MUSLIM LEADERS, ACTIVISTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS MUST TAKE A PRO-ACTIVE MEDIA RESPONSE TO RECENT ATTACKS

Discrimination incidents likely to rise if Muslims do not take action

(Ottawa, Canada - 9/13/2001) - The Canadian office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR CAN) is calling on Canadian Muslim Imams, activists and community members to take a unified pro-active media approach to Tuesday’s vicious and cowardly terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.

As media reporting now shifts to assign blame for the attacks, it is important for Canadian Muslims to use the following TALKING POINTS in every media forum:

* The terrorist attacks were un-Islamic, vicious, and cowardly.

* No political cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts.

* Many Canadian Muslims are fearful for their personal safety. They feel that harm could result from generalizations and stereotypes of their faith.

* An untold number of American Muslims were killed in the World Trade Centre attacks. Their families have been devastated like the families of other victims.

* There are hundreds of Muslim doctors and medical health professionals in New York and Washington fighting to save the lives of victims.

* Canadian Muslim families are offering their assistance as they join in solidarity with all Canadians for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators.

* Muslim mosques and charities are donating blood and raising funds to help those in need.

* All major Islamic organizations in the U.S. and Canada have strongly condemned the attacks.

* Media terms such as "Islamic terrorists" and "Moslem fundamentalists" link a world religion with crimes of terror. This can, and will lead to irrational acts of violence against innocent citizens.

* National Muslim organizations like CAIR CAN and the Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association (CMCLA) have already received incidents of anti-Muslim attacks. For example, an arsonist tried to burn down a mosque in St. Catherines, Ontario on Wednesday. Thankfully, the fire was prevented from spreading by a steel door.

* Media professionals should exercise restraint in using inflammatory language that would pin the blame on any faith or ethnic group.

* Using visual or oral symbols of a faith community in conjunction with the crimes of terrorists will create more hysteria and can possibly lead to more innocent loss of life.

ACTION REQUESTED

Urge Imams and Muslim leaders to devote this Friday's khutbah (sermon) to the recent terrorist attacks using the TALKING POINTS.

Send a press statement to local TV assignment editors, newspapers city editors, radio news directors, and wire service bureau news editors, and be prepared to discuss the TALKING POINTS. (See alert number 48 at www.caircan.ca for example).

Be pro-active and respond to negative media coverage with the TALKING POINTS. Write op-ed pieces, send letters to the editor, call-in for talk shows, and let editors, directors and producers know when media officials use inflammatory language to pin the blame on Islam and Muslims. As always, be firm but polite.