A mosque in Dayton, Ohio was holding a dinner and prayer session to celebrate the last days of Ramadan, when people started coughing and had to leave the mosque. 300 people were in the mosque, including children. The fire department, police and hazardous material personnel arrived and investigated the problem. Dayton fire District Chief Vince Wiley said that the mosque had been sprayed with a chemical irritant.
Mosque members met yesterday to discuss the movie "Obsession," which was circulated through newspapers in Ohio and other swing states.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/09/27/ddn092608evacweb.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=16
http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/09/28/ddn092808islamicweb.html
Monday, September 29, 2008
What You Can Do
- Help us raise money so we can distribute "On Common Grounds"! Donate and ask your friends to give here:
http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/countering-hateful-obsession
- Help us distribute the DVDs on the streets of Ohio, Florida and Colorado.
- Write to your newspaper. If they distributed the DVD, express your concern about the hate and prejudice this movie is spreading. If they didn't distribute the DVD, thank them for taking a stand for peace and tolerance.
- Ask your mosque, church, synagogue or other house of worship to issue a public statement against the hate and prejudice that this DVD is calling for. Ask them to organize interfaith events and classes about Islam taught by Muslims. Thank those who are already making a stand against propaganda, and let them know that you appreciate their work.
- Help register Muslim voters! Help get the vote out!
http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/countering-hateful-obsession
- Help us distribute the DVDs on the streets of Ohio, Florida and Colorado.
- Write to your newspaper. If they distributed the DVD, express your concern about the hate and prejudice this movie is spreading. If they didn't distribute the DVD, thank them for taking a stand for peace and tolerance.
- Ask your mosque, church, synagogue or other house of worship to issue a public statement against the hate and prejudice that this DVD is calling for. Ask them to organize interfaith events and classes about Islam taught by Muslims. Thank those who are already making a stand against propaganda, and let them know that you appreciate their work.
- Help register Muslim voters! Help get the vote out!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Organizing in Oregon
CALL TO ACTION!
Communities of Faith and Human Rights Groups Protest the Oregonian's Distribution of an Anti-Muslim Propaganda DVD
Press Conference and Demonstration
When: Monday September 29th, 2008 at 10:00AM
Where: In Front of the Oregonian's Office
1320 SW Broadway (SW Jefferson and Broadway)
Download a sign to print for the demonstration
What ELSE You Can Do:
If you received a DVD, MAIL IT BACK to the Oregonian with a message of disapproval to:
Attn: Publisher Fred A. Stickel
The Oregonian
1320 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97201
CANCEL your subscription to the Oregonian!
Portland, OR, September 28, 2008 -The Good Faith Coalition, Center for Intercultural Organizing and others plan a press conference and demonstration in response to the Oregonian's decision to circulate a hate-mongering and Muslim bashing DVD on Sunday. The video, titled "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West," resembles an educational DVD, but is actually hate filled, racist and an anti-Muslim propaganda tool wielding fear and hatred, and its national release appears strategically timed to influence America's vote. The Oregonian, Oregon's only major newspaper, refused to officially respond to a broad based community request to postpone distribution of the subject DVD.
This highly inaccurate DVD depicts Muslims as terrorists and as a rising threat. The Oregonian circulated the DVD this Sunday as a paid advertisement from a group called The Clarion Fund. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Greensboro News & Record, the
Detroit Free Press and the Cincinnati Enquirer have already taken a moral stand by refusing to distribute this unbalanced, politically motivated DVD. Regrettably, the Oregonain did not make this decision.
"Obsession" will hit over 28 million homes this month in battleground states in the midst of an election already loaded with slurs, innuendos and backpedaling on human rights and civil liberties issues. In addition to inflaming passions in order to influence votes, the film's release also crassly exploits the strong emotions associated with the seventh anniversary of
September 11, 2001.
This film will not contribute anything to lives of Oregonians, in fact, it is contrary to Oregon values and to Portland's ideals of "equity and accessibilit y" and "diversity and inclusion" as articulated by the 17,000 people who participated in the
city's visioning project, and which were later codified by the creation of an Office of Human Relations and a Human Rights Commission. Oregon's Muslim community, religious leaders of many faiths, civic leaders and many peace-loving Oregonians are
deeply offended the timing of the DVD's release only a few days prior to Eid-ul-Fitr, the end of holy month of Ramadan, where Muslim Oregonians will gather in a public arena-and also within a few days of the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.
