SPIRIT OF ISLAM JULY 2O18

19 Spirit of Islam Issue 67 July 2018 THE RIGHT RESPONSE Positive Thinking Isra Mohammed: ‘My name is Isra Mohammed, I am a Muslim and I am not a terrorist’, Kenton School assembly - 2015 16 December 2015, Kenton School, Newcastle, UK I want you to have a look at the picture behind me. What are your thoughts? Keep those thoughts in mind. Hopefully by the end, you’ll alter them, or change them. So if you all don’t know, I am Muslim and I am proud. But after the events that took place in Paris, France, on November 13 th , there is a lot of negativity in the media about Islam. So, in Google, if you type in Muslim + Islam or Muslim + woman, these are some negative pictures that come up. People think that Muslim women or Muslim girls have no rights, or have no freedom. But we do. Look at me for example. I’m Muslim. I’m a girl. But I don’t wear a headscarf. I have the right and freedom to wear one, my Mum wants me to wear it, but she’s given me the right and freedom of [ ] I feel comfortable enough. So what is Islam and what do we actually believe in? Islam is a beautiful religion, just like many others. It is a religion of peace and mercy. As a woman, I used the word [ assalam alaikum ] every day of my life. It’s a wish for the other person to be blessed with peace. Isra Mohammed is a Sudanese 15 year old Muslim girl living in Newcastle, England. She was insulted by her classmates in the school because she is a ‘Muslim and therefore a terrorist’. She did not answer to their insult but met the Director of the school and requested permission to give a presentation in the school about Islam. The Director accepted her request and called all the 1900 students of the school to attend her presentation. The presentation was admired by all. Not only that, the Director gave permission and allowed Isra to visit all the schools in the neighbourhood and share her presentation. Here is her presentation. Islam is a beautiful religion, just like many others. It is a religion of peace and mercy.