Muslims need more non-Muslim allies, says Riz Ahmed

Riz Ahmed has always been vocal about the typecasting of brown and Muslim people in movies and television and now he wants to make a point about the state of Islamophobia in the world today.

Joining hands with the Phenomenal Women Campaign to make a point about the importance of a united front now more than ever.

He took to Instagram to share a picture of himself in a shirt that says 'Phenomenally Muslim'.

Says Riz in his post, "I’m feeling scared, defiant, and trying maintain love in the face of hate. I’m feeling Phenomenally Muslim."

"In the USA; no fly lists and presidential incitement to violence leading to skyrocketing hate crimes. In China; mass detention camps. In India and Myanmar; state sponsored lynching. I’m all these places what’s at stake isn’t just the fate of Muslims, what’s at stake is much more fundamental and affects us all - a civilised world where we are all considered equally human.

"There’s something phenomenally wrong in our society when politicians and media outlets can spout anti Muslim hate with no consequences - except more votes and increased sales. This has to stop. And it can, but Muslims need more non-Muslim allies."

He adds, "To confront Islamophobia wherever you see it, to speak out against the incitement of violence against us as a group and against individuals like Ilhan Omar, against travel bans and illegal detention, against the apologist politicians and media who make excuses for right wing terrorists who murder us at prayer."

He ends his note with, "Make a stand on the right side of history. Because history has taught us what darkness lies ahead if we don’t act now."