Assassinations, hostage-taking, beheadings - Islamist terror is currently dominating news events and shaping the perception of an entire religion. In Stockholm, Ashkan says “I am a Muslim. It's not the same as a terrorist. I trust you, do you trust me? Hug me." Passers-by stop, watch what happens, take pictures. There were no conflicts during the shoot, but there were many touched people who took Ashkan in their arms.
This experiment was also done in New York City and Toronto. Psychology student Mustafa Mawla was there for the project in Toronto. An unfamiliar experience for Mustafa: “I had to get used to it. I'm not a very sociable person, but rather an introvert. But by being blindfolded, I couldn't tell who was hugging me. I didn't know what skin color or religion the person was. For me it was just a moment when two souls came together. The creators receive a lot of positive feedback on YouTube, but also criticism. It even comes from Muslim ranks. For example, one user writes that Muslim men are prohibited from hugging women. Mustafa Mawla does not consider such a very literal interpretation of the Koran to be appropriate: “They assume that a hug leads directly to sex. I think this has something to do with my ability to control my sexuality. I can also hug someone without thinking directly about sex. "