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| Maker of documentary on Islamism cries foul |
| 2007-04-10 |
| The producer of a tax-financed documentary on Islamic extremism claims his film has been dropped for political reasons from a television series that airs next week on more than 300 PBS stations nationwide. Key portions of the documentary focus on Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser of Phoenix and his American Islamic Forum for Democracy, a non-profit organization of Muslim Americans who advocate patriotism, constitutional democracy and a separation of church and state. Martyn Burke says that the Public Broadcasting Service and project managers at station WETA in Washington, D.C., excluded his documentary, Islam vs. Islamists, from the series America at a Crossroads after he refused to fire two co-producers affiliated with a conservative think tank. "I was ordered to fire my two partners (who brought me into this project) on political grounds," Burke said in a complaint letter to PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supplied funds for the films. Burke wrote that his documentary depicts the plight of moderate Muslims who are silenced by Islamic extremists, adding, "Now it appears to be PBS and CPB who are silencing them." A Jan. 30 news release by the corporation listed Islam vs. Islamists as one of eight films to be presented in the opening series. Mary Stewart, vice president of external affairs at WETA, said Burke's documentary was not completed on time to be among 11 documentaries that will be aired beginning Sunday. Stewart said the picture may be broadcast by PBS at a later date. "The film is a strong film," Stewart said. "I'm still hoping to see this in the Crossroads initiative." |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #5 • A WETA manager pressed to eliminate a key perspective of the film: The claim that Muslim radicals are pushing to establish "parallel societies" in America and Europe governed by Shariah law rather than sectarian courts. More of the old, "Extremists abusing the religion of Islam" instead of plain old "terrorists" bullshit. Reality doesn't go away just because you close your eyes. Fricking morons! The Anti-CAIR lawsuit made it patently clear that Muslims seek to overthrow America's constitution. ... she had spoken with Nation of Islam representatives and "invited them over to view this section." She also wrote that they were outraged "and will promptly pursue litigation." If Nation of Islam is "outraged", then you know you're doing something right. Saddest of all is how Dr. Jasser's honest efforts at reforming Islam (I refuse to call him a "moderate", he is a reformist), will not get more publicity. America desperately needs to understand his message so that they can develop a standard of acceptability, and more importantly, realize just how unacceptable Islamists are in this country. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-04-10 12:46 |
| #4 Someone I'm thinking that there would be no problems for CAIR (a terrorism advocacy organization) to be involved. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2007-04-10 09:11 |
| #3 CBP and PBS should have been defunded and declared part of the Socialist International decades ago. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-04-10 08:53 |
| #2 A WETA manager pressed to eliminate a key perspective of the film: The claim that Muslim radicals are pushing to establish "parallel societies" in America and Europe governed by Shariah law rather than sectarian courts. Oh my gosh! You mean this is happening here? Now? Surely islam would not be trying to do this? |
| Posted by: anymouse 2007-04-10 08:43 |
| #1 sounds like the funding needs to be pulled or vetoed for CPB |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-04-10 08:37 |