Isra Mohammed: 15-year-old Muslim schoolgirl has message for people who blamed her little sister for the Paris attacks
'Islam is not the face of terrorism and Muslims have nothing to do with terrorism'
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Your support makes all the difference.A Muslim schoolgirl's speech about Islamophobia which was inspired by her seven-year-old sister being blamed for the Paris atrocities has been viewed by thousands of people online.
Isra Mohammed, 15, wrote the five-minute assembly which she has delivered to all 1,900 pupils at Kenton School, Newcastle, plus the 340 staff, explaining how her religion is one of peace.
The talented GCSE student, who hopes to become a doctor like her father, has been asked to repeat the talk at other schools.
In her speech, she explained: "I have a seven-year-old sister who came home from school crying, when I asked why she said people in school were blaming her for the Paris attacks, she said that she didn't want to go back.
"I have a brother in year seven, he got bullied as people were telling him your religion is killing people."
She also explained how so-called Islamic State wanted to cause unrest between Muslims and the West, and that by sharing hatred towards others on social media, Islamophobes were helping the terrorists.
A video of her talk was put on YouTube and has been watched more than 5,500 times.
School bosses, where the motto is All Different, All Equal, asked her to repeat it for each year group.
Since giving her presentation, Isra, from Newcastle, said the speech had changed some people's attitudes.
She said: "My message is that terrorism has no religion, Islam is not the face of terrorism and Muslims have nothing to do with terrorism."
She was moved to write the speech by what happened to her sister, explaining: "I didn't want that to happen to other Muslims, I want to get everyone to know the actual truth behind it."
English and media studies teacher Jessica Griffiths said: "She has inspired so many people, we are just incredibly proud of her.
"I helped her a little but, and her family helped but the majority came from her. She put the work in, she rehearsed it and she spent hours preparing it and she delivered it absolutely brilliantly."
She thought her top pupil could become prime minister if she did not stick to her dream of becoming a doctor, saying: "She's an all-round star pupil and whatever she does in life, I think she will be absolutely fantastic."
PA
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