the truth is that the tragedy of 9/11
was a wake-up call for American Muslims
people started looking around and saying
well where the American Muslim voices
that are condemning terrorism or that
just live here among us and are trying
to build their communities here they
couldn't find anybody recognizable we're
defined so often by our worst example
and I think minorities in the United
States have the same exact concern and
same challenges
I want other minorities to know that
they can have these big dreams and these
big goals and achieve them there's a
real lack of strong Muslim voices in the
arts and I think often when those
stories are told they're told through a
lens that's not necessarily a Muslim
once and the truth gets distorted a
little bit they think there's another
side to it it's important to tell that
side
I travel the country doing the Muslims
are coming documentary a group of
comedians or a Muslim we went to the
south and the West in America we did all
free shows we set up tables in the
streets of the South sing Eska Muslim he
would come up and ask us questions we
would answer direct questions about
Islam why are not the people of peace
speaking out against denouncing
terrorism was the number one question we
got in City after City so that's a theme
in the movie making it clear that we do
the now it's terrorism the single
greatest predictor of whether somebody
has a positive or negative perception of
Islam and Muslims is whether they know a
Muslim I was really amazed how
open-minded and tolerant I found people
to be they were curious they had
questions about Islam sometimes
difficult questions but they weren't
hateful you know it actually made me you
know more proud to be American some
Americans feel that Muslim women are
oppressed and so the role for American
Muslim women in leadership is absolutely
crucial to not just breaking that
stereotype but showing people that we
are not second-class citizens we are
active members of our communities and of
our society all of you one of you to be
an actress it takes a lot of sweat blood
and tears it's very hard work but when
you are able to step into somebody
else's shoes and see what their life is
like for a short amount of time I feel
like it in a way sometimes helps me be a
better human being in a better Muslim to
understanding what how other people
suffer sports are such a huge part of
American culture growing up all my
friends you know played sports I was
always trying to find a sport that would
accommodate my religious dress you know
my mom noticed that the fencers were
fully covered they had on long pants
they had on long jackets and it was such
a great fit for me
when I first found out that I was the
first Muslim woman to represent the
United States in international
competition I was shocked but I think
that these are baby steps that we can
take towards making a more diverse
environment and sports here in the
states and also abroad Muslims are
producers and agents and screenwriters
and directors in Hollywood who are
shaping the kinds of stories that
reflect not only us but reflect the
stories of other people as well stand-up
comedy is inherently competitive and
challenging feel for anyone I don't care
where the religion is what your race is
what your gender is it's a challenging
field I think my faith and my ethnicity
is an Arab played a role in what I talk
about on stage and because of my
heritage I will look at issues slightly
different than people who are not Muslim
I was at a restaurant in Jordan and this
really had myself to the waiter where's
the bathroom because it is there I go
I'll be right back yours inshallah which
means God willing I'm like what has
happened in your bathroom that I would
need God's protection well have you seen
the restaurant and I've done that joke
in Saudi Arabian people laughing and
I've done the joke in New York City
people laughed at it so you know comedy
can be a bridge between the u.s. and the
rest of the world so what we've learned
is that we need to get out there and be
our own voices and that's what makes all
the difference
you