Image description: a digitally drawn comic style illustration titled “What to do if you are witnessing Islamophobic harrassment”, subtitled “a bystander’s guide to help the person who’s being targeted”
The drawing shows a person holding on a bus pole looking worriedly to their left where someone is angrily and aggressively shouting at a muslim person wearing a hijab.
Four panels follow. First says “1. Engage in conversation, sit beside them and say hello. Try to appear calm, collected and welcoming. Ignore the attacker (capitalized)”. It shows the previous character, the bystander, smiling and saying “hi, how are you?” To the muslim person.
Second says “2. Pick a random subject and start discussing it. It can be anything: a movie you liked, the weather, saying you like something they wear and asking where they got it…”. The image shows the bystender sitting next to the woman idly chatting, saying “the weather lately is so… My sister told me about this movie…” The muslim person is smiling while in the foreground, the attacker is fuming, a writing on them says “ignored’
Third says “3. Keep building the safe space. Keep eye contact with them and dont acknowledge the attacker’s presence: the absence from response from you two will push them to leave the area shortly.” The panel shows the bystender and muslim characters talking while the attacker walks away angrily. A text on then says “irrelevant”
Fourth says “4. Continue the conversation until the attacker leaves and escort them to a safe place if necessary. Bring them to a neutral area where they can recollect themselves; respect their wishes if they tell you they’re ok and just want to go.” The panel shows the bystender and muslim characters smiling at each other, with the bystender’s arms around the muslim person’s shoulders.
A credit line below says “this guide was written and illustrated by Maeril | @itsmaeril - translated in english for the Middle Eastern Feminist”
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