We the undersigned are committing to boycott the Alliance for the Arts’ production of “The Chechens” due to Islamophobic content.

Every opportunity was extended to the play’s director, the playwright, and the Alliance for the Arts’ director, to discuss the issue and the steps that could be taken to minimize the harmful content. After repeatedly dismissing, denying, minimizing, and ridiculing Leila Mesdaghi’s attempts to have her concerns validated and remedied, the choice was made to reach out to the broader community for support.

We believe it is necessary and commendable to tell a story about the human rights violations being committed against the LGBTQ community in Chechnya, the US, or anywhere else on the planet. We believe this can and should be done without unnecessarily reinforcing harmful stereotypes about Muslim people for the sake of entertainment.

There are “jokes” in the script that allude to terrorism. There are inaccurate ideas presented about wearing a hijab among family members, while inside the family home. In another scene, one of the Muslim women gratuitously strips down to her bra, panties, and hijab. There are quotes from the Quran, translated into English, removed from context, and interpreted as homophobic. The family violently murders one of their own, then celebrates with a special meal. The play is entitled “The Chechens,” as if it is representative of Chechen people as a whole.

When we speak out about violent acts in society using bigoted, racist views on who is responsible or why, it diminishes the message and could very well do more harm than good. This kind of scapegoating of an entire religious community leads to violence and harm against members or “perceived” members of that community and detracts from the role of corrupt governments in committing these atrocities against their own people.

The Alliance has the opportunity to set an example by foregoing further attempts at tokenization and taking steps to become inclusive. You must listen in order to grow and to understand, and stop defending and dismissing. Will the Alliance be planning any other productions, exhibitions, or events that may counter some of the negative stereotypes about Muslims? Why is the Alliance producing art that is Islamophobic in today’s anti-Muslim climate?

Ask yourselves if you were a Muslim, and this play proceeded as planned, would you feel like a welcome and included part of the Alliance for the Arts community?

We the undersigned do not wish to be a part of any community where our Muslim friends, family members, neighbors, and loved ones do not feel welcome and included and where their voices aren’t heard.

A timeline of events written by Leila Mesdaghi follows below:

May 4- I was contacted to act in the play, The Chechens. I thought it was a reading knowing that I have no acting experiences (only one which was mainly non-actor driven in 2016).

June 25- I shared my concerns about the play with other theater professionals asking if it would be OK to quit as I do not feel comfortable with the content of the script.

June 28-First attempt to raise issues during first rehearsal with playwright, director, and cast. They tried to convince me by pushing Feminism and making the uncle character look even worse than they had it in the script. “Think of him as the drunk extremist Muslim.”

June 29- Sent an email of resignation to director, Bill Taylor. Briefly said I cannot do this and he asked to talk.

June 30- Had a conversation with Bill Taylor and voiced my concerns as he wanted to understand. I said I cannot go on with this play and it deeply hurts me and I could actually have a nervous breakdown later on. He asked me to talk as he wanted to understand.

July 19- I saw the FB image with my name still on it. Contacted Taylor to remove my name. Also raised issues with FB promotional images. My name was removed and was told to let them know if there is anything else. I mentioned other issues about content and how it could possibly put our local Muslim community at harm.

July 19- Contacted Sonya at the Alliance of the Arts' Change Program about the play having a heavy Islamophobic tone. Never heard back.

July 20- Saw Taylor at the City of Fort Myers Public Art Committee as we both sit on the committee. I told him it was my moral responsibility to do what I can to stop this play. Asked him to please not take it personally. Again, I posted out issues and the image they had used.

July 21- Bill Taylor removed the image after he talked to a few people and said that was as far as he was willing to go.

July 21- Sent a detailed email with specific issues and asked to please let’s have a conversation as there was still time to make changes without taking away from the play.

July 22- Bill Taylor said he forwarded the message to the playwright and will get back to me.

July 22- Shared the script with few people in the arts, academia, community, and SURJ. I wanted their opinion to see if they agreed with my assessments.

July 23- Bill Taylor had eye surgery and said will get back to me that evening.

July 23- Bill Taylor said he had to go back to the doctor that day. FYI.

July 24- Bill Taylor said he was in rehearsals 1-5pm. FYI. Never got back to me after that.

July 24- Met with a young Muslim woman who is an art professor to discuss the issues and get further confirmation. She agreed that the play was problematic.

July 25- Drafted a letter to send to potential supporting people, media, groups.

July 26- Sent an email to Molly Deckart, executive director of the Alliance, sharing my concerns and asking to please let's have a conversation.

July 28- Molly got back to me, thanked me for letting her know and said she will hold on to the response till she gets back and does her due diligence .

July 29- SURJ sent an email to the members at the Alliance.

July 30- Bill Taylor responded to SURJ inviting representative members to a rehearsal, dismissing my criticism as “uniformed and unfounded.” I was cast in the play, I am a member of SURJ.

July 30- SURJ reached out to the Council of American-Islamic Relations.

July 30- SURJ released petition to the public