The rally will take place Monday, September 29th, outside of the Oregonian's Office at 1320 SW Broadway (SW Broadway and Jefferson) at 10:00 AM.
700 N. Killingsworth ~ Portland, OR 97217 ~ (503) 287-4117 ~ info@interculturalorganizing.org
Communities of Faith and Human Rights Groups Protest the Oregonian's Distribution of an Anti-Muslim Propaganda DVD
Press Conference and Demonstration
When: Monday September 29th, 2008 at 10:00AM
Where: In Front of the Oregonian's Office
1320 SW Broadway (SW Jefferson and Broadway)
Download a sign to print for the demonstration
What ELSE You Can Do:
If you received a DVD, MAIL IT BACK to the Oregonian with a message of disapproval to:
Attn: Publisher Fred A. Stickel
The Oregonian
1320 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97201
CANCEL your subscription to the Oregonian!
Portland, OR, September 28, 2008 -The Good Faith Coalition, Center for Intercultural Organizing and others plan a press conference and demonstration in response to the Oregonian's decision to circulate a hate-mongering and Muslim bashing DVD on Sunday. The video, titled "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West," resembles an educational DVD, but is actually hate filled, racist and an anti-Muslim propaganda tool wielding fear and hatred, and its national release appears strategically timed to influence America's vote. The Oregonian, Oregon's only major newspaper, refused to officially respond to a broad based community request to postpone distribution of the subject DVD.
This highly inaccurate DVD depicts Muslims as terrorists and as a rising threat. The Oregonian circulated the DVD this Sunday as a paid advertisement from a group called The Clarion Fund. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Greensboro News & Record, the
Detroit Free Press and the Cincinnati Enquirer have already taken a moral stand by refusing to distribute this unbalanced, politically motivated DVD. Regrettably, the Oregonain did not make this decision.
"Obsession" will hit over 28 million homes this month in battleground states in the midst of an election already loaded with slurs, innuendos and backpedaling on human rights and civil liberties issues. In addition to inflaming passions in order to influence votes, the film's release also crassly exploits the strong emotions associated with the seventh anniversary of
September 11, 2001.
This film will not contribute anything to lives of Oregonians, in fact, it is contrary to Oregon values and to Portland's ideals of "equity and accessibilit y" and "diversity and inclusion" as articulated by the 17,000 people who participated in the
city's visioning project, and which were later codified by the creation of an Office of Human Relations and a Human Rights Commission. Oregon's Muslim community, religious leaders of many faiths, civic leaders and many peace-loving Oregonians are
deeply offended the timing of the DVD's release only a few days prior to Eid-ul-Fitr, the end of holy month of Ramadan, where Muslim Oregonians will gather in a public arena-and also within a few days of the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.
The rally will take place Monday, September 29th, outside of the Oregonian's Office at 1320 SW Broadway (SW Broadway and Jefferson) at 10:00 AM.
700 N. Killingsworth ~ Portland, OR 97217 ~ (503) 287-4117 ~ info@interculturalorganizing.org
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Action!
Zahra Pictures has agreed to sell us DVDs of Ahmad Zahra's movie "On Common Ground" at cost. We will distribute them on the streets of Colorado, Ohio and Florida through peace and justice organizations in each state.
“On Common Grounds” is an hour-long documentary that tells the story of three groups, Jewish, Christian and Muslim who all attempt to overcome their differences by building a house for a poor family in Mexico… but they have to do it in one day!
The film is entertaining, and answers the questions of non-Muslims about Muslims in a non-threatening and non-propaganda way as it features all three religions and even touches on the issue of Palestine. The film is a message of hope and peace and would be perfect to counter the message of fear by the “Obsession film”.
So we need to raise $5,650! Please help us out by donating any amount you can donate here: http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/countering-hateful-obsession/
“On Common Grounds” is an hour-long documentary that tells the story of three groups, Jewish, Christian and Muslim who all attempt to overcome their differences by building a house for a poor family in Mexico… but they have to do it in one day!
The film is entertaining, and answers the questions of non-Muslims about Muslims in a non-threatening and non-propaganda way as it features all three religions and even touches on the issue of Palestine. The film is a message of hope and peace and would be perfect to counter the message of fear by the “Obsession film”.
So we need to raise $5,650! Please help us out by donating any amount you can donate here: http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/countering-hateful-obsession/
Friday, September 26, 2008
"Obsession" shown on public university campus
Zaid Balushi, the president of the Muslim Student Association at PennState, writes:
"Yes I am aware of this movie.
