Arabs, Muslims take proactive stance against Hollywood movie

Arab and Muslim groups in the Washington area and across the United states are taking a proactive stance against a controversial new hollywood action movie which opens on Friday in theaters.

KUNA reports that hundreds of response kits have been circulated by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to Islamic community centers to offset the impact of the new 20th century fox film "The Siege."

The motion picture, which stars several of Hollywood's box office draws, is about Arab terrorists who threaten New York.

CAIR and other Arab and Muslim groups maintain that the film starring Bruce Willis and Denzel Washington, perpetuates the false American image of them.

"Many communities are planning events to offer a proactive response to this movie and to reinforce the producers' stated goal of challenging stereotypes," a CAIR official told Kuna.

The official said that CAIR is trying to use the movie's premiere to educate viewers about the Muslim community.

CAIR is planning to distribute leaflets at movie theaters in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington.

"There are two kinds of Islam in America -Hollywood's version and the real thing. We are inviting moviegoers to local mosque open houses so they may learn more about the reality of the American Muslim community," he said.

"This film links Islamic religious practices such as prayer, the ritual Washing before prayer, the call to prayers Islamic dress and beards, Quran recitation, and even the color green with terrorism," the official said.

Practicing Muslims are shown as terrorists while the non-practicing Muslim is shown in a positive light, he noted.

"The movie criticizes the institutional measures that the government takes against innocent people, but it does not criticize the misunderstanding of the faith that the movie reinforces," Awad told the Washington post.

The Arab American anti-discrimination committee (ADC), based in Washington has written an open letter to Edzwick, the film's director, holding him "responsible for any acts of hatred" which might be generated by its showing.

Hussein Ibish, media Director for the ADC, said that the movie "participates fully in linking Arab culture and Islamic religious practices and terrorism" even though its producers contend it is a socially responsible film.

"Its rampant use of discriminatory stereotypes is very dangerous to our community," Ibish asserted.

CAIR is publishing advertisements in the Washington Post and other publications inviting people to "learn more about Islam" by visiting open house at mosques in Washington, Virginia and Maryland.

The advertisements give a toll-free number to let callers receive general information about Islam.