Chris Herbert lost his leg in 2007, after a roadside bomb exploded next to his British Army vehicle in Basra, Iraq. Aged just 19 at the time, he also had to deal with the loss of his best friend, who died in the attack.
Such a tragic and traumatic experience would break many a man, leaving them bitter, twisted and full of hate. But not Chris. He has managed to retain a positive outlook on life, and refuses to let people drag him down.
With anti-Muslim sentiment on the rise in many western countries, some people saw a valuable propaganda tool in Chris. Look at what they did to this brave soldier who was serving his country! Except he was having none of it. Frustrated by the racism around him and people's assumptions of him based on his experience, he decided enough was enough and wrote an eloquent piece that everyone should read. Expertly unpicking the case for judging billions of people based of the actions of a minority of extremists, Chris exposes the inherent stupidity of Islamophobia and urges people to see the good in each other instead.
Scroll down to read Chris' thought provoking piece for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments.
Chris Herbert lost his leg in 2007, after a roadside bomb exploded next to his British Army vehicle in Basra, Iraq
Image credits: Chris Herbert
Aged just 19 at the time, he also had to deal with the loss of his best friend, who died in the attack
Image credits: PA Images
Since the traumatic experience, he's been continuously asked one question
Image credits: Lewis Whyld/PA Images
So he decided to explain his feelings in an honest and powerful Facebook post
The post went viral as people pushed back against anti-Muslim sentiment in the UK
Image credits: PA Images
Chris has managed to retain a positive outlook on life, and refuses to let people drag him down
Image credits: Chris Herbert
When an Islamophobic group tried to recruit him as a mascot for their organisation, it was the final straw
Image credits: Toe in the Water
And he just had to speak out
Image credits: Chris Herbert
People's responses were mixed on the whole, but mostly positive
