NOTTINGHAM – Nottingham has become the first British city to announce hosting a “Love A Muslim Day” event on Tuesday, April 3, as an antidote to “Punish A Muslim Day” hate campaign.

The event is an “opportunity for good people in Nottingham to stand together in solidarity, to show we can live side by side in a city we love,” primary organizer Farouk Azam told Nottingham Post.

It was organized to counter Punish A Muslim Day, where offensive leaflets offering points for committing violent acts against Muslims on that day were circulated around the country.

So far, more than 300 have announced their plans to attend the event by registering their names on Facebook.

The event, held at Brian Clough statue between 2pm and 8pm, will showcase the work of local creatives including live music, poetry readings, a drum circle and a mass sing-along to John Lennon’s Imagine to round off the evening.

“I want it to be a community led event,” says Farouk, 43.

“It’s a chance for people who are creative – poets, singers, drummers, whoever – to come and spend some time in the city center and show everyone what they do.

“It’s an opportunity to show Nottingham for what it is.”

Farouk, who lives in Bakersfield, and has been involved in Nottingham’s arts scene for the past 20 years, says he would welcome anyone to come and have a conversation about what the event is about.

“Why Love A Muslim Day and not just love everyone day? It’s a fair question. Everyone should be supporting everyone in the community but this has been organized as an antidote to a specific campaign where people were being asked to harm a Muslim,” he said.