Ben Affleck, Islamophobia and global stakes of speaking up

Ben Affleck, Islamophobia and global stakes of speaking up

In an era when celebrity commentary often seems either performative or superficial, a rare moment of sincerity can stand out — especially when it affirms dignity over division. That's exactly what happened last month when I had a brief but meaningful encounter with Ben Affleck. While walking together, my wife spotted Affleck in the distance. To her horror, I walked straight up to him before she could stop me. "Hey Ben," I said. He looked up, cle…

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, who attended the opening ceremony of Turkey’s first Center for Combating Islamophobia, said that combating racism, discrimination and othering is of vital importance for the future of the world. Drawing attention to the understanding of those who see difference and originality as a threat to their own existence, Ersoy said, “The target of that mentality today is the Islamic world, and the tool t…