Posted on 01/19/2007 6:48:21 AM PST by Dark Skies
Two years ago, Muslim groups protested when the plot of the hit Fox drama '24' cast Islamic terrorists as the villains who launched a stolen nuclear missile in an attack on America.
Now, after a one-year respite during which Russian separatists played the bad guys on the critically acclaimed series, Muslims are back in the evil spotlight. Unlike last time, when agent Jack Bauer saved the day, the terrorists this time have already succeeded in detonating a nuclear bomb in a Los Angeles suburb.
Being portrayed again as the heartless wrongdoers has drawn renewed protests from Muslim groups, including one that had a meeting with Fox executives two years ago over the issue.
"The overwhelming impression you get is fear and hatred for Muslims," said Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. She said Thursday she was distressed by this season's premiere. "After watching that show, I was afraid to go to the grocery store because I wasn't sure the person next to me would be able to differentiate between fiction and reality."
She said the group had a conference call Wednesday with Fox executives to protest the current plot line and request more positive portrayals of Muslims on the show, but was not promised anything.
After a January 2005 meeting with CAIR, Fox aired a commercial in which the show's star, Kiefer Sutherland, urged viewers to keep in mind that the show's villains are not representative of all Muslims.
In a written statement issued late Wednesday night, the network said it has not singled out any ethnic or religious group for blame in creating its characters.
"24 is a heightened drama about anti-terrorism," the statement read. "After five seasons, the audience clearly understands this, and realizes that any individual, family, or group (ethnic or otherwise) that engages in violence is not meant to be typical.
"Over the past several seasons, the villains have included shadowy Anglo businessmen, Baltic Europeans, Germans, Russians, Islamic fundamentalists, and even the (Anglo-American) president of the United States," the network said. "The show has made a concerted effort to show ethnic, religious and political groups as multidimensional, and political issues are debated from multiple viewpoints."
The current season began with Muslim terrorists waging an 11-week campaign of suicide bombings across America, culminating in the detonation of a suitcase-sized nuclear bomb in Valencia, Calif., about 26 miles north of Los Angeles. Estimated death toll: 12,000.
Watching the show's characters talk about detonating a nuclear weapon a few blocks from where she works unnerved Sireen Sawaf, an official with the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council, and a self-described "huge '24' fan."
"It's a great show, and I do realize it's a multidimensional show that portrays extreme situations," she said. "They have gone out of their way to have non-Muslim terror cells.
"But I'm concerned about the image it ingrains in the minds of the American public and the American government, particularly when you have anti-Muslim statements spewing from the mouths of government officials."
Sohail Mohammed, a New Jersey immigration lawyer who represented scores of detainees caught up in the post Sept. 11, 2001 dragnet, watched the episode depicting the nuclear attack with an Associated Press reporter.
"I was shocked," he said. "Somewhere, some lunatic out there watching this will do something to an innocent American Muslim because he believes what he saw on TV."
Engy Abdelkader, a member of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee from Howell, N.J., launched a campaign Wednesday to encourage Muslims offended by the program to complain to Fox.
"I found the portrayal of American Muslims to be pretty horrendous," she said. "It was denigrating from beginning to end. This is one of the most popular programs on television today. It's pretty distressing."
Concerns about Muslims' civil rights, detention of terror suspects in Guantanamo-like holding centers, and stereotyping are given vastly expanded treatment on '24' this year. In one exchange, the show depicts the president's national security adviser challenging the White House chief of staff over the detention of Muslims without criminal charges.
"Right now the American Muslim community is our greatest asset," the security adviser says. "They have provided law enforcement with hundreds of tips, and not a single member of that community has been implicated in these attacks."
"So far," the chief of staff responds.
I don't know, my FRiend. Pretty and smart on 24 normally means dead. The only thing that would make it better odds is if she were pretty, black, and smart. Then she is a goner for sure!
I don't count on anyone but Jack sticking around.
(she is very pretty though)
I was really angry that they killed off Edgar Styles in the last season.
I just hope Chloe sticks around, though.
DON'T watch the fourth season first. We did that and weren't as thrilled with the first.
Go to the video store and get the seasons in order, IMHO,
Besides there is a real "rah, rah" moment in season four that we missed out on because we didn't know the backrounds of the characters. You don't want to miss it.
I've never seen a more beautiful exotic woman *drools*
Hey lady!
I was in literal tears when Edgar was killed. My hubby looked at me like I was a loonie.
