Stop Islamization of America

Stop Islamization of America (SIOA), also known as the American Freedom Defense Initiative,[1] is an anti-Muslim,[2][3][4][5][6][7] pro-Israel[8][9][10] American organization known primarily for its controversial, Islamophobic advertising campaigns.[11] The group has been described as extremist and far-right.[12][13] The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) lists SIOA as an anti-Muslim hate group.[9][10][14]

Stop Islamization of America
AbbreviationSIOA
Formation2010 (2010)
27-2518993
President
Pamela Geller
Co-founder
Robert Spencer
Websitefreedomdefense.typepad.com
Formerly called
American Freedom Defense Initiative
Part of a series on
Islamophobia

SIOA was founded in 2010 by its current leaders, Pamela Geller and author Robert Spencer, at the request of Anders Gravers Pedersen, the leader of Stop Islamisation of Europe, of which it is the American affiliate.[1] It has launched ad campaigns in urban public transit systems, including one in New York City opposing Park51, a Muslim community center that had been proposed for Lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center site in 2010.[15] In 2016, they have run public transit advertisements in San Francisco calling for the end of United States security assistance to the Palestinian National Authority.

Ideology

SIOA refers to itself as a human rights organization, promoting freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and equal rights.[16] The SIOA's ideology has been called Islamophobic by political and historical scholars, news sources, religious leaders, and hate group watchdogs.[17][18][19][20][21][22]

History

2010

SIOA first entered the public eye with its early opposition to the construction of Park51, originally named Cordoba House, a 13-story Muslim community center proposed for a location two blocks from the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. On May 6, 2010, Geller posted a blog piece calling the building a "monster mosque" and a "stab in the eye of America" and comparing it to the reconsecration of the Hagia Sophia as a mosque by the Ottoman Turks after they conquered Constantinople in 1453.[1] In another blog post, Geller encouraged readers to protest its construction.[1][23][24]

In July 2010, the organization purchased bus advertising in New York and other American cities promoting a website purporting to advocate for Muslims who wanted to disclaim their religion but who feared they might be killed by other Muslims if they did so.[25] The Council on American-Islamic Relations criticized the premise of the ads, that there were any such Muslims, calling it "a smoke screen to advance [Geller's] long-standing history of anti-Muslim bigotry".[26]

The Anti-Defamation League, beginning in 2010, included SIOA in their online resource on extremist groups, saying that it "promotes a conspiratorial anti-Muslim agenda under the guise of fighting radical Islam" and "seeks to rouse public fears by consistently vilifying the Islamic faith and asserting the existence of an Islamic conspiracy to destroy 'American' values."[27]

2011

In 2011, the Southern Poverty Law Center named SIOA an anti-Muslim hate group,[28][14] calling it a "propaganda powerhouse" that paints moderate Muslims as radical terrorists.[14] Geller described the SPLC listing as a "badge of honor"[29] and later, in 2015, stated to CNN, "Who designated the SPLC as a legitimate authority? They are a radical leftist group who targets patriots, vets and even GOP presidential candidates. They have never named a jihadi group as a hate group."[30]

In July and August 2011, Geller and Spencer were discussed in the media because Norwegian mass-murderer Anders Behring Breivik's anti-Muslim manifesto quoted Spencer at length, and also cited Geller's blog.[31] According to Heidi Beirich, Deputy Director of SPLC, Geller and Spencer's writings were "the primary sources for the anti-Muslim propaganda that had helped give voice" to Breivik's 1500+ page manifesto.[15] SIOA published a statement jointly with Jihad Watch and Stop Islamisation of Europe condemning Breivik's attack.[32]

2012

In 2012, SIOA sponsored ads in the public transit systems of New York City, Washington, D.C., and Chicago reading, "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad."[33] The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) initially refused to display them.[34] The authority's decision was ruled unconstitutional by Judge Paul A. Engelmayer of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in July 2012. Judge Engelmayer held that SIOA's ad was "core political speech" protected by the First Amendment.[34][35][36][37][38]