It was actually shown at our campus last year here at PennState by a right-wing political group on campus.
This happened during the 'Islamofasicim Week.' Our response was that we organized a set of talks by Muslim speakers as well as professors from other faiths. What we also did is that we organized a showing of the movie 'Mohammed: Legacy of a Prophet' to counter the false accusations about the Islamic faith, and Arabs."
"Yes I am aware of this movie.
It was actually shown at our campus last year here at PennState by a right-wing political group on campus.
This happened during the 'Islamofasicim Week.' Our response was that we organized a set of talks by Muslim speakers as well as professors from other faiths. What we also did is that we organized a showing of the movie 'Mohammed: Legacy of a Prophet' to counter the false accusations about the Islamic faith, and Arabs."
NPR: Charity Floods Swing States With Anti-Islam DVD
"Morning Edition, September 26, 2008 · Just after the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, a small charity group flooded campaign battleground states with an inflammatory DVD on radical Islam. Critics say the charity is trying to influence the presidential race.
Earlier this month, subscribers to 70 newspapers in 14 states got a little something extra: A DVD that argues the same hard, militaristic line on terrorism that John McCain takes in his presidential campaign."
Listen to the full story.
NPR's 2008 Election Campaign Secret Money Project discusses who's behind the DVD:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/secretmoney/2008/09/who_is_behind_the_radical_isla.html
Earlier this month, subscribers to 70 newspapers in 14 states got a little something extra: A DVD that argues the same hard, militaristic line on terrorism that John McCain takes in his presidential campaign."
Listen to the full story.
NPR's 2008 Election Campaign Secret Money Project discusses who's behind the DVD:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/secretmoney/2008/09/who_is_behind_the_radical_isla.html
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Response from a Muslim Student Association member
Assalamau alikum,
There is a lot we can do. I am part of a group called Muslim Voters USA (www.muslimvotersusa.com) on that website we have a registration kit that will allow mosques to register voters.
Please guys, we need to get out the vote. Register the vote of Muslims before the deadline next week. Get others to do the same.
Several things you can do to help register voters:
INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING TOOLS:
Go to muslims for obama 2008 (www.mafo2008.com) and join the muslim voters usa group. As a member of that group you can advertise your drive to others in your area.
Go to muslim republican and publisize your drive under their thing
Join the following Facebook Groups: Muslim democrats, and Muslim Republicans
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Coordinate your efforts with CAIR
With other local mosques
Use muslimdemocrats.net to find muslims in your area to contact.
Here is the cover letter being sent out to everybody.
Assalamau Alaikum
Dear Imam and President
As Ramadan is ending the country is in the grip of uncertainity about its future. Kindly remember struggling Muslims and our neighbors in your dua.
As a Muslim we believe that all Prophets were sent down to help people establish justice. In this society, the election process is the most significant and effective way to promote the ideals of socio-economic justice at home and peace
and justice abroad.
The people who will be elected this cycle will influence policies for a long time to come.
There are only few weeks left until the election and only days left for people to register to vote. While enemies of Islam are spending millions of dollars in sending 27 million copies of anti-Muslim film free to create fear of Muslims dictate the results of this election, it is important that at least we register, vote, and get others to do the same. We must liberate our country from the fear industry which is harming our commuity as well as our country.
Masjids across America are actively registering to vote. In some masjids almost everyone has already registered.
In case you need some help, our volunteers Omar, Rabia and Mumtaz have developed a package for a voter registration drive at your mosque. Enclosed you will find:
A brief guide to what a masjid can and cannot do in an election.
1. Step by step guide on how to register Muslims to vote in your state
2. State Registration Info: (Both Detailed and Summarized Information)
3. Some sample voter registration forms
4. Absentee ballot registration forms
5. Posters to advertise your voter registration drive.
6. Sample posters to advertise voting.
7. An outline of a Juma~Rah khutbah that encourages voting.
8. If you have any questions or require any more material please feel free to contact us.
Wassalam
Abdul Malik Mujahid
For Muslim Voters USA
There is a lot we can do. I am part of a group called Muslim Voters USA (www.muslimvotersusa.com) on that website we have a registration kit that will allow mosques to register voters.
Please guys, we need to get out the vote. Register the vote of Muslims before the deadline next week. Get others to do the same.
Several things you can do to help register voters:
INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKING TOOLS:
Go to muslims for obama 2008 (www.mafo2008.com) and join the muslim voters usa group. As a member of that group you can advertise your drive to others in your area.
