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An exhibition has been launched in Bristol to foster understanding between the city’s Muslims and the wider community – by showing how the city has inspired them and how they positively contribute to its life.
The Building the Bridge exhibition at the Central Library features members of the Muslim community pictured beside a city landmark or in a place that holds a special resonance for them.
Latif_Ismail: The Suspension Bridge is a great inspiration for a refugee such as himself
The aim is to show how the city inspires the Muslim community – and how its members are trying to celebrate the religion’s messages of peace, shattered so abruptly by the events of September 11, 2001.
Latif Ismail, who chose the Clifton Suspension Bridge as the backdrop for his photograph, said the city icon was a particular inspiration for refugees like himself.
“This fabulous bridge was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the son of a refugee from the French revolution,” said the Director, Transparency Research in Brislington.
“As a representative of the Somali community, I find this bridge to be a great inspiration for me. Bristol is our refuge from war and atrocities.”
Mr Ismail said Islam “must be the most misunderstood religion in the world” and that members of his own community – tarred with a “distorted” brush by the news media – were giving a lot back to the city that had given them sanctuary.
“Press reports covering our faith can be sensationalist and distorting,” he said. “The incredible variety of our races adds to the uncertainty. There are more than one billion Muslims across the world, living on every continent. Our ethnic customs and traditions are too often confused with our faith. The Muslim community in Bristol reflects this variety and fragmentation.
“Perhaps the Somali community, my own people, are the most misunderstood of all. Media coverage of Somali
pirates and Al-Shabab militants thriving in our war-torn homeland affect the way that people see us. Facing this
suspicion puts additional stress on Somali immigrants, who are working hard to rebuild their lives following
the trauma of terrible years of war, social disorder and refugee camps.
“The truth is that the vast majority of Somalis in Bristol are determined, hardworking people. Many have been
through ordeals that their neighbours can hardly imagine. Just a few years after their arrival in Bristol, Somalis have already established over 100 businesses here.”
A strong theme running through the exhibition is a conviction that Islam is a religion of peace and that the acts of terrorists are abhorrent.
Dr Masuda Mian, a Bristol magistrate, added: “I watched the first television reports covering 9/11 with total disbelief. I just could not believe that anyone could do something so evil. When I found out that Muslims were involved I went numb. For two or three days, every time I looked at the television the nightmare returned. How could anybody kill innocent people.
“Suicide — taking your own life — is forbidden in Islam. In our religion life is given by God and he is the only one who can take it. I don’t know where the terrorists get their ideology. How can they believe that our peaceful religion justifies the killing of innocent people?”
Zaheer Shabir, Chair of the Building the Bridge Programme Board, said the individuals featured were a typical cross section of the Muslim community, which has deep roots in Bristol.
“I hope that this exhibition gives you an insight into the aspirations and hopes of the Muslim community. I believe that through their words that these individuals reflect Islam’s core teachings of peace, love and tolerance.”
The exhibition, which will be at the Bristol Central Library for two weeks, is open to the general public. It will then move to Easton Community Centre, where it will remain for a further two weeks.
A book featuring the photographs from the exhibition will be distributed to community and youth groups, mosques and other community venues to ensure that the project can be enjoyed and is accessible to as many people as possible.