Barbara

After hearing the words of the Quran at a Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam event (1985), Barbara felt an immediate connection to the Quran. Her heart was opened by the words of the Quran and it was the moment at which the two worlds collided for her. Barbara went on to accept Islam. She married a Muslim man who gave her a lived example of someone who identified and practiced Islam. However, Barbara was discriminated against at work, for her decision to remain Muslim after her marriage ended. - This is Barbara's story.

Barbara experienced Islamophobia in the workplace, when she went back to work, after ending her marriage. Her interactions at work made her feel there was something wrong with her decision to remain Muslim after ending her marriage. "People should not be persecuted for the religion they decide to follow. Holding these biases is not only harmful to the victims but affects perpetrators as well. I think that institutions that have power over people’s lives, should try to be transparent and open about their biases and have experts to try to resolve issues as they arise.”

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About the Hate2Healing Campaign
Recognizing the strength of storytelling, CCMW launches a unique Hate2Healing anti-hate social media campaign to mark October’s Islamic Heritage Month. The campaign comprises 15 videos from diverse Muslim women, girls and non-binary people coming together to speak about their lived experiences of hate, racism and Islamophobia. The campaign aims to start the healing and recovery process for many survivors of hate by encouraging them to share their stories and start talking about their experiences both online and offline.