Joshie Harris: 'Cake Not Hate' Campaign Ends in Istanbul

12-year-old autistic Joshua Harris (Joshie Man), who launched a solidarity campaign by distributing cakes in mosques following anti-Muslim hate acts in England, has completed his mosque visits in Istanbul.

After a far-right individual carried out a hate act at a mosque in Peterborough, England last year, Joshua Harris had launched a solidarity campaign by distributing cakes. 12-year-old autistic Joshua Harris (Joshie Man) and his father Dan Harris brought this event to Istanbul. As part of the campaign, conducted under the coordination of the Istanbul Mufti's Office on behalf of the Presidency of Religious Affairs and the Şişli Diyanet Youth Coordination Office, students of the summer Quran course at the Hasan Zeynep Mosque Diyanet Youth Center, affiliated with the Şişli Mufti's Office, were visited.

The Harris family later came to Eyüp Sultan Mosque for Friday prayer and Taksim Mosque for afternoon prayer, offering cakes to citizens and tourists in the mosque courtyard with bags inscribed "Cake Not Hate".

Some citizens who showed interest in Harris took photos with him.

Father Dan Harris, who made a statement after distributing cakes at Taksim Mosque, said they had visited more than 150 mosques worldwide.

Regarding their visit to Turkey, Harris said, "Visiting Turkey, a pioneering country in the Muslim world, was truly a culmination point for this campaign. Because the love shown to us throughout Istanbul was unprecedented and completely unexpected for us. This process was crowned with a wonderful opportunity, such as meeting your esteemed President. He is a wonderful and humble person, and he formed a great bond with Joshie. We now consider him one of Joshie's uncles."

Harris, expressing that they found wonderful sincerity in the Turkish people who embraced Joshie, said, "Joshie made wonderful friends, interacted with thousands of children, and distributed thousands of cakes during our 10 days in this beautiful country. It was a wonderful journey, and for the rest of the summer, we will be in Malaysia, Singapore, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands."

It Started After Far-Right Mosque Attack

In October 2025, far-right Alexander Hooper, who entered a mosque in Peterborough, England, had attacked the congregation and the police. After the incident, Dan Harris and his 12-year-old autistic son Joshua, who lived near the mosque, had baked and distributed cakes to support the mosque.

After the support Joshie Man and his father provided by distributing cakes, they received numerous threat messages, and in response to this situation, they decided to visit more mosques.

The father and son's anti-Islamophobia "Cake Not Hate" campaign had also been carried out in different countries, and over 100 mosque visits had been made in England.