FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR urges radio network to apologize, offer Muslim viewpoint
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/26/04) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is calling on the nation's largest radio network to apologize foranti-Islam remarks by talk show host and comedian Jackie Mason, who recently called “the whole Muslim religion” a “murderous organization” that teaches “hate, terrorism and murder.”
The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said Mason,who is also known for his right-wing and pro-Israel political commentaries, made the remarks as guest host on a recent broadcast of the Jim BohannonShow, syndicated nationally by Westwood One.
SEE:
The Jim Bohannon Show, http://www.westwoodone.com/talk_bohannon.htm
Jackie Mason’s Home Page, http://www.jackiemason.com/
During the broadcast, New York lawyer Raoul Felder, who is a frequent co-author of Mason’s commentaries, attacked the character of Islam’sProphet Muhammad.
He also said: “This (Islam) is a religion of hate, thisis a religion of murder.”
Mason responded by amplifying Felder’s bigotry. He said: “This is amazing information that almost nobody is aware of...everyone thinks that it’s a legitimate religion that preaches love and brotherhood…the truth of the matter is (that terrorists) are reflecting the religion and following the religion…they are following the orders of thereligion directly from the Quran…in plain English, the whole Muslim religion is preaching and teaching hate, terrorism and murder, and nobody knows it, and its about time they found out about it…The Quran…is 50 versions of hate, venom, hostility, and murder…dedicated to terrorism…I don’t know how we can call it a religion in the traditional sense. Itshould be called a murderous organization that’s out to kill people.”
In a letter to Westwood One, CAIR demanded a public apology to the Muslim community and an opportunity to refute Mason’s Islamophobic smears. The letter stated: “It is this type of hate-filled propaganda that was used bythe Nazis as justification for their persecution of the Jewish community inGermany.”
(CAIR also filed a complaint with the FCC.)
Earlier this year, CAIR announced a campaign designed to counter anti-Islamic hate on talk radio. The campaign, called “Hate Hurts America,”is based on the premise that the increasing attacks on Islam by talk showhosts harm the United States by creating a downward spiral of interfaith mistrust and hostility.
As part of that campaign, Muslims were given step-by-step instructions on how to monitor local and syndicated radio programs, report anti-Muslim hate, file FCC complaints, and contact advertisers to register theirconcerns.
SEE: http://www.cair-net.org/hatehurtsamerica/ Reports of anti-Muslim Hate may be filed at: http://www.cair-net.org/hatehurtsamerica/hatewatch.aspCAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28 regionaloffices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.
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CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a journalist's window to the American Muslim community.
Subscribers to the list, called ISLAM-INFONET, receive news releases and other materials dealing withAmerican Muslim positions on issues of importance to our society.
To SUBSCRIBE to ISLAM-INFONET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/islam-infonet
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: cair@cair-net.org
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
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