It’s super scary to be a Muslim right now: Riz Ahmed

British-Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed called on high-powered Hollywood executives and politicians to act to reduce Islamophobic sentiments in the media.

According to Variety, Ahmed who was onstage at the CAA Amplify conference in Ojai, United States said, “The efforts of individual artists or storytellers may be bold, they may be progressive, they may act as beacons of hope for other people, but in the face of institutional prejudice and institutionalized obstacles, systemic obstacles, our efforts can sometimes still fall flat,” the star of The Night Of told the audience. Others stars in attendance included Patriot Act creator Hasan Minhaj, Michael B Jordan and Jamie Foxx.

Ahmed added that in the last fifteen years he has repeatedly been searched at airports around the world and swabbed for explosives.

“[Hasan Minhaj] could win a Peabody, I could win an Emmy, Ibtihaj Muhammad could win the Olympics, but some of these obstacles are systemic, and we can’t really face them alone,” he said. “We need your help. I’m basically here to ask for your help. Because it’s really scary to be a Muslim right now. Super scary.”