Sinclair Broadcast Group
Backs Florida Host Who Attacks Jews, Muslims, and Mormons
(TAMPA, FL, 9/7/07) -
The Tampa chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Tampa) today called on representatives of
a local television station and its corporate owner to disassociate
themselves from an anti-Semitic and Islamophobic program host.
Last month, CAIR-Tampa sent a letter to Maryland-based Sinclair
Broadcast Group, the corporate owner of the Florida station (WTTA-TV)
that broadcasts "Live Prayer with Bill Keller" asking whether
the type of hate rhetoric often used on Keller's program is appropriate
for the public airways. The letter also asked Sinclair Broadcast Group to
clarify its policies relating to programming that promotes hatred and
bigotry.
In previous broadcasts and in interviews as recent as September 2, Keller
has claimed that Jews, Muslims and Mormons are all going to hell.
Video: FL
Anti-Muslim TV Host Says Jews, Mormons Going to Hell
Of Islam, Keller said: "Islam is a 1400-year-old lie from the pits of
hell. It's leading a billion peoples [sic] to hell. . .those who follow
this false religion will die and be lost for all eternity." On the
same program, he also said, "The false religion of Islam is about
hate, lies and death." Keller also said "burn the Koran."
To view Keller's anti-Muslim bigotry, go to:
http://www.cairfl.org/video/0705-bill-keller-attacks-islam.wmv
In a September 4 response to CAIR-Tampa's letter, Sinclair Broadcast Group
Vice President and General Counsel Barry M. Faber wrote: ". . .we
intend to proceed with the broadcast of the programming as planned. This
decision is based on a number of factors, including our respect for the
First Amendment and our interest in not censoring points of view with
which everyone may not agree." Faber also said that Keller's program
will be monitored "to ensure it complies with relevant community
standards."
To read Faber's letter, go to:
http://www.cairfl.org/images/070904-Sinclair-response.pdf
"This is not a matter of First Amendment rights, it is about a
person using the public airways to promote anti-Semitism and Islamophobia,"
said CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Ahmed Bedier. "Officials of
Sinclair Broadcast Group and WTTA should disassociate themselves from
Keller's hate-filled, divisive and intolerant rhetoric."
Bedier said that if Keller wishes to spread falsehoods about other
faiths, he should move his program to paid cable television so that the
extremist religious views he espouses do not receive tacit public support.
Another Florida station, WTOG-TV, recently dropped "Live Prayer with
Bill Keller" after the station and its parent company CBS received a
letter from and had discussions with CAIR-Tampa officials.
SEE: Televangelist:
I Lost My Show Over Muslim Remarks (St. Petersburg Times)
SEE ALSO: Florida
TV Station Drops Anti-Islam Program (CAIR)
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 33 offices and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. 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.
CONTACT: CAIR-Tampa
Executive Director Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506, E-Mail: abedier@cair.com;
CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com;
CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or
202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair.com;
CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com
-----
CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: info@cair.com
URL: http://www.cair.com
Fair Use
Notice
This site contains copyrighted material the
use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright
owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance
understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic,
democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this
constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for
in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C.
Section 107, the material on this site is
distributed without profit to those
who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information
for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of
your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the
copyright owner.