Posted on 17 Apr 2014

Everything You Need To Know About The "Happy British Muslims" Video That's Going Viral

The video has caused some controversy but mostly, it's just got people sharing.

BuzzFeed News Reporter, UK

The Honesty Policy / Via youtube.com

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."

The Honesty Policy / Via youtube.com

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."

Sadiq Khan MP@SadiqKhan Follow
Want to see British Muslims breaking some stereotypes? Thank you @Pharrell https://t.co/V03hbr4UGk
10:56 AM - 17 Apr 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

AssedBaig@AssedBaig Follow
@MrRae1000 @mehdirhasan I'm not a performing monkey
10:56 AM - 16 Apr 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Roshan M Salih@RmSalih Follow
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 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

W i l l@CaptainFluke Follow
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 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Mashaal Mir @MashaalMir Follow
BREAKING NEWS: Muslims are happy people too: https://t.co/hEQAwCfZF4 #Happy #happyday
12:12 PM - 16 Apr 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

bleep@bloopington Follow
:) :) :) 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 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Everything You Need To Know About The "Happy British Muslims" Video That's Going Viral

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.

A spokesperson told BuzzFeed that the haters helped to make the video go viral.

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.

Former Respect leader Salma Yaqoob, also took part.

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.

But not everyone's happy with the video, with suggestions that Muslims shouldn't have to prove that they're regular, happy Brits.

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’?"

Journalist Myriam Francois-Cerrah, pictured below, told BuzzFeed that there's been too much analysis of the whole thing.

The video has been viewed positively in most circles. As one Twitter user notes, why is being happy ever a bad thing?

Everything You Need To Know About The "Happy British Muslims" Video That's Going Viral

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.

A spokesperson told BuzzFeed that the haters helped to make the video go viral.

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.

Former Respect leader Salma Yaqoob, also took part.

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.

But not everyone's happy with the video, with suggestions that Muslims shouldn't have to prove that they're regular, happy Brits.

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’?"

Journalist Myriam Francois-Cerrah, pictured below, told BuzzFeed that there's been too much analysis of the whole thing.

The video has been viewed positively in most circles. As one Twitter user notes, why is being happy ever a bad thing?

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