![Photo Credit: The Guardian](http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-620/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2015/4/7/1428418551629/53e03482-4721-43c1-984c-f2f2761a5904-620x372.jpeg)
Thousands of One Direction fans recently came to singer Zayn Malik’s defense after Bill Maher poked what most considered was a cruel joke, comparing Zayn to the Boston Bomber. Cultural writer Safa Samiezade’-Yazd examines the ups and downs of being a Muslim pop star —