Fox’s face of terror: Muslims voice concern over portrayal of terrorists on ‘24’

The Boston Herald ^ | 01/16/2007 | Lauren Beckham Falcone

[JohnSheppard]

The plot of the hit Fox drama “24” may make for exciting television, but Muslim groups fear their representation as terrorists does more than entertain - it vilifies an entire religious group.

“I think that TV has quite an effect on how people think,” said Nadeem Mazen, past president of the MIT Muslim Association. “So much of what we hear on Muslims is hearsay - an expert opinion by people with a personal agenda and not necessarily motivated by truth. And then a show like this comes along that perpetuates the ‘them’ factor.”

The plot of the sixth season of “24” takes place two years in the future and is the most fear-mongering to date. America is being bombarded by Islamic suicide bombers, the president’s chief of staff sets up Muslim internment camps, civil rights and privacy laws are more flexible than Mary Lou Retton and the seemingly sweet Muslim teenager next door happens to be a terrorist complicit in the first nuclear attack on American soil.

Of course, it’s a show. But TV not only reflects the zeitgeist - it also influences it, some say, meaningthe writers of “24” have to be careful, said Rabiah Ahmed, spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

“I saw ‘24’ (on Monday) and we do have concerns with the show,” Ahmed said. “We are monitoring it and will be contacting our contacts at Fox to discuss those concerns.”

According to Ahmed, her organization and the creators of “24” have a good relationship - in fact, two years ago, when a Muslim family was depicted as terrorists, they listened to the concerns of the Muslim community.

[Titan Magroyne]

Why, don't you lovely CAIR folken worry yore purty lil haids bout that there show. It's only depicting the terrorist Muslims.

[chuckles]

They should worry more about what their Imam's are saying on film in their mosques. I can buy DVD's of these idiots saying they will nuke us if we don't convert. And that's no TV show.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

This might come as a shock to CAIR, but many Muslims are (gasp!) radical Jihadists.

[Dallas59]

"...civil rights and privacy laws are more flexible than Mary Lou Retton....

LOL! That's flexible!

[Dallas59]

Not all Muslims are terrorists...but %99 of terrorists are Muslims. 1+1=2

[river rat]

"Muslim groups fear their representation as terrorists does more than entertain - it vilifies an entire religious group."

Muslims portrayed as terrorists? I'm shocked!!

Who better or more deserving to be portrayed as murderous terrorists than the bastards themselves?

Semper Fi

[highpockets]

If Islam did not produce Muslims that find terrorist activities so gosh darn fun, then those of us not dar al-Islam( Islamic community) would not call them terrorists.

Islam produces Muslims who cannot be Muslims without Jihad, Islamic terrorist's are born every time the Koran is read.

Stop Islam, stop terrorism.

[kalee]

ping

[Redcloak]

Muslim groups fear their representation as terrorists does more than entertain - it vilifies an entire religious group.

No... The Muslim community's half-hearted condemnations of terrorism do that far more effectively than any mere TV show.

[Pontiac]

“TV shows are out to make money and get ratings,” he said. “They aren’t there to create awareness

Oh, is that what “The Day After Tomorrow” was doing.

[leadhead]

It ain't a bunch of whacked out Latvians trying to blow up things in this country.

The President of Luxembourg isn't threatening us.

[wodinoneeye]

Maybe someday when the majority of Muslims declare that all terrorists will go to Hell for their barbarous actions and intent, THEN they may EARN the right to complain about this.

[Caipirabob]

Are they rioting and cutting off heads over it yet?

[bjcintennessee]

When they toss aside the Koran, their handbook to terrorism, then maybe....just maybe....we will take their complaints into consideration.

[KeyWest]

Maybe they should watch the show. It is a combo of bad and good with a lot of PC stuff. I am sure it will take a "turn" and the real bad guys will be either big businessmen or born again Christians who Hollywood knows are the true threats to our freedom.

[gotribe]

24 has done more to galvanize Americans against the muslim threat than the combined speeches of president bush. I hope they keep it up.

[chadwimc]

Piss on islam.

[MarkT]

Maybe they would prefer having the Sisters of Mercy portrayed as terrorists...realism be damned, its P.C. that is important...

When CAIR gets off its fat ass and loudly and continuously condemns terrorism and has its members beat the drums world-wide that terrorism is un-acceptable, maybe Muslims can complain legitimately of their portrayal - check back in 10 or 20 years, ragheads,

[Paige]

If the Muslims have a problem with the TV show they can stuff it. They will have a right to say something about the TV show when they denounce the Islamic Fascist and take a stand against the Islamic Fascist. I don't see Hindus, Christians, or Buddhist blowing up buildings or killings others who refuse to convert.

Moreover, the 1993 Terrorist attack against the USA and the WTC was implemented by Muslims. Most of all, before 911 there were 7,500 Islamic terrorist attacks against the West between 1979 and Sept 9, 2001. All of these attacks took place before President Bush sent troops into Iraq.

Now when the Muslims (who claim to be peaceful) stand up against the Islamic attacks, denounce such hatred and madness, and stop making excuses for their brethren instead of holding them responsible, then maybe we can begin by some wild chance to take them seriously. Otherwise, if 24 is the show that has to open the eyes of the American people, then so be it.