backed by private donors and businessmen, was designed to improve the public understanding of Islam and Muslims and to challenge misconceptions surrounding Islam and Muslims, said Gibbs.

It aims to highlight the Prophet Mohammed's teachings to Muslims on the importance of the environment, gender equality and social justice. No major British Muslim organisations were consulted in drawing up the poster campaign, Gibbs said.

'Obviously, it is not going to change the world in one launch. It is just a start, there is a lot to be done,' Gibbs told German Press Agency dpa.

He said the campaign came on the heels of a YouGov survey of 2,152 adults for the foundation last month which showed that the majority of people in Britain associated Islam with terrorism.

The opinion poll showed that 58 per cent of those asked linked Islam with extremism and 50 per cent associated the religion with terrorism. It also found that 69 per cent believed that Islam encouraged the repression of women.

Four out of 10 people disagreed with the suggestion that Muslims had a positive impact on British society.

'We want to foster a greater understanding of what British Muslims are about and our contribution to British society. We are proud of being British and being Muslim,' said Remona Aly, the EIF's campaign director.

Following the suicide bombings on the London transport system in 2005, in which 52 people died and more than 700 were injured, a number of organisations have worked to combat both the threat of growing radicalisation among young Muslims and a concurrent rise in popular anti-Muslim sentiment.

One of them, the Quilliam Foundation, on Monday welcomed the poster campaign as a 'timely step to help improve relations and foster deeper understanding between British citizens.'

'This initiative also helps British Muslims reclaim the Prophet Muhammad as a time-honoured guide for peace, compassion and social justice from those who seek to twist his teachings,' said the Quilliam Foundation.