We were watching on DVD and I had to watch it again because I couldn't see it.
I thought that when Tony was killed off, I would give up on the show but if Chloe goes, that IS my last episode.
That's for good reason.
Muslims need to clean up their own house. First, they need to quit following their" prophet's" rantings!
Hmmm.
Sohail Mohammed, a New Jersey immigration lawyer who represented scores of detainees caught up in the post Sept. 11, 2001 dragnet, watched the episode depicting the nuclear attack with an Associated Press reporter.
-- Dang, the AP brings the DVD's with them now?
Anyone have the articles of the Russians/Chechens protest against 24 by any chance? I thought so.
Attn. Joel Surnow:
There's only one thing to do... kill off the CTU director and the president's sister, she's muslim and the other works for a CAIR-like Islamic firm. Oh, while you're at it, can we go to season's past for a plane incident re: the current president? Please.
Will Audrey make a return appearance this season?
Other than Jack, Chloe is the heart-and-soul of the show.... kind of a superwoman everywoman thing.
There's nothing that '24' could show me about muslims that would cause, in my mind, more concern, disdain and mistrust of muslims than their own book of worship - the "Holy" quran -
19. To the unbelievers, garments of fire shall be cut up and over their heads boiling water shall be poured; 20. Whereby whatever is in their bellies and in their skins shall be melted. 21. And for them are iron rods [which are "To beat their heads with."]
Sura 4.95: "Those of the believers who stay at home while suffering from no injury are not equal to those who fight for the Cause of Allah with their possessions and persons."
Fight those among the People of the Book [i.e. Jews and Christians] ... who do not profess the true religion, until they pay tribute out of hand and are utterly subdued. (9.29)
You have had a good example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: "We are quit of you and what you worship apart from Allah. We disbelieve in you. Enmity and hatred have arisen between you and us forever, till you believe in Allah alone." (60.4)
"We shall destroy the wrongdoers (who refused to accept Allah). And We will make you dwell in the land after them." (14.13-14)
If the hypocrites, those in whose hearts is a sickness and those who spread lies in the city, do not desist, We will certainly urge you against them and then they will not dwell with you therein as neighbors but for a short time. (33.60)
It is He Who drove out the unbelievers among the People of the Book from their homes at the first mustering. (59.2)
Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you and it may happen that you love a thing which is bad for you. (2.216)
Believers, do not make friends with any but your own people.
Allah revealed His will to the angels, saying: "I shall be with you. Give courage to the believers. I shall cast terror into the hearts of the infidels. Strike off their heads, strike off the very tips of their fingers!" That was because they defied Allah and His apostle. He that defies Allah and his apostle shall be sternly punished by Allah. (8.12-13)
Muster against them [i.e. non-Muslims] all the men and cavalry at your command, so that you may strike terror into the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides them who are unknown to you but known to Allah. All that you give in the cause of Allah shall be repaid to you. You shall not be wronged. (8.60)
Mohammed is Allah's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another. (48.29)
The unbelievers among the People of the Book and the pagans shall burn forever in the fire of Hell. They are the vilest of creatures. (98.6)
They're doing that in the very same episodes. They're full of crap, as usual. In fact, the first two hours were so PC, fans were beyond themselves, but the second two hours straightened it out some.
To spread the caliphate.
The woman that plays Nadia, Marisol Nichols, is of Mexican descent. I read her bio on IMDB, and it looks like she is a major Leftie.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629653/bio
I go armed to the grocery store and everywhere else the law allows precisely BECAUSE of the reality of SOME Muslims. If these poor people with hurt feelings would address their complaints to our enemies, they might not have this problem.
Yes, but those were all fictional. Rewriting History is bad enough, without rewriting the present.
Did the FReepers do this?
I missed it
http://gopandthecity.blogspot.com/2006/12/talk-like-jack-bauer-day-january-15.html
They don't need much excuse to get upset...
Did they even notice the guy helping Jack is a muslim too??
Good grief! boohoohoo!
She's hispanic; I have no idea if she's a muslim though.
I predict Keifer Sutherland, who is also one of the executive producers, will bow to the pressure and have them change the plot line to make muslims happy.
He's already making apology noises about the torture sequences. It's just a matter of time. For example, the politician guy that wants to play hard ball with the muslims will be disgraced somehow. They started setting that up in the first 4 hours.
I've been a big fan of the show but I have a bad feeling about this season. They're going to get all preachy on us, just watch.
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