Go to muslim republican and publisize your drive under their thing
Join the following Facebook Groups: Muslim democrats, and Muslim Republicans
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Coordinate your efforts with CAIR
With other local mosques
Use muslimdemocrats.net to find muslims in your area to contact.
Here is the cover letter being sent out to everybody.
Assalamau Alaikum
Dear Imam and President
As Ramadan is ending the country is in the grip of uncertainity about its future. Kindly remember struggling Muslims and our neighbors in your dua.
As a Muslim we believe that all Prophets were sent down to help people establish justice. In this society, the election process is the most significant and effective way to promote the ideals of socio-economic justice at home and peace
and justice abroad.
The people who will be elected this cycle will influence policies for a long time to come.
There are only few weeks left until the election and only days left for people to register to vote. While enemies of Islam are spending millions of dollars in sending 27 million copies of anti-Muslim film free to create fear of Muslims dictate the results of this election, it is important that at least we register, vote, and get others to do the same. We must liberate our country from the fear industry which is harming our commuity as well as our country.
Masjids across America are actively registering to vote. In some masjids almost everyone has already registered.
In case you need some help, our volunteers Omar, Rabia and Mumtaz have developed a package for a voter registration drive at your mosque. Enclosed you will find:
A brief guide to what a masjid can and cannot do in an election.
1. Step by step guide on how to register Muslims to vote in your state
2. State Registration Info: (Both Detailed and Summarized Information)
3. Some sample voter registration forms
4. Absentee ballot registration forms
5. Posters to advertise your voter registration drive.
6. Sample posters to advertise voting.
7. An outline of a Juma~Rah khutbah that encourages voting.
8. If you have any questions or require any more material please feel free to contact us.
Wassalam
Abdul Malik Mujahid
For Muslim Voters USA
CENTRAL OHIO LEADERS STAND TOGETHER AGAINST HATE, PROPAGANDA
Leaders say distribution of ‘Obsession’ DVD seeks to increase anti-Islam prejudice
(COLUMBUS, OH, 9/24/08) – On Thursday, September 25, a diverse group of central Ohio leaders will hold a news conference to take a stand against the spread of hate and fear in our community by decrying the distribution of the “Obsession” DVD in newspapers and mailings to the public.
Speakers at the press conference will include the executive director of the Ohio Council of Churches, the president of the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio, the president of the Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), Christian clergy, and a Muslim Imam.
WHAT: Press conference with diverse central Ohio community leaders taking a stand against spreading hate and fear via the anti-Islam “Obsession” DVD
WHEN: Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ohio Chapter, 1505 Bethel Rd., Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43220
CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio President, Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, 614-560-0272, amobinuddin@cair.com; CAIR-Ohio Staff Attorney, Romin Iqbal 614-451-3232, riqbal@cair.com.
The Obsession DVD puts together violent clips of horrific scenes taken from different areas in the Muslim world and presents them as the norm. It plays on fear and ignorance and claims that these incidents are part of an ideological goal to take over civilization. Frequent references to Nazi Germany are made. It is a propaganda piece that seeks to blur the difference between violent radicalism and mainstream Islam.
Twenty-eight million copies of this DVD were distributed in more than 70 newspapers in presidential election swing states across the country as a paid advertising insert, including to hundreds of thousands of people in central Ohio.
People are now also receiving the DVD in the mail. Some estimate the cost of distribution to be tens of millions of dollars, funded by the Clarion Fund, a shadowy group whose website does not give information about its board of directors, staff or even a physical address.
“We are grateful for the support of the community as we stand together against bigotry and the spread of hate against any group,” said CAIR-Ohio President Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin. “Through education and dialogue, we need to address the damage done by the distribution of this hateful propaganda.”
For more information, please see:
http://www.obsessionwithhate.com
AP: Muslim group seeks probe of 'radical Islam' DVD
ISLAM-OPED: ‘Obsession,’ the Radical Right’s War on Islam
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
(COLUMBUS, OH, 9/24/08) – On Thursday, September 25, a diverse group of central Ohio leaders will hold a news conference to take a stand against the spread of hate and fear in our community by decrying the distribution of the “Obsession” DVD in newspapers and mailings to the public.
Speakers at the press conference will include the executive director of the Ohio Council of Churches, the president of the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio, the president of the Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), Christian clergy, and a Muslim Imam.
