By John Smith • Published: 25 Nov 2015 • 8:37
Yusuf Pirot
UPDATE: The concept of Muslims inviting strangers to hug them as a sign of peace and solidarity is spreading rapidly and in addition to those already mentioned in Paris and Nottingham, reports are now coming in of further hugging events in South Carolina USA and Murcia Spain.
Shortly after the Paris attacks on November 16, a 16 year old Muslim teenager Yusuf Pirot stood in the street in Nottingham blindfolded offering hugs with a placard which said “I am a Muslim, not a terrorist” and wearing a sign which said “I trust you. Do you trust me? Give me a hug”
The young man from the Bluecoat Beechdale Academy said “The stereotype is not right and these extremists are brainwashed – what they’re doing is not what Islam is about.”
The Kurdish schoolboy had apparently learnt of someone in Paris doing something similar and decided to try the same thing in the UK in an effort to stem the tide of anti-Muslim feeling and in a two hour period received in the region of 100 hugs.
He then uploaded the video to social media where it has achieved large numbers of views
Share this story
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don't already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Married to Ophelia in Gibraltar in 1978, John has spent much of his life travelling on security print and minting business and visited every continent except Antarctica. Having retired several years ago, the couple moved to their house in Estepona and John became a regular news writer for the EWN Media Group taking particular interest in Finance, Gibraltar and Costa del Sol Social Scene. Currently he is acting as Editorial Consultant for the paper helping to shape its future development. Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Download our media pack in either English or Spanish.