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CAIR: Bigots Pressure TLC Advertisers on 'All-American Muslim'

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization said today that advertisers are being pressured by anti-Muslim bigots to drop spots on The Learning Channel's (TLC) new reality series "All-American Muslim."

SEE: American Companies Accused of Joining the All-American Anti-Muslim Bandwagon
http://tinyurl.com/6lt76ya

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the calls for an advertiser boycott are coming from Internet hate sites like "Bare Naked Islam," which recently featured a number of threats of violence targeting U.S. and European mosques, and right-wing groups such as the Florida Family Association and American Decency.

Video: Blog Threats Target Virginia Mosque (CAIR)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qXNT-JG5hw

Some "All-American Muslim" advertisers have apparently buckled to the hate-filled views of the boycott's promoters.

LOWES Will Not Advertise Again on All-American Muslim
http://floridafamily.org/full_article.php?article_no=117
Action Needed re. "All American Muslim" Show
http://tinyurl.com/84bnge4

"While all Americans have the right to voice their views, no matter how bigoted, advertisers who seek to reach the tolerant majority of consumers should not pander to those who promote religious and ethnic hatred," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad . "The program's detractors are using every stereotype in the book to defame American Muslims and to demonize Islam."

"This fear-mongering campaign, by targeting any manifestation of pluralism in America, sums up what Islamophobia is all about in our society today," said Awad.

ACTION REQUESTED:

Awad encouraged television viewers of all faiths to watch the show, to discuss the issue of anti-Muslim stereotyping with their friends and families and to ask advertisers not to surrender to Islamophobic pressure groups.

SEE: All-American Muslim
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/all-american-muslim

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.

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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper , 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin , 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations