StEAR-funded initiative addresses myths about Islam through art

UBC social work student Halina Faqirzada wants to combat campus Islamophobia through art.

For Islamic History Month, Faqirzada distributed posters across campus to address myths about Islam, supported by UBC Strategic Equity and Anti-Racism (StEAR) funding.

According to its website, the StEAR Enhancement Fund provides funding from $500–$10,000 for student, faculty or staff-led initiatives which “seek to advance UBC’s equity and anti-racism priorities.” Funding is available for projects which address racial, disability, gender and 2SLGBTQIA+ equity and is allocated depending on the discretionary funds available to UBC’s associate vice-president, equity and inclusion and vice-president, students.

Faqirzada said her project addresses inequity through art because “art makes people feel things.”

“If I was to do a workshop or seminar, the people who need that education are not going to show up. [Posters] took up space … they will capture [students’] eyes,” said Faqirzada.

And she’s right. The posters — which Faqirzada said mainly focus on the experiences of Muslim women — are bright and large, catching your eye while you walk through the Nest or MacLeod Building, where the posters were put up.

Faqirzada said her posters include comic-strip-like artwork and memes to make education about Islamophobia accessible. According to 2024 research, memes are an effective method for engaging students and enhancing learning environments.

Some posters combat common misconceptions about Islam, such as how Islam prohibits women from getting educated or holding jobs. Others depict a woman in a hijab being x-rayed through her clothing — referencing occurrences of hijabi women being forced to take off their religious headwear in Canada and elsewhere.

“There's a lot of misconceptions about Islam, and one of the main ones being that Muslims hate women, or that Islam hates women and is misogynistic,” said Faqirzada. “I tried to … convey how Islam honours women.”

Faqirzada said two days after she put up the posters, some of them were removed or had words like 'terrorist' or 'liar' written on them.

“That speaks volumes of how important this initiative was,” said Faqirzada. “It's unfortunate that not all students were able to see it because it got torn down so fast, and it demonstrates the hatred that people have for … Muslims.”

“If a meme is making you [so] angry that you need to tear it down … that only goes to show how much more of these initiatives are crucial to keep Muslims safe on campus,” said Faqirzada.

Faqirzada also cited a statistic from the National Council of Canadian Muslims, which found a 1,300 per cent increase in the number of Islamaphobic incidents across Canada since October 7, 2023.

Despite negative responses from some community members, Faqirzada said she has seen students read the posters, compliment them and engage with the subject matter.

“I saw a lot of visible Muslims, who were hijabis, reading the posters,” said Faqirzada. “I hope it did bring that sense of security to Muslim students … I hope they feel heard and seen.”

First online Oct. 25, 2024, 11:31 a.m.