Act Now Against Emerson’s Defamation of Muslim Leader

Chicago, IL: While at the Islamic Society of North America’s annual convention in Chicago, the Muslim Public Affairs Council September 2 called self-proclaimed terrorism expert Steve Emerson’s defamation of renowned Muslim American leader Dr. Maher Hathout in the New Republic Online and a series of Fox News Channel appearances “an un-American attempt to stifle free and open debate.”
MPAC also called on Muslim Americans and all people of conscience to contact both the New Republic Online and Fox News to demand that Hathout receive equal air time to the vicious and baseless attacks.
Emerson’s latest vitriol follows an announcement by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations that it will honor Hathout, who is Senior Advisor to MPAC and chairman of the Islamic Center of Southern California, with its prestigious John Allen Buggs Award for his outstanding human relations work.
Hathout, who has dedicated his life to the service of God and country, is an internationally renowned leader of mainstream Islam, and the author of “In Pursuit of Justice: The Jurisprudence of Human Rights in Islam” and “Jihad vs. Terrorism” -- a set of books intended to educate both Muslims and non-Muslims about Islam’s unwavering opposition to oppression, terrorism, and tyranny. Hathout is recognized by the vast majority of American Muslims as one of the founding fathers of American Muslim intellectual thought and tradition, and a leading advocate of nonviolence.
The hollow allegations broadcast in more than one million American homes -- without challenge -- charge Hathout with being a “Hezbollah apologist”. Throughout his written and oral diatribe, Emerson displays a shocking disregard to the cherished American values of democracy, such as the right of dissent with honest and constructive debate.
SEE: “Counterproductive Counterterrorism: How Anti-Islamic Rhetoric is Impeding America’s Homeland Security” (MPAC, 2004)
ACT NOW!
1. DEMAND THAT PRODUCERS AT FOX NEWS CHANNEL PROVIDE DR. HATHOUT WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR ON THE NETWORK AND SPEAK FOR HIMSELF. Steve Emerson has appeared at least five times on the network in the last 48 hours with vicious and false accusations against Dr. Hathout, and called for the LA Commission on Human Relations to reverse its decision to honor Hathout.
HANNITY & COLMES
Senior Coordinator Producer: Dan Cohen
Phone: (212) 312-3000
Email: dan.cohen@foxnews.com.
FOX & FRIENDS
Executive Producer: David Clark
Phone: (212) 301-5352
Email: david.clark@foxnews.com
2. WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR TO THE NEW REPUBLIC CHALLENGING EMERSON’S FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST DR. HATHOUT.
THE NEW REPUBLIC
Phone: (202) 508-4444
Editor in Chief: Martin Peretz (mpmp48@yahoo.com)
Executive Editor: Peter Scoblic (pscoblic@tnr.com)
3. THANK THE LOS ANGELES COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS FOR RECOGNIZING HATHOUT’S LIFELONG CONTRIBUTIONS TO BUILDING MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AMONG ALL PEOPLE.
L.A. COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS
Executive Director: Robin Toma
Phone: (213) 974-7611
Hall of Records - Suite 1184
320 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

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