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Al-Jazeerah
Editor Threatened
Media campaign
against aljazeerah.us
The Editor of Al-Jazeerah has received life threats
through emails and on his answering machine at home. The caller's accent
identifies him as a person living in the same area. The Al-Jazeerah
Editor reiterates that the goal of this website is promoting peace
between the United States and the Arab and Muslim Worlds. As an American
citizen, who loves his country and wants to see it peaceful and
prosperous, he has contributed to that goal by initiating this website
thinking that the right of free speech and expression is protected by people and
authorities. However, these life threats together with the continuous
hate mail have made freedom of expression impossible.
Some anti Al-Jazeerah materials in the media have
contributed to the recent wave of intolerance and threats against
Al-Jazeerah and its editor. In particular, articles were written about
Al-Jazeerah by Robert Stacy McCain, in the Washington Times (April 14,
2003), by John M. Willis, in the Rome (Georgia) News Tribune (April 14,
2003), by Karen Shugart, in the Chattanooga (Tennessee) Times Free Press
(April 15, 2003), and by Charles Oliver, in the Daily Citizen, in Dalton
Georgia. In addition, ABC affiliate Channel 9 TV aired a report about
Al-Jazeerah, on April 14, 2003. In all these materials, there was
incitement against Al-Jazeerah. The life threat that was left in the
Editor's home answering machine was recorded in the same morning that
the Dalton Daily Citizen published its report with the instigatory
title, "Dalton Prof, Webmaster of anti-US site."
It is apparent that pro-war groups, including some
media units, have zero tolerance to freedom of speech and expression in some parts
of the United States, despite the fact that the debate about war was
even called on by President Bush.
These conditions made me uncomfortable to continue the
noble goal of promoting peace and cross-cultural understanding in the
world. However, I promise Al-Jazeerah dear readers to resume the service
as soon as I feel it is safe to do that again.
Finally, to clear out any doubts about the noble
intentions of Al-Jazeerah, there will be new sections for various groups
to express themselves without the need to resort to threats against
their fellow citizens or against people from other countries. May God
spread peace on Earth.
| Al-Jazeerah Editor, |
| Dr. Hassan A. El-Najjar |
| April 17, 2003 |
| Dalton, GA, USA.
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