Muslims Under Siege
Dateline: 10/22/98
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Once again, Muslims are headed to the media spotlight. Imagine the scene: Muslim fundamentalist terrorist bombers attack New York City. More threats follow, and America is scared. To head off any chance of another attack, the U.S. army rounds up all "suspicious" individuals - any Muslim or Arab-American - into prison camps reminiscent of the Japanese detention camps of World War II.
Sound far-fetched? A little scary? While this scenario has not been played out in real life, it will soon be showing in theaters everywhere.
Twentieth-Century Fox's new film, The Siege, will open in theaters across the U.S. on November 6th. Starring such audience-draws as Bruce Willis and Denzel Washington, the film is bound to be seen by millions. Millions who may come away feeling even more fearful and suspicious of Muslims than they ever were before.
The basic moral of the movie seems sound: When Americans let their fears overtake them, they risk making decisions that destroy the essence of the Constitution - freedom. Innocent people are victimized.
But according to several Islamic organizations that have viewed the film, this moral gets lost in the midst of the other images of the film - terrorists reading the Qur'an, scenes of violence intermixed with the adhan (call to prayer), etc. According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR): "The opening sequence of the film uses every stereotype in the book. We see herds of goats, camels, bearded 'sheiks,' and a Mercedes driving through sand dunes. Scenes of bomb attacks on U.S. forces overseas fill the screen. The scenes of violence give way to Muslims praying, the call to prayer and finally a New York mosque... The clear message is that Islam will bring violence to this country and that Muslims pose a threat to the society."
There is one so-called "good" Muslim character - an informant who works with the government officials. While he's considered a good-guy, they also show him swearing, drinking, womanizing, and lying. All of these stereotypical images leave one with the underlying impression that the faith of Islam condones violence, and that the only "good" Muslims are the non-practicing ones.
This film isn't based on hypothetical or futuristic situations - it hits very close to home. Japanese concentration camps and McCarthyism are a very real part of our (not-too-distant) past. Muslims in the U.S. are routinely harassed and victimized because of our faith. When one crazy or evil person lashes out in the name of Islam, all Muslims are blamed and portrayed as "terrorists." When the horrible Oklahoma City bombing happened, everyone immediately thought, "Muslim fundamentalists!" The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a report on the widespread hate that was aimed at the Muslim community following that incident, including death threats, vandalized mosques, and personal injury (including a Muslim woman in Oklahoma who miscarried her near-term baby when her home was attacked by brick-throwers). Muslims truly are under siege.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is organizing an informational campaign to coincide with the release of The Siege. In an attempt to educate and sensitize the public, Muslims plan to give pamphlets to movie-goers and organize mosque open-houses.
If you are interested in learning more about who Muslims really are and what we believe, please check these informational sites. Also check out an enlightening article about what "jihad" really means to Muslims.
And please give us feedback: What do you think of the film? Of CAIR's informational campaign? Do you intend to see the film? Boycott it? Please email your thoughts.
Peace be with you.