WHAT: Press conference with diverse central Ohio community leaders taking a stand against spreading hate and fear via the anti-Islam “Obsession” DVD
WHEN: Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ohio Chapter, 1505 Bethel Rd., Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43220
CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio President, Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, 614-560-0272, amobinuddin@cair.com; CAIR-Ohio Staff Attorney, Romin Iqbal 614-451-3232, riqbal@cair.com.
The Obsession DVD puts together violent clips of horrific scenes taken from different areas in the Muslim world and presents them as the norm. It plays on fear and ignorance and claims that these incidents are part of an ideological goal to take over civilization. Frequent references to Nazi Germany are made. It is a propaganda piece that seeks to blur the difference between violent radicalism and mainstream Islam.
Twenty-eight million copies of this DVD were distributed in more than 70 newspapers in presidential election swing states across the country as a paid advertising insert, including to hundreds of thousands of people in central Ohio.
People are now also receiving the DVD in the mail. Some estimate the cost of distribution to be tens of millions of dollars, funded by the Clarion Fund, a shadowy group whose website does not give information about its board of directors, staff or even a physical address.
“We are grateful for the support of the community as we stand together against bigotry and the spread of hate against any group,” said CAIR-Ohio President Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin. “Through education and dialogue, we need to address the damage done by the distribution of this hateful propaganda.”
For more information, please see:
http://www.obsessionwithhate.com
AP: Muslim group seeks probe of 'radical Islam' DVD
ISLAM-OPED: ‘Obsession,’ the Radical Right’s War on Islam
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
"Obsession" gets more attention, discussion
The hateful movie "Obsession" is getting more and more attention in the media. Fox News' Your Turn hosted Ahmed Bedier to discuss it.
See the video clip of this debate on Ahmed Bedier's blog.
I don't think that Obsession should have been distributed, but I do acknowledge that given freedom of speech, if it is not considered hate speech, there is no reason to stop it from going around. However, my question is, can we distribute a DVD through newspapers that shows that the majority of Muslims and Arabs are peaceful?
See the video clip of this debate on Ahmed Bedier's blog.
I don't think that Obsession should have been distributed, but I do acknowledge that given freedom of speech, if it is not considered hate speech, there is no reason to stop it from going around. However, my question is, can we distribute a DVD through newspapers that shows that the majority of Muslims and Arabs are peaceful?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
A response from Colorado
From Sam Dreksler:
"We found the DVD in last Sunday's Boulder Daily Camera newspaper and we were really angry. Fay wrote a letter to the editor asking why they had included it and why they wanted to spread fear and hatred. I think that's the first thing people should do--write to all papers that included the DVD and express the fact that it's hatred and fearmongering. (Some states have laws against spreading hate.)
After we found it in the Boulder paper, the TV news had a report that the DVD was also in the Denver Post newspaper and an Islamic group in Denver protested its inclusion in the paper. The paper said they "had" to carry it because it was a paid advertisement and they're not allowed to discriminate!!!
Yesterday, we received the DVD in the mail!!! Because of the way my name was written on the address, I knew they had taken my address from the phone book!!
In order to do the same thing the 'Clarion Foundation' is doing would cost millions. This foundation must be financed by wealthy individuals whose goal is to spread hatred, fear etc. I think the best way to counter it is by individuals writing to the papers that distribute it. If some group were to sue Clarion or have a large protest outside their office this might draw a lot of attention to the DVD and create more interest in the hateful DVD and help spread their message."
"We found the DVD in last Sunday's Boulder Daily Camera newspaper and we were really angry. Fay wrote a letter to the editor asking why they had included it and why they wanted to spread fear and hatred. I think that's the first thing people should do--write to all papers that included the DVD and express the fact that it's hatred and fearmongering. (Some states have laws against spreading hate.)
After we found it in the Boulder paper, the TV news had a report that the DVD was also in the Denver Post newspaper and an Islamic group in Denver protested its inclusion in the paper. The paper said they "had" to carry it because it was a paid advertisement and they're not allowed to discriminate!!!
Yesterday, we received the DVD in the mail!!! Because of the way my name was written on the address, I knew they had taken my address from the phone book!!
In order to do the same thing the 'Clarion Foundation' is doing would cost millions. This foundation must be financed by wealthy individuals whose goal is to spread hatred, fear etc. I think the best way to counter it is by individuals writing to the papers that distribute it. If some group were to sue Clarion or have a large protest outside their office this might draw a lot of attention to the DVD and create more interest in the hateful DVD and help spread their message."
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