Advertisements targeting British misconceptions about Islam are going up across London. 

Featuring Muslim professionals from different walks of life, the Inspired by Muhammad campaign has placed adverts in major tube stations, bus stops, bill boards, and advert-carriers of London taxis to illustrate how ordinary Muslims, like everybody else, contributing to Britain’s national life and economy.

Posters include a photograph of a female lawyer, who is wearing a veil, next to the text, “I believe in women's rights. So did Muhammad.'' Another shows a charity worker beside a headline which says: “I believe in social justice. So did Muhammad.''

The posters, each with the tagline "Inspired by Muhammad," are part of a campaign by the Exploring Islam Foundation, a London-based non-profit organization run by young Muslim professionals.

The campaign aims to highlight the teachings of the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him, on the importance of the environment, gender equality and social justice.

A recent poll by the research organization Yougov found that 58 percent of Britons surveyed associate Islam with extremism, 50 percent with terrorism and 68 percent feel the religion encourages the repression of women.

Some 13 percent thought Islam was based on peace and six percent associated it with justice. Asked if Muslims had a positive impact on British society, four in 10 disagreed.

The poll also found that 69 percent thought Islam encouraged the repression of women.

Remona Aly, campaigns director for the Exploring Islam Foundation, told Deutsche Welle her organization felt it needed to respond.

"Our goal now is to put forth the universal values that Muslims hold, which are ones of justice, of compassion, of mutual understanding and tolerance," she said. “…We are hopeful, and believe that if British Muslims tell their positive stories then we can begin to change attitudes for the better.”

At the last census, conducted in 2001, there were 1.6 million Muslims living in Britain -- 2.8 percent of the population -- making it the second most common religion after Christianity.

London had the highest proportion of Muslims in Britain, at 8.5 per cent.

For more information, visit: www.inspiredbymuhammad.com