LONDON – Giving British Muslims deserved credit for their charitable contributions, the hashtag #AVeryMerryMuslimChristmas is trending in the US as people celebrate the contributions of Muslims during the holiday season.
“Charity begins at home, and Britain is that home for millions of British Muslims,” Aamer Naeem, the chief executive of Penny Appeal, said, according to Buzzfeed, the IB Times reported on Tuesday.
“The media may not see this as a headline, but we salute the many donors and volunteers that give of their wealth and time freely in the service of others.”
The hashtag started trending after a report by MPs revealed that the charitable work done by Muslims is not seen as “newsworthy” or given enough credit.
Check out #AVeryMerryMuslimChristmas hashtag. We are all feeling the festive spirit. And don’t worry, nobody is cancelling Christmas (unless you’re watching Robin Hood’s sheriff of Nottingham). Ho, Ho, Ho…
— Shelina Janmohamed (@loveinheadscarf) December 19, 2017
I am so insanely happy that #averymerrymuslimchristmas is trending. We get to celebrate Muslim contributions to our society and watch people froth with rage at people doing good deeds.
— Ciarán (@cpjw1602) December 19, 2017
Great to see #AVeryMerryMuslimChristmas trending & read about the fab contribution Brit Muslims make during the festive season. I’m looking forward eating a mince pie or two!
— Akeela Ahmed (@AkeelaAhmed) December 19, 2017
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) said the role British Muslim charities play during the festive season is “willfully ignored,” and it blamed the media for an inaccurate portrayal of Islam.
The report, entitled “A Very Merry Muslim Christmas,” showcased projects led by Muslims, including soup kitchens for homeless people, mentoring through prisoner rehabilitation, and providing support for domestic violence victims.
“Muslim charities are at the forefront of domestic crisis response,” MPs added.
Many people participated in the hashtag to share their gratitude.
“There are some wonderful community and faiths doing awesome stuff to help the homeless this season,” one person said. Another commented “Xmas is for everyone it doesn’t matter what religion you are.”