Sesame Street has been educating and entertaining kids—helping them to grow smarter, stronger, and kinder—for over 47 years.

With tensions between Muslims and our neighbors growing, we are asking Sesame Workshop to include a positive Muslim character on Sesame Street. Islamophobia is real, and it’s ugly. Much is built on ignorance, misinformation, and fear. The Pew Research Center found that an overwhelming majority of Americans say they know “little or nothing” about Islam and research states over 60% of Americans haven't met a Muslim. Americans need to see that Muslims are "just like them."  

In 2016, Sesame Workshop unveiled Zari, a curious and eager six year-old Muppet girl who appears on Baghch-e-Simsim—the local co-production of Sesame Street in Afghanistan. Zari is a confident, inquisitive, and sweet Afghan girl who often wears a wears a hijab and engages viewers with lessons of empowerment and diversity.

We are asking Sesame Workshop to bring Zari to American audiences (whether in an episode of Sesame Street or in special resource and/or web videos). Give us a Muslim Muppet! Show us Muslim culture! Teach kindness, empathy, and understanding.

Sesame Street has a long history of showcasing different cultures, races, and the overall diversity of America. Now more than ever, American kids (and adults) need to see that Muslims are just like them and that we all have more in common than we may think. Additionally, Muslim-American kids should be able to see positive portrayals of kids like them on TV too!

Let Zari come and play... and show America that Muslims are people in their neighborhood. #TeachKindness

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