Obsession with Hate - A Decisive Response to the Anti-Muslim Documentary "Obsession"

Propagandists of Islamophobia amaze me sometimes. Since 9/11 all these "former" Muslims, "former" terrorists, and what not have come out of the woodwork to publish a vast array of books and publications with the intent of educating the American public about the "Muslim threat." While few will deny that (like in any other religion or ideology for that matter) within the Muslim community there are people who are at the fringe, some even to the point that they are willing to inflict physical harm and death on innocent people, the propagandists fail to distinguish the mainstream from the fringe.

Many of these propagandists have an agenda usually tied to some political ideology (in this case the far right wing of the political spectrum. Some of them are also motivated by the dollar sign. One of my teachers in Islam once told us that " If you want a New York Times Bestseller and be invited to the media shows and be regarded as an expert, leave Islam, or better yet if your a woman, make an outrageous claim that you have been oppressed."

Recently, a shadowy group called the Clarion Fund (which after research originates from a fringe group located in Israel) sent several million copies of the Anti-Muslim propaganda documentary "Obsession" to local media newspapers in election swing states.

One can draw many conclusions from this action. Nonetheless, as a response from the mainstream American interfaith community along with ironically a local college professor who was dupped into being interviewed in the documentary, issued a definitive response and rebuttal to this documentary.

The website that Hate Hurts America created is called www.obsessionwithhate.com

Not only does this website go after the factual errors in the film but also exposes the propagandists that are featured in this film. Each propaganist has a track record of dirt and shady connections that cannot be ignored.


The following is the introduction page to this website which I recommend all of you to visit and read:

What is 'Obsession'?
Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West is a 2005 anti-Muslim propaganda film put together by controversial anti-Muslim figures to further the perceived divide between Western and Muslim audiences. 28 million copies of the DVD were recently distributed by a mysteriously-funded entity by the name of the Clarion Fund with the help of 70 US newspapers in a curious and unprecedented campaign. This large distribution, particularly given it was targeted to swing states in the current elections cycle, piqued the interest of many, especially civil rights watchdogs.


Why is 'Obsession' a hate film, can we deny that radical violent Muslims exist?
Of course, there is no denying that there are those who have misused Islam to promote an anti-Western militant ideology that is responsible for the tragic 9/11 attacks and other deplorable terrorist acts around the globe. Few would disagree that Al Qaeda and its imitators are ruthless enemies that the United States must deal with forcefully.

But “Obsession” is not an honest critique of violent radicalism. Instead, it is a propaganda piece that seeks to cast a wide net of suspicion against Muslims by blurring the line between violent radicalism and mainstream Islam. As such, it does not call on credible experts and reputable scholars but resorts to shady characters like “former-terrorist” Walid Shoebat, who has made such outlandish statements as: “Islam is not the religion of God Islam is the devil.”

In a recent commentary responding to the distribution of “Obsession,” Jeff VanDenBerg, director of Middle East Studies at Drury University, called the film “a blatant piece of anti-Muslim propaganda.” He also wrote: “The film ‘Obsession’ plays to the crudest stereotypes and promotes the simplest solutions. In the end, this kind of thinking will do far more to harm American security than it will to help it.” (News-Leader, 9/17/08)


What about the film's declaration that it is not about moderate Muslims, just radical ones?
“Obsession” begins with a brief disclaimer that states: “It is important to remember that most Muslims are peaceful and do not support terror.” However, the remainder of the film distorts facts and events in an attempt to convince its audience of the exact opposite.
What is the film's main goal?
The film’s ultimate goal is to lay the grounds for a larger religious war that goes beyond our national security interests and has only two beneficiaries: radical evangelicals who hold an apocalyptic worldview, and war profiteers who gamble at the expense of thousands of American lives and trillions of tax-payer dollars.


What are the film's main tactics?
“Obsession” employs two main tactics.

First, it exploits Americans’ unfamiliarity with Islam and Muslims to suggest that deviant groups are somehow representative of most, if not all, Muslims. It scours the Muslim world for bizarre incidents and falsely projects them as the accepted norm. It then concludes that the Muslim world is an overall radical hotbed that wishes death and destruction upon the West.

In fact, while the Muslim world has its share of fanatics, they comprise a tiny fraction of the population and are highly at odds with a mainstream society that aspires to peace and prosperity.

Second, “Obsession” exploits the legitimate apprehension that many feel in this country as a result of 9/11 and attempts to instigate a state of full-blown hysteria. Only widespread hysteria could make questionable military excursions such as the Iraq occupation a possible sell yet again.

In fact, America faces no imminent threat from Muslim nations, who are themselves wary of the minority radicals in their midst. No Muslim nation has ever attacked our homeland, and none is likely to ever initiate such an attack.


If 'Obsession' is a sub-par work of propaganda, why should we waste our time talking about it?
Sensational content aside, “Obsession” ought to peak our interest for two reasons:

The first is the gargantuan size of the operation: 28 million free copies distributed via 70 major daily newspapers. That could cost tens of millions of dollars if we assume even conservative advertising rates.

The second reason is how surprisingly little we know about the operation itself.

All we know is that the film’s distribution is paid for by a shadowy organization called the Clarion Fund. For an entity so well-endowed, the Clarion Fund’s website offers no relevant information about its identity or its source of funding. Its 990 forms are not yet public.


What needs to be done moving forward?
Three important questions have to be answered:

First, who exactly is this Clarion Fund and what is its source of funding? The public has a right to know and reporters have a responsibility to investigate.

