(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/13/14) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today issued a public video response to Fox News for demanding that an American Muslim leader come on the network to condemn “Islamic Extremism” and then failing to interview a leader who accepted that challenge. On October 6, Fox News Host Greta Van Susteren issued an on-air challenge, stating: “So here's my offer. I will give any Muslim leader of national or international stature the platform right here ‘On the Record’ to condemn Islamic extremism and to make a call to arms of every Muslim leader of every mosque to do the same. Condemn Islamic extremism.” Despite CAIR’s immediate agreement to have its National Executive Director Nihad Awad appear on her program to repeat the American Muslim community’s consistent condemnation of religious extremism and terrorism, Van Susteren’s producers changed the terms of the challenge and ultimately dropped Awad’s appearance. In the video, CAIR’s Awad states in part: “Time after time, we hear Fox hosts and commentators calling for Muslim leaders to speak out, asking where the Muslim condemnations of terrorism and religious extremism are. “That’s a good question. Where are those condemnations? The answer? “Those condemnations are in the in-boxes of Fox staffers. CAIR has more than 170 email addresses belonging to Fox News hosts, producers and reporters on our media list. “Every time CAIR issues a statement or a press release, it is sent to all those email addresses. Fox News crews often show up to our press conferences, take notes, record video, and then leave, and the footage never makes it to air. “So the real question is, why isn’t Fox News telling its viewers the truth?” Watch CAIR’s video calling Fox News out on this apparently fake challenge and outlining the network’s consistent pattern of ignoring Muslim condemnations of extremism and terrorism. 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. - END - CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Manager Amina Rubin, 202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com

• published: 13 Nov 2014
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