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Atheist Australian photographer teams up with Muslims for 'Faces of Islam'

Palmer thought of project after Paris attacks to challenge stereotypes against Muslim community in Australia

News Desk May 03, 2016

PHOTO: Matt Palmer/Faces of Islam

An Australian man, who is a self-proclaimed Atheist, has teamed up with 40 of his Muslim neighbours in an attempt to show the world that everyone is human, regardless of their beliefs.

In a photo series titled “Faces of Islam”, photographer Matt Palmer shares stories and quotes from a 'diverse group of everyday Australian Muslims with the community and the world'.

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The project aims to demystify Muslims by challenging false stereotypes and sharing common experiences to bring people together.

Speaking toHuffington Post, Palmer said the project is primarily about other human beings. “So, the interviews were focused on really finding out who these people are and finding that human element and shared experiences that we can all relate to and connect with.”

Palmer thought of the project after the Paris attacks after he realised that a lot of misinformation was being spread about Muslims on social media.

“In our age of technology it’s never been quicker for the wrong information to spread, and people defend those fabrications of information even when confronted with overwhelming fact,” Palmer wrote. “That’s just not treating other people fairly and with human decency, and as we would like to be treated ourselves.”

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Palmer reveals that the youngest person he talked to was three years old and the oldest was 75. The project has helped him learn more about his Muslim neighbors.

“I still have the same healthy skepticism of religion in general as I believe everyone should, but first and foremost, I am a supporter of good people,” Palmer wrote. “And I’ve found many who are Muslim and many who are in our community.”

Here’s a look at some of the portraits and quotes from ‘Faces of Islam.’

PHOTO: Matt Palmer/Faces of Islam

PHOTO: Matt Palmer/Faces of Islam

PHOTO: Matt Palmer/Faces of Islam

PHOTO: Matt Palmer/Faces of Islam

PHOTO: Matt Palmer/Faces of Islam

PHOTO: Matt Palmer/Faces of Islam

This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post

COMMENTS (3)

Matt Palmer | 8 years ago | Reply @Rollin & Trollin: Curious what teachings forbid Islamic people from having their photos taken. In the time of the origins of Islamic teaching, there was no such thing as a camera. So if any comment was made it is either from interpretation in talking about something in general, or about having one's profile painted or illustrated which were the dominant ways of documenting people at the time.

Rollin & Trollin | 8 years ago | Reply The problem is not the supposedly the Atheist photographer but rather 'good Muslims' having their photos taken, as I was told in no uncertain terms by some Salafists that it was against Islamic principles to have one's photo taken !

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