Rabbis for Human Rights, the Sojourners Community, and United Methodist Women all sponsored subway ads to countering SIOA's original ad and promoting religious tolerance.[39] The Jewish Council for Public Affairs called SIOA's ad "bigoted, divisive, and unhelpful", and Steve Gutow, its president, said, "The fact that ads have been placed in the subway attacking Israel does not excuse the use of attack ads against Muslims."[40] William McGurn, a former speechwriter for George W. Bush, wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal supporting the ads, arguing that "savage" was an appropriate term to describe jihadists, and criticizing "our new political correctness".[41]

During the 2012 tax year, the organization reported total revenue of $157,870.00, no employee salary or compensation, and total operating expenses of $296,044.00.[42]

2013

In early January 2013, the SIOA placed advertisements in New York City Subway stations. that juxtaposed images of the September 11 attacks with a quote from the Quran: "Soon shall we cast terror into the hearts of the unbelievers."[43][44] By that time the New York City Transit Authority, had changed its advertising policy to accept what it called "viewpoint advertisements" but to require a disclaimer saying that the Transit Authority did not endorse the advertiser's views.[45]

During the 2013 tax year, the organization reported total revenue of $958,800.00, employee salary and compensation at $243,150.00, with total operating expenses at $419,652.00.[46]

2014

In response to an ad by the American Muslims for Palestine that the SIOA called "Jew-hating", the SIOA sponsored an ad on Washington, D.C., buses with a photograph of Adolf Hitler and Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem who supported the Nazi dictator before and during World War II.[47]

In May, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office was not required to grant SIOA a trademark registration for its name because it could be disparaging to American Muslims. Geller criticized the ruling, calling it a "complete whitewash" and describing the court as having a politically correct bias.[48]

2015

In 2015 the SIOA started a new ad campaign in New York, that included one parody billboard with a quote from Hamas stating 'Killing Jews is worship that draws us close to Allah.' A court judgement in April 2015 ruled that New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority cannot prevent the ads from running on buses.[49][50]

In January 2015 a Muslim group organized a fundraiser called "Stand With the Prophet in Honor and Respect" at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.[51] Pamela Geller spearheaded about 1,000 picketers at that event.[52][53] The Garland Independent School District board president Rick Lambert said in January, "The Culwell Center is available for rental as long as you comply with the law. Because it is a public facility, the district is not allowed to discriminate based upon viewpoint."[53][54]

Garland shooting
Main article: Curtis Culwell Center attack

On May 3, 2015, the SIOA invited Geert Wilders to an art exhibit in Garland, Texas that offered a $10,000 prize for the best cartoon of Muhammad. During the event, a shooting incident occurred.[55] Both gunmen, later identified as ISIL-inspired,[56] were shot and killed by police shortly after the suspects shot a security guard.[57]

The SIOA says it spent $10,000 on security, and had 40 police officers and private security guards present.[58] The event was hosted at the Curtis Culwell Center, rented from the Garland Independent School District, which hosted an event in January called "Stand with the Prophet".[59]

gollark: Yep. Broken. Can't fix it now, sorry.
gollark: O noes.
gollark: I want to name my variables `™`, `∆`, ` ` and [STRING OF RANDOM UNICODE DIACRITICS] but no language lets me!
gollark: Haskell can do lazy evaluation and therefore infinite lists easily.
gollark: We need optimizing BF interpreter/compilers.

