*** Tuesday June 20 is World Refugee Day ***

Combatting Anti-Muslim Sentiment Through Art and Media

(New York, Monday, June 19, 2023) – Islamophobia has triggered discrimination and distrust of Muslims across the world, especially here in the United States. Harmful stereotypes and misconceptions have given license to those who would deprive Muslims of their rights to dignity and equality. In many cases, Islamophobia has also triggered violence – especially towards Muslim refugees.

The Doris Duke Foundation’s Building Bridges Program is working to dismantle Islamophobia. The foundation’s director Zeyba Braham leads several art and media projects to foster increased understanding and appreciation for all Muslim people including refugees. The U.S. Little Amal Tour is one example. Little Amal is the 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee and has become a symbol of human rights for refugees. The Building Bridges program also funded the Oscar-nominated docushort “Stranger at the Gate” and the Pulitzer prize-winning opera “Omar.”

Zeyba Rahman, director of Doris Duke Foundation’s Building Bridges program, has more on how art and media can reduce anti-Muslim sentiment.

SOUNDBITE #1:

AT THE FOUNDATION, WE CONSTANTLY THINK OF NEW SOLUTIONS TO MITIGATE HATE DIRECTED AT MUSLIMS. WE FOCUS ON UPLIFTING AUTHENTIC STORIES THAT PAINT REALISTIC IMAGES OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COUNTER NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES. THE U.S. MUSLIM COMMUNITY INCLUDES REFUGEES, AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY FEEL SAFE, WELCOME, AND RESPECTED IN OUR COUNTRY.

For more information, visit dorisduke.org/funding-areas/building-bridges/.