Creating another Salman Rushdie: A media plot to defame Islam

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Creating another Salman Rushdie: A media plot to defame Islam
Kashif
07/19/01 at 18:09:32
Creating another Salman Rushdie: A media plot to defame Islam

Nothing is sweeter than a genuine change of heart. But maybe it was all just another media ploy

July 19, 2001, 03:17 PM WASHINGTON
(None)
- The whole thing appeared suspicious from the start; why would the American Jewish Committee (AJC), a group with a bleak history of slandering Islam, Arabs and Palestinians suddenly initiate a book project that aims to enhance "mutual understanding and reduce mutual ignorance and suspicion" between Muslims and Jews?^

Of course nothing is sweeter than a genuine change of heart. Maybe AJC realized that the language of intimidation and defamation is not productive when dealing with Muslims and Arabs. Or maybe it was just another media ploy.

Of course, only those unacquainted with the history of the pro Israeli Jewish lobby in the US embraced the first argument. But why refer to history, when the present itself is a truth telling example of how the AJC has worked diligently in recent months, lining up more support for Israel, more media bias, more defamation of Palestinians and their Intifada?

The book project sponsored by AJC manufactured two books, one aimed at educating Muslims about Jews, and the other, "Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Islam for Jews" was presumably a handy guide for Jews to familiarize themselves with the true Islam.

The seemingly positive gesture, despite all that is known about the group behind it, eventually turned into dynamite, destroying the possibility of a truthful understanding between Muslims and Jews, but more dangerously, it became a tool in the hands of many eager to scandalize Islam.

The book, it’s author, topics, design and depiction of Islamic history quickly alienated American Muslims and drew harsh criticism from their leading spokesmen and organizations.

In a letter to executive director of AJC David Harris, Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American Muslim Relations (CAIR) expressed his concerns regarding several aspects of the book.

"Given the AJC's stated intent of promoting 'understanding and mutual respect,' it is puzzling as to why your organization would first of all engage an author who has little credibility in the Muslim community, and then add insult to injury by using a cover image that many Muslims will find offensive," Awad affirmed.

The author of the book, 61-year-old Khalid Duran is little popular among Muslims for his contribution to several projects that were seen as Islamophopic.

Duran is a "close colleague of infamous Muslim bashers such as Steven Emerson," an author known for his frequent attacks on Mushims and Islam, according to a statement released by CAIR earlier. CAIR has also accused Duran of being a "consultant" for Emerson’s "now discredited" 1994 program "Jihad in America."

A painting of the prophet Ibrahim on the cover of the book was sharply criticized by Muslims. Muslim scholars say that depicting and drawing images of prophets can lead to idol worship, a forbidden practice in Islam. The "experts" who allegedly reviewed the book, must have known of such a fact.

But the cover image, although offensive to Muslims, is only one of many issues that angered Muslim groups in the United States.

According to Duran, 85 percent of the Muslim holy book the Quran is "open to interpretation," criticizing Eid al-Adha’s "chaotic" practices, and Islam’s human rights record.

"In terms of crimes against women, the Muslim world is second to none," Duran was quoted by AP. Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fast and worship, according to Duran, "disrupts normal economic activity," in addition to other negative effects.

Duran is also said to have co-authored a new book with Daniel Pipes, "another writer with an even longer history of Islamophobia than Emerson." But the close ties between Duran and Pipes are becoming more relevant, after AJC reiterated throughout the media that an Islamic group in Jordan has called for Duran’s death.

Sheik Abdul-Munem Abu Zant of the Islamic Action Front, accused of issuing a Fatwa (or a religious ruling) urging US Muslims to shed Duran’s blood, vehemently rejected the widely spread allegations in the US media, and told AP that he is not even familiar with the book mentioned. CAIR lashed out at AJC’s slander campaign and accused
the publishers of the book of drumming up publicity for  their "deceitful book" with reports of "Phony Fatwa."

But despite the decisive rejection of the Fatwa claims, AJC and its patrons in the US media are leading a campaign of defamation, one that clearly contrasts the spirit of its alleged efforts to bring Jews and Muslims closer to each other through faith.

Daniel Pipes has championed the campaign, labeling Islamic movements "fundamentalists," turning his friend Duran to a living Martyr and alleging that Muslims are using the "Rushdie rules" of Ayatollah Khomeini to punish everyone critical of Islam. In a recent Jerusalem Post article, Pipes has combined all of his anti-Islam skills to fabricate a tragic drama in which Duran is awaiting death, a fate imposed on him by Muslims with a "Khomeini-like agenda," and called on "all Americans" to "safeguard" Duran’s security.

It is yet to be determined how the media scare has translated in terms of book sales. But the obvious is that all claims made by AJC and its backers in regards to the groups’ commitment to "advance Muslim-Jewish relations," were finally exposed as a shrewd ploy to vilify Islam and to dehumanize its followers.

Ramzy Baroud

http://www.arabia.com/news/article/english/0,1690,56513,00.html
NS


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