A few days ago, an anonymous group called The Honesty Policy released a video on YouTube entitled Happy British Muslims.
View this video on YouTube
The video showcases Muslims from around the UK dancing to Pharrell Williams' Happy.
The aim: "to make other people smile and laugh," according to the blog post about the video.
The group adds: "This video is to show the world despite the negative press, stereotypes and discrimination we are burdened with we should respond with smiles and joy, not anger."
A spokesperson for the Honest Policy told BuzzFeed the group, founded in London, was anonymous not because the members want to protect their identities but because they want to inspire young Muslim activists.
He said: "We wanted to show that anyone could play a role. It's about bringing integrity and sincerity back into the Muslim community and that the message is more important than a face."
A spokesperson told BuzzFeed that the haters helped to make the video go viral.
![He said there were three reasons the video went viral."First, it's joining in on the whole Pharrell's recent Day of Happiness," he said. "We're joining in on this international movement of happiness and Pharrell encouraged people to get involved. These are sentiments that we agree with."Secondly, people understand that. We are Muslim, we are happy and we should be able to get involved in mainstream popular culture."Lastly, [the video is] very controversial. There are a minority of people who, once they got their hands on it, they did make a fuss and that helped."](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2014-04/enhanced/webdr06/17/7/anigif_enhanced-31089-1397734183-1.gif)
He said there were three reasons the video went viral.
"First, it's joining in on the whole Pharrell's recent Day of Happiness," he said. "We're joining in on this international movement of happiness and Pharrell encouraged people to get involved. These are sentiments that we agree with.
"Secondly, people understand that. We are Muslim, we are happy and we should be able to get involved in mainstream popular culture.
"Lastly, [the video is] very controversial. There are a minority of people who, once they got their hands on it, they did make a fuss and that helped."
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The video has received support from a number of notable British Muslims, such as pro-LGBT social commentator Mo Ansar.
As well as politicians such as Sadiq Khan and Yasmin Qureshi on Twitter.
Want to see British Muslims breaking some stereotypes? Thank you @Pharrell https://t.co/V03hbr4UGk
Sadiq Khan MP@SadiqKhanFollow
Want to see British Muslims breaking some stereotypes? Thank you @Pharrell https://t.co/V03hbr4UGk
10:56 AM - 17 Apr 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Former Respect leader Salma Yaqoob, also took part.
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Timothy Winter, a.k.a. Abdal Hakim Murad, director of studies (theology and religious studies) at Wolfson College, Cambridge, also played a cameo role.
There's some awkward shuffling.
Some sassy moves.
And pure unadulterated joy.
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But not everyone's happy with the video, with suggestions that Muslims shouldn't have to prove that they're regular, happy Brits.
@MrRae1000 @mehdirhasan I'm not a performing monkey
AssedBaig@AssedBaigFollow
@MrRae1000 @mehdirhasan I'm not a performing monkey
10:56 AM - 16 Apr 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Is this the biggest joke ever? British Muslims - some of them prominent - make complete fools of themselves. https://t.co/AGHMkhYVOm
Roshan M Salih@RmSalihFollow
Is this the biggest joke ever? British Muslims - some of them prominent - make complete fools of themselves.
https://t.co/AGHMkhYVOm
09:58 AM - 16 Apr 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
A graphics designer, Haseeb Rizvi, said the video would be seen as a "sign of weakness" of the Muslim community.
He asked: "Do British Muslims need to make a video of themselves singing and dancing, to show non-Muslims people they are happy, and by extension normal and ‘just like everyone else’?"
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Journalist Myriam Francois-Cerrah, pictured below, told BuzzFeed that there's been too much analysis of the whole thing.
"It was just about getting a bunch of people together." she said. "Pharrell tried to create a series, and there are many out there and we're really just one version of the Happy video.
"It's not really that profound. It's just a bunch of us having a laugh."
Francois-Cerrah also suggested that more videos are on the way.
She said: "There'll be more to come but they'll all be just about us having a laugh."
The video has been viewed positively in most circles. As one Twitter user notes, why is being happy ever a bad thing?
I can't believe the stir this has caused. If ANYONE wants to dance and be happy, why is that ever a bad thing? https://t.co/z12ycGHqH8
W i l l@CaptainFlukeFollow
I can't believe the stir this has caused. If ANYONE wants to dance and be happy, why is that ever a bad thing? https://t.co/z12ycGHqH8
02:24 PM - 17 Apr 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
BREAKING NEWS: Muslims are happy people too: https://t.co/hEQAwCfZF4 #Happy #happyday
Mashaal Mir @MashaalMirFollow
BREAKING NEWS: Muslims are happy people too: https://t.co/hEQAwCfZF4 #Happy #happyday
12:12 PM - 16 Apr 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
:) :) :) Happy British Muslims video https://t.co/Cx7ktbGHIc is a great idea. 'Islamophobes must be grinding their teeth'. via @MoAnsar
bleep@bloopingtonFollow
:) :) :) Happy British Muslims video https://t.co/Cx7ktbGHIc is a great idea. 'Islamophobes must be grinding their teeth'. via @MoAnsar
11:32 AM - 17 Apr 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
