An interesting social experiment by an Egyptian Italian college student. The assumptions and connections people make if you dress a certain way are quite ridiculous. Some cultures are just more open than others it seems.
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Students in six Italian colleges have also been banned from wearing the hijab
A student in Italy dressed in traditional Arabic clothing appears to have been the subject of a string of derogatory comments as the public’s reaction to his appearance was caught on camera.
Hamdy Mahisen, who is of Egyptian origin, attracted stares and insults as he walked around Milan for five hours, while holding a Koran in one hand and prayer beads in the other for a social experiment.
On a high street, someone sneers “Taliban s***” while, even more disturbingly, a woman pushing a pram with a baby in it seems to turn around as he walks by her to shout: “Taliban!”
A woman with a baby pram shouts ‘Taliban!’ at him Italy is currently on high-alert after a warning that Libyan militants inspired by Isis could make their way into Europe through the country.
This has fuelled Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment towards refugees who have fled Africa before setting off on treacherous journeys across the Mediterranean to Italy in unsafe and overcrowded boats.
Groups of teenage girls and boys do not hide their astonishment at the sight of his appearance and openly stare, laugh and turn round to look at him in the footage as he walks past.
A person within a small group of young men, in the video also published yesterday by Italian newspaper Repubblica, says “guys, you just missed the imam.”
Some people did not take too kindly to his robe and hat…
Here is the video