US Muslims to challenge anti-Islam bias in children's books

By ARAB NEWS

CAIR-PA to launch nationwide campaign against books that promote hostility toward Islam and suspicion of Muslims

PHILADELPHIA: On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-PA) will hold a news conference in Philadelphia to announce the launch of a nationwide campaign to challenge anti-Islam bias in a series of children's books that the Washington-based Muslim civil rights group says promote "hostility toward Islam and suspicion of Muslims."

The 10-part series of books designed for middle and high school students, called "World of Islam," is produced by Mason Crest Publishers in partnership with the right-wing Foreign Policy Research Institute. Both institutions are based in the Philadelphia area. CAIR-PA says it has received complaints about the books from concerned parents in different parts of the country.

"The overall theme of the books is that Muslims are inherently violent, that Islam is a second-rate religion and that one should be wary of Muslims in any society," said CAIR-PA Civil Rights Director Moein Khawaja. "Any young person reading these books would inevitably develop hostility toward Islam and suspicion of Muslims."

He cited one book in the series that claims "Muslims began immigrating to the United States in order to transform American society, sometimes through the use of terrorism.” Another book shows an image of two 7-year-old girls wearing Islamic head scarves under the heading "Security Threats."

Khawaja noted the publisher's questionable sources, including Daniel Pipes, widely regarded by Muslims as one of the nation's leading Islamophobes. (Pipes is a former director of the Foreign Policy Research Institute.) The books also cite anti-Islam activists such as Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

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.

 

Comments

FATEMA SABER

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Looks like gun bearing, mountain-dew drinking, toothless tabacco chewing red necks got a hold of a printing press.

FAROZAN WARSI

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There are so many books that are promoted and popularized around the world; books that schools are happy to buy for the children. Not only is some information in them factually incorrect, it is also downright malicious. The eWorld Book is one such example. The reference sections under Islam and Islam related topics must be immediately removed. Schools should not purchase this book until they have scanned all sections.

JALILUL ISNANI PANDAIN

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Assalamualaykum...I salute CAIR, yes we have to overcome this type of situation. Aside from this, there are also many muslims pretending to be doing good for Islam, but in reality they're siding the enemies of Islam.

AHMED

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The word ISLAM in itself means peace. ISLAM is no where connected to voilence.and those who are voilent are not muslim, just think over it that the man who written the book The hundered greatest man in world, he has given the first place to the prophet of ISLAM MOHAMMED (pbuh) and the writer is a christen.you want to know the truth go to the original scriptures of ISLAM you will find TRUTH AND PEACE. and never try to give wrong message to the new generation,bcs everyone is accountable for there deeds in the life hereafter..

JAMES

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Unfortunately these books have been already ordered by several schools. How can it be banned from usuage
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