CAIR to Unveil Anti-Muslim 'Savage' Ad Counter Campaign

Campaign designed to raise level of public discourse on Islam, Muslims

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, October 12, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will hold a news conference at its Capitol Hill headquarters to unveil an advertising campaign designed to counter anti-Muslim "savage" advertisements sponsored by a designated hate group now on display in Washington, D.C., metro stations.

Video: CAIR Rep Says DC Anti-Muslim Ads Promote Bigotry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybzPZrQh-e0

WHAT: CAIR to Unveil Anti-Muslim 'Savage' Ad Counter Campaign
WHEN: Friday, October 12, 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: CAIR's Capitol Hill Headquarters, 453 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C.
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected]

"Hate speech must be challenged wherever it appears, not with censorship but with more civil speech promoting mutual understanding," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "Left unchallenged, hate of any kind harms our nation and can lead to bias crimes." 

Awad recently took part in a multifaith rally in support of an Ohio mosque targeted by an armed arsonist.

Video: CAIR Director Speaks at Interfaith Rally for Burned Ohio Mosque
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1Cv0ymf_uQ

Today, CAIR called on the FBI to investigate a possible bias motive for a fire at a Pennsylvania business owned by an Iranian-American. The building had allegedly been spray-painted with "Iran" and "terrorist."

SEE: CAIR Asks FBI to Probe Fire at Pa. Business Tagged with 'Iran'
http://tinyurl.com/8kg7soe

Pamela Geller, the sponsor of the hate ads, was recently the subject of a CAIR "Islamophobe profile" documenting the individuals and organizations involved in spreading anti-Muslim bias in the United States.

CAIR's profile of Geller states in part:

"Geller's organization Stop the Islamization of America (SIOA) is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which also named Geller as a member of the 'anti-Muslim inner circle.'"

SEE: Pamela Geller's Islamophobe Profile
http://www.cair.com/portals/0/pdf/Pamela_Geller.pdf

Earlier this week, a broad-based coalition of 127 organizations -- led by CAIR, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Jewish Voice for Peace – DC Metro (JVP), and the Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace (WIAMEP) -- sent a letter to the Washington Area Metro Transit Authority (WMATA) expressing concern about Geller's advertisements.

SEE: Coalition Letter to WMATA Board Chair Catherine Hudgins
http://adc.org/fileadmin/ADC/WMATA_Letter_with_Signatories.pdf

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List
http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe
Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/cairtv

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations