US MUSLIM MEDIA REDEEMS ISLAMIC IMAGE
Cairo, 8 Ramadan 1436/25 June 2015 (MINA) – Offering a window into Muslims’ life in Ramadan, a recently-founded Dearborn company has produced its first Ramadan commercial, showcasing a glimpse into Muslim lives and traditions during the holy month.
“A part of the message is to show that Islam is very diverse,” Wissam Bazzi, of Dearborn Heights and founder of Piximotion, told Press & Guide.
“Islam in the mainstream media is not the only perspective.” OnIslam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
The short clip, only 30 seconds, features Muslims of various backgrounds, including scenes of families gathering for iftar, the time to breakfast.
The commercial highlights thankfulness, discipline and family as some of the key components of what makes Ramadan a special time for Muslims.
The commercial, which can be viewed at www.itsramadan.org, with the message: “It’s Ramadan. A month of human values. From your Muslim friends and neighbours, happy Ramadan.”
Featuring the special time of Ramadan, the project shows the humanity of Muslims, Bazzi added.
Dearborn company Piximotion commercial comes at the time Muslims in the west are been shown as behind terrorist activities, a cause for the continue Islamophobic harassment in public.
The Ramadan commercial it presented covers the real image of the American Muslims and a glimpse into their lifestyles during the holy month of Ramadan.
It followed a crowdfunding campaign to raise $5,000 in funds for the commercial through site LaunchGood. About $25,000 were raised altogether.
“It’s a beautiful effort of our whole community coming together. The unification of so many different individuals,” Bazzi said.
Although there are no official figures, the United States is believed to be home to between 6-8 million Muslims.
A study has found that US mainstream media outlets are dominated by anti-Islam groups to shape the distorted public discourse about the Islamic faith since the 9/11 attacks.
In August 2011, a US report was issued depicting a group of foundations, think tanks and bloggers as the main players behind the 10-year-old campaign to promote fear of Islam and Muslims in the US.
Titled ‘Fear, Inc.: The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America’, the report was issued by CAP, a think tank which is close to the administration of President Barack Obama.
The 130-page report identifies seven foundations that have quietly provided a total of more than 42 million dollars to key individuals and organizations that have spearheaded the nation-wide anti-Muslim effort between 2001 and 2009. (T/P007/R03)
MI’raj Islmic News Agency (MINA)
