Civil Rights Orgs Write Open Letter To Media On Anti-Muslim Hate

An Open Letter About Divisive Media Coverage Following Paris Tragedy:
We are civil rights advocates and faith leaders writing to express deep concern about recent
media coverage that exploits the tragic acts of terror in Paris to misrepresent Islam and call for
more profiling of Muslims. This sensationalist coverage and commentary, if continued, will
harmfully divide Americans on false pretenses at a time when we need to be united. Furthermore,
we believe such divisive rhetoric impedes our ability to have a much-needed fact-driven debate
about responding to terrorism on all fronts.
The problematic coverage has been pervasive: one Fox News host and program after another has
falsely suggested that Muslim leaders and organizations have not taken a stand against the
violence in Paris. News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch tweeted, Maybe most Moslems
peaceful, but until they recognize and destroy their growing jihadist cancer they must be held
responsible. Radio hosts followed suit, claiming that similar terror attacks wouldnt occur if
most Muslims were against what was happening. Real Time host Bill Maher alleged that
hundreds of millions of Muslims support the massacre and even a CNN anchor asked his
guest, a Muslim human rights lawyer, whether or not he supports ISIS.
For Mr. Murdoch, Fox News, and others to suggest that 1.6 billion Muslims, or nearly a fourth of
the worlds population, does not condemn, and may even support, the violence in Paris is not
only blatant misinformation, it disregards the hundreds of millions of Muslims who fight for the
cause of freedom and democracy every day.
Arab and Muslim leaders and groups throughout the world and here in the United States have
roundly and eloquently condemned the violence enacted by the terrorists in Paris, including
organizations such as, The Arab League, Muslim Council Of Britain, French Muslim Council,
Al-Azhar, Union of Islamic Organizations of France, The Islamic Cooperation Organization, The
National Council of Canadian Muslims, and the foreign ministries of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt,
Turkey, Morocco, and Indonesia.
Further, the expectation that the entire Muslim community should speak out against every act of
violence committed by a small minority of Muslim perpetrators has a faulty premiseit unjustly
places blame on an entire community for the violent actions of a few and creates a false
assumption that every Muslim sides with violence.
It is extremely concerning that countless public officials and media personalities exploiting the
tragedy have used their media clout to call for more discriminatory profiling of American
Muslims, including former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani who after calling for more
surveillance said on Fox News, "If you're uncomfortable with police officers at your service, you
must be saying things that are dangerous."
Discriminatory targeting of American Muslims has been widespread throughout the country, and
it has failed to keep our communities safe. Blanket surveillance based on ethnicity, race or
religion is ineffective, diverts resources and erodes trust in law enforcement that the public
should have. An Associated Press investigation into the activities of the New York Police
Departments Demographics Unit dedicated to wholesale spying on American Muslims in the
city and northeast revealed that it failed to help produce a single lead or terrorism case, instead
increasing distrust between the police and the communities they serve.
Law enforcement agencies have engaged in data gathering and mapping of Muslim communities
based solely on religion, race, and ethnicity without any evidence of wrongdoing, while
conducting surveillance of community organizations and using informants and undercover
agents. These practices are contrary to our nations promise of equal protection and equal
treatment under the law.
Failing to provide accurate media coverage of the numerous individuals and groups opposing
this violence, while also providing a public platform to those who are exploiting the tragedy to
call for more profiling has a troubling impact on the daily lives of American Muslims. Not only
does this type of rhetoric reinforce false representations of communities around the world, but it
also creates an environment in which hostility towards Muslims is justified. As Malek Merabet,
the brother of Ahmed Merabet, one of the police officers killed in the attack (a Muslim), said,
Its not two terrorists, two madmen who are going to represent all Muslims.
To those who are responsible for the divisive rhetoric we detail above, we, the undersigned, urge
you to pursue more truthful, less sensationalist coverage and commentary. Your viewers and
followers depend on you for an honest debate about acts of terror and ways to respond relying on
historical context and multiple perspectives, including those from Muslim, Arab, and South
Asian communities here in the U.S. and abroad. We can help identify a diverse set of resources
such as Americans who would be able to add context and provide much-needed nuance to
important news events taking place. To those hosts and journalists who have responsibly covered
the terror attack relying on multiple perspectives and the facts, we thank you and ask that you
continue doing so.
Very respectfully,
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
American Center for Outreach
American Muslim Advisory Council
Amnesty International USA
Arab American Institute
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
Center for Constitutional Rights
Center for New Community

Color of Change
Muslim Advocates
Michigan Muslim Community Council
Muslim Public Affairs Council
NAACP
National Network for Arab American Communities
New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
South Asian Americans Leading Together
Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
The Interfaith Center of New York
UNITED SIKHS

Civil Rights Orgs Write Open Letter To Media On Anti-Muslim Hate

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An Open Letter About Divisive Media Coverage Following Paris Tragedy:

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