About Me

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Hussam has been a lifelong human rights activist who is passionate about promoting democratic societies, in the US and worldwide, in which all people, including immigrants, workers, minorities, and the poor enjoy freedom, justice, economic justice, respect, and equality. Mr. Ayloush frequently lectures on Islam, media relations, civil rights, hate crimes and international affairs. He has consistently appeared in local, national, and international media. Full biography at: http://hussamayloush.blogspot.com/2006/08/biography-of-hussam-ayloush.html

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Ayloush on FOX News' Anti-Muslim paranoia propaganda piece: "Jihad USA" (part 3 of 4)

The "documentary" (in which I was quoted a few times) attempts to create paranoia by listing almost every crime committed by anyone who claims to be Muslim, even if such crimes were not politically nor religiously motivated. Such selective approach, if applied to any other group, can certainly unfairly negatively stereotype the whole group.

The threat of criminal or terrorist acts will always be real, as it has always been. There is no need to sacrifice our common sense or our civil liberties in the false hope that this will help us eliminate such a threat. It should not be an either or choice when it comes to fighting terrorism and protecting civil liberties. A balance can be attained.

Our security is achieved when we isolate the problem and engage all people, in America and abroad, in the process of rejecting and preventing extremism, injustice, and terrorism, whether by individuals, groups, or countries.

The last thing we need is to get advice on how to fight terrorism from individuals, pundits, industries, and politicians who financially and politically benefit from this exaggerating and sometimes even fueling its threat.

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