References
  1. Barnard, Anne; Feuer, Alan (October 10, 2010). "Outraged, And Outrageous". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 24, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  2. Kelly, Suzanne (December 10, 2015). "Why I Am Campaigning to Ban Donald Trump From the U.K." Time. Archived from the original on June 20, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  3. Hughes, Laura (January 17, 2016). "David Cameron: More Muslim women should 'learn English' to help tackle extremism". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  4. Faloyin, Dipo (December 17, 2016). "British Prime Minister Predicts the U.K. Will Unite Against Donald Trump". Newsweek. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  5. "Why Is Mainstream Jewish Philanthropy Funding anti-Muslim, Far Right Pamela Geller?". Haaretz. November 23, 2015. Archived from the original on June 14, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  6. Masi, Alessandria (May 14, 2014). "New American Freedom Defense Initiative Sponsored Anti-Islam Ad Hits Public Bus In D.C". International Business Times. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  7. Shoichet, Catherine; Pearson, Michael (May 4, 2015). "Garland, Texas, shooting suspect linked himself to ISIS in tweets". Time. Archived from the original on June 27, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  8. Calder, Rich; Edelman, Susan (April 21, 2015). "'Anti-Jihad' bus ads can't be blocked by MTA: judge". New York Post. Archived from the original on April 25, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  9. Dungca, Nicole (November 23, 2015). "MBTA bans all ads on political and social issues". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 26, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  10. Miller, Michael E. (April 22, 2015). "'Killing Jews is Worship' posters will soon appear on NYC subways and buses". Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  11. Islamophobic:
    Controversial:
  12. Moon, Timur (June 20, 2013). "EDL Invites US Anti-Muslim 'Hate Bloggers' Pam Geller and Robert Spencer to Speak at Woolwich Rally". International Business Times. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  13. Ivanova, Mina (2013). "A Stab in the Eye of America or a Center for Multi-Faith Dialogue? Ideology and Contested Rhetorics Surrounding the Proposed Muslim Community Center near New York City's Ground Zero". In Clarke Rountree (ed.). Venomous Speech: Problems with American Political Discourse on the Right and Left. ABC-CLIO. p. 360. ISBN 9780313398674. Geller heads a small but vocal extreme right-wing group, called Stop Islamization of America. cf. note 4 (p.374) SIOA is associated with Stop Islamization of Europe, an organization with branches in nearly a dozen countries (mostly in Western Europe), founded by an eponymous Danish group that opposes immigration of Muslims to Europe.
  14. Steinback, Robert (Summer 2011). "Jihad Against Islam". The Intelligence Report (142). Southern Poverty Law Center. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  15. Beirich, Heidi (2013). "Hate Across the Waters: The Role of American Extremists in Fostering an International White Consciousness". In Ruth Wodak; Majid KhosraviNik; Brigitte Mral (eds.). Right-Wing Populism in Europe: Politics and Discourse. A&C Black. pp. 89–92. ISBN 978-1780932453. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  16. Yan, Holly (May 4, 2015). "Garland shooting: What is the American Freedom Defense Initiative?". CNN. Archived from the original on May 25, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  17. Ernst, Carl W. (2013). "Introduction: The Problem of Islamophobia". Islamophobia in America: The Anatomy of Intolerance. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1137290083.
  18. Kumar, Deepa (2012). Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire. Haymarket Books. p. 179. ISBN 978-1608462117. ...the other leading sources of anti-Muslim racism are... Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer's Stop Islamization of America...
  19. Davidson, Lawrence (May 2011). "Islamophobia, the Israel Lobby and American Paranoia: Letter from America". Holy Land Studies. 10 (1): 87–95. doi:10.3366/hls.2011.0005.
  20. Rice, Stephanie (July 28, 2010). "'Anti-Islamic' bus ads appear in major cities". Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012. In the Bay Area, more than 125 religious leaders of various faiths signed a statement in July denouncing the ads as "Islamophobic"
  21. "Hate Map (Southern Poverty Law Center)". Southern Poverty Law Center. Archived from the original on June 19, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  22. "Stop Islamization of America (SIOA)". Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on June 19, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  23. Elliott, Justin (August 16, 2010). "How the "ground zero mosque" fear mongering began". Salon. Archived from the original on January