Second, the film is being distributed only in swing states with the obvious strategic goal of swaying the elections. That should automatically put the burden on both candidates to speak out and clearly communicate their positions on this film and its distribution tactics. Voters have a right to know where the candidates stand and journalists have a responsibility to ask.

Third, given the sheer size of this operation and its self-described political nature, it is baffling to note the apathy with which it has been met on our primetime network election coverage. It does not just affect Muslims, but all Americans, when sensationalism threatens to hijack honest and informed debate on the key issues in the biggest decision of our generation.

Be sure to read the full rebuttal to the false arguments made by Obsession.

After reading through the point by point rebuttal, it just shows how these people who are behind this Anti-Muslim hysteria lack a moral compass.

To my surprise however, (as mentioned earlier) one of the interviewees in that documentary came out and condemned the film for what it is. For me to sumarize his comments won't do it justice. Despite the face that I sharply disagree with his views on Israel and his views on the mainstream Islamic Tradition, I do respect him for his integrity in this whole matter.

Below is his statement taken from the www.obsessionwithhate.com website:

In an exclusive statement for obsessionwithhate.com, Dr. Khaleel Mohammed, the only Obsession interviewee who is an Islamic Studies Professor, delivers a new lethal blow to the film's credibility, exposing what many already knew:

“Sadly, it would seem that I have allowed myself to be used. I gave an interview to the makers of “obsession” wherein I explained the meaning of Jihad, and its misuse by extremists. I understood that the film would be used objectively, focusing on fanatics who seek to spread violence. I am aware that there is a disclaimer at the beginning of the film that says it is not about Islam in general, but only about extremist interpretations.

"But the material from some of the speakers gives the lie to the disclaimer: many of them are not experts, or have used the mantle of academic qualifications to purvey hate. That their alarmist drivel should be mixed with my whittled down interview proves that the intent of the film is not to educate, but to mislead. The free distribution of the film to voters in particular districts shows the political chicanery that is the motive, and the secrecy about the financing of the distribution only underlines the evil intent in circulating this vile piece of propaganda.

"Evidence seems to indicate the involvement of Aish ha-Torah in this dishonest enterprise. I find that particularly distressing, because any Jewish organization ought to realize what the film seeks to do: they demonize an entire community to the point where a government takes action to further beleaguer its citizens and resident aliens simply because of their religious identity. This bigotry over religion and identity is precisely what caused the Shoah — and it is sad that those who ought to have learned what hate can engender should seek to imitate Nazi propagandism.

"Yet — for all the nefarious intent of the distributors of the film — I must also accept culpability for allowing myself to be so used. I still oppose many of the traditional interpretations of Islam—but that has nothing to do with the film Obsession. I cannot stand by silently and allow my participation in such satanic demonization of innocents. I apologize to my fellow Muslims for appearing in such a film. I apologize to my Jewish teachers and friends-- who have warned me time and again about falling into such a situation—for not heeding their counsel. And I expect now that those who support the film will make me their target. But again: I am no diplomat, and I love a good fight. I am obsessed with the truth. Let’s get it on. “


Go to WWW.OBSESSIONWITHHATE.COM

Much props to the Hate Hurts America Coalition for challenging hate and bigotry

Book Review of Who Speaks for Islam

Book Review - Who Speaks for Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think by John Esposito and Dalia Mogahed


I'm an avid book reader especially on the topic of the religion that I belong to which is Islam. Sure, the majority of the books out there on the topic that are available at your local bookstores whether it be Barnes and Noble, Borders, or even the online bookstores like Amazon and what not, are written by what I like to call band wagon Islamophobes and opportunists who suddently become scholars and experts overnight simply for writing a terrible book on Islam.

Out of the cloud of misinformation on the topic, Professor John Esposito who is the founding director of Georgetown University's Prince Al Walid Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, and Dalia Mogahed who is the senior analyst and Executive Director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies as well as Executive Director of the Muslim West Facts Iniative, wrote an excellent work based on Gallup's World Poll findings on what exactly do everyday Muslims around the world think on various issues?

As most people in the West will be surprised to learn when reading this book is that the majority of Muslims in the world want the same basic rights, freedoms, and aspirations as they do.

In the introduction, the study revealed things that people who are not familiar with Muslims or Islam will find surprising:

* Muslims around the world do not see the West as a monolithic entity. They praise or criticize nations based on their politics not their culture or religion

* Despite the popular myth, the dream job for most Muslims is not fighting jihad but rather getting a better job!

* Muslims and Amnericans are equally likely to reject attacks on civilians as morally unjustified

* Those who condone terrorism are a very small minority and are no more likely to be religious than the rest of the population.

* Muslims around the world when asked what they liked about the West is its technology and democracy. Ironically, those are the two top responses that the Americans gave when asked the same question

* Muslims around the world when asked what they liked least about the West is its perceived moral decay and breakdown of traditional values, which is the same responses that Americans gave when asked the same question.

* Muslim women around the world want equal rights and religion in their societies.

* Muslims around the world suggest that if the West wants to improve relations with their societies is to moderate their views toward Muslims and respect the religious tradition of Islam.

* Majority of Muslims around the world DO NOT want their religious leaders to draft constitutions or rule the country BUT they do favor religious law as a source of legislation.


This book is a must for those who really want to know what the majority of Muslims around the world think. I recommend this especially for all those Americans out there who still think that Muslims around the world hate America for its freedom and democracy. I recommend them especially to read the chapter on "What Makes a Radical?"