This morning news has broken of a pair of horrific terror attacks that has happened in Brussels, Belgium. As authorities continue to investigate the bombings that ISIS has claimed responsibility for, the hashtag #stopislam is now one of the top trending topics on Twitter. Now before you roll your eyes in disbelief, take heart in that the people who are using the hashtag are actually dispelling the close-minded beliefs of some idiots, and are instead using it to spread the love.
As The Washington Post reports, after the hateful hashtag was used to spread anti-Muslim rhetoric, it was hijacked by far more intelligent humans who have since used it to spread messages of awareness and solidarity. The phrase was first used in Spain condemning Islam, but within minutes was met with much criticism.
According to the Post “An analysis of 1,333 global #StopIslam tweets scraped by the Post between 9:20 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. shows that roughly 90 percent were critical of the hashtag. And according to a network analysis tool developed by researchers at North Carolina State University, the single most cogent conversation around the hashtag was surprise and anger that it ever trended.”
#StopIslam is trending. Sigh. I wish people would read more & hate less.
Sending lots of love to my Muslim friends and family members ❤️❤️❤️— Lexi Alexander (@Lexialex) March 22, 2016
When you say #StopIslam, what are you saying exactly? Are you opposing the recommendations noted in this picture? pic.twitter.com/13VrzcVtiJ — Dr. AmeerObaid (@DrAmeerObaid) March 22, 2016
Nazis killed more than 6,000,000 Jews but no one said
“Stop Christianity”#StopIslam pic.twitter.com/xr1LAujPf1
— кเLLย๓เNคTเ (@KhaLi_707) March 22, 2016
Please Educate yourselves before you start attacking Islam #stopislam pic.twitter.com/CiWvhIDz4E — туρι¢αℓfαиgυяℓ (@ArianaaJenner) March 22, 2016
#StopIslam this is trend is disgusting. Don’t judge a culture based off of the actions of a few individuals. Stop being so damn ignorant.
— Grandma Olzanski (@ImGranOlzanski) March 22, 2016
“I’m a muslim and i’m not a terrorist. Terrorism has no religion. Stop islamophobia, not islam, this hashtag is stupid #stopislam” — Rafay baloch (@rafaybaloch) March 22, 2016
#StopIslam?
Stop Ignorance
Stop Stereotyping
Stop Blame
Stop causing Moral Panic
Stop Confusing Terrorism and Religion
Start thinking— Dr Jez Phillips (@drjezphillips) March 22, 2016
I thought I was dumb but I read the tweets under the hashtag #StopIslam and realized that I’m Einstein compared to these 326K Islamphobes. — ㅤ (@cumzaddy) March 22, 2016
We don’t need to #stopislam we need to stop hating or else we will bring all of civilisation down.
— Harry Leslie Smith (@Harryslaststand) March 22, 2016
#StopIslam? Maybe y’all should tweet #StopIsis instead because, for the millionth time, TERRORISM. HAS. NO. R E L I G I O N. — loïs ♛ (@avonspurposes) March 22, 2016
Fired up the Twitter on my flight, only to find that something called #stopislam is trending. Shameful.
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) March 22, 2016
Growing up being friends with a Muslim, I know that they were taught killing an ant is wrong, let alone a human #StopIslam? I don’t think so — Tom Mitchell (@tomxmitchell) March 22, 2016
#StopIsis ✔️ #StopIslam ✖️
Two types of people.
— ㅤ (@Kashaveli_) March 22, 2016
*Opens Twitter* *Sees #StopIslam as #1 trending topic* pic.twitter.com/kPSfhlzAfv — Eric Alper (@ThatEricAlper) March 22, 2016
I wish #stopisis was trending instead of #stopislam. The act of ignorant and bad people doesn’t mean we should blame an all religion.
— Sara Sampaio (@SaraSampaio) March 22, 2016
#StopIslam how about stop IDIOTS who think Islam is behind all this? Go back to your cave. You don’t deserve a brain. — Komal Shahid. (@ArmedWithWords) March 22, 2016
Religion doesn’t kill people.
People kill people.If you use #stopislam to spread your hate, then you’re as deluded as the perpetrators
— Ryan Cullen (@RyanCullen90) March 22, 2016
RT if you know or have met a good loving Muslim person who is not a terrorist. Everyone should be able to RT this.#StopIslam is stupid — One Direction (@1DsVocal) March 22, 2016
The award for the most ridiculous hashtag goes to #StopIslam! No one wanted to #StopChristianity when the KKK set innocent women on fire.
— Leanne (@LeanneMarilynx) March 22, 2016
So #StopIslam is trending. I’m pretty sure that #StopIgnorantRacists should be trending in its place. — emo ass mayo (@JonnyMcNarwhal) March 22, 2016
Remember everyone, don’t listen to the idiotic minority. Love and good vibes is what we need to keep spreading.
First seen on The Washington Post.
