An UPDATED Email from Mr. Jasser

foxnews rescheduled (subject to last minute changes) the airing of “Muslims against Jihad” to tonight- 9pm EST/6pm pst. [note – please read full press release below from abg films, inc. discussing the details of the release of this film — the second of two 52 min. documentaries by abg films originally made for the pbs crossroads series]

C.P.B. CLEARS WAY FOR PUBLIC TO VIEW FILM
P.B.S. DOESN’T WANT THEM TO SEE

Fox News Channel to Air Special on Sunday, 24 June 2007

(always subject to emergency programming changes)

 

ABG Films is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) that will bring to an end the suppression of “Islam vs. Islamists: Voicesfrom the Muslim Center” by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

 

In mid-August, the five stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) will air the film, together with a panel discussion featuring, among others, one of the anti-Islamist Muslim moderates featured in “Islam vs. Islamists,” Dr. Zuhdi Jasser.  OPB will also make the film and the panel discussion available to other public broadcasting affiliates.  While it remains to be seen which, if any, of these affiliates will broadcast “Islam vs. Islamists,” ABG Films is gratified by the affirmation OPB’s distribution represents of the filmmakers’ unwavering position:  This documentary fully meets the technical and other standards required for broadcast on the public airwaves. 

 

            The agreement between CPB and ABG Films also cleared the way for the second of the two 52-minute-long programs produced as part of the latter’s submission to the “ America at a Crossroads” series – now entitled “Muslims Against Jihad” – to be broadcast elsewhere.  The Fox News Channel will be airing this documentary nationally, together with interviews with its Director-Producer, Martyn Burke, and Co-Executive Producer Frank Gaffney, during prime time from 9:00-10:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Sunday, 24 June 2007.

 

      Speaking on behalf of his fellow partners in ABG Films and Co-Executive Producers, Alex Alex iev and Mr. Burke, Mr. Gaffney said:

 

            “We are extremely gratified that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – whose vision for and support of the ‘America at a Crossroads’ series enabled the making of ‘Islam vs. Islamists’ and ‘Muslims Against Jihad’ – has now made it possible for both films to be seen by the American people.  It is deeply regrettable that PBS and its Washington station, WETA, precluded the former from airing as CPB had intended during the April roll-out of the ‘Crossroads’ series and refused even to view, let alone air, the latter. 

 

“We are confident, however, that in the weeks ahead – as millions of Americans are afforded an opportunity to judge both of these films for themselves – it will become clear how groundless are the charges PBS and WETA leveled against “Islam vs. Islamists” and the team that produced it and its companion documentary.  Indeed, those unfounded and, in some cases, defamatory charges will be seen for what they always were:  Scurrilous efforts by some of those entrusted with control of the public airwaves to suppress the voices of courageous, anti-Islamist Muslims at the very moment they need most to be encouraged and amplified.”

 

ABG Films expresses its appreciation to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting  for bringing such suppression to an end.  It is deeply grateful to the Fox News Channel and others around the country who will help rectify that travesty by affording outlets nationwide to these Muslims and their support for religious tolerance and democratic, secular governments – and their stalwart opposition to the Islamists and their jihad.

 

            For more information about the “Islam vs. Islamists” and “Muslims Against Jihad” story, please visit www.FreetheFilm.net.  To request interviews with the filmmakers and the anti-Islamists featured in their documentaries, contact Keith Appell or Karen Northon at 703-683-5004.