George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis has caused widespread anger and pain in the US, with protests filling the streets of major cities to voice concerns over racism and police brutality.
These sentiments are rippling across the world, including in Oman, where graffiti artist Abdul Majeed Al Maamari has created a spray-painted mural of Floyd in an alley in the town of Harmul, in the Al Batinah governorate.
The work shows Floyd’s image, with a tear rolling down his face and a noose with the word “racism” tied around his neck. Two birds, one black and the other white, perch on his shoulder. His final words, “I can’t breathe”, are inscribed below him.
On Instagram, Al Maamari included a quote from the Prophet Mohammed in his caption, stating: “There is no favour of an Arab over a foreigner, nor a foreigner over an Arab, and neither white skin over black skin, nor black skin over white skin, except by righteousness.”
In the past few weeks, other artists in the region have also expressed solidarity with communities of colour in the US and the fight against racial injustice, including Shirien Damra, who created a colourful illustration of Floyd, Lebanese artist Nouri Flayhan and Palestinian artist Lina Abojaradeh.
Scroll through the gallery below to see their work:
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Read more:
5 artworks by Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian artists inspired by George Floyd: 'we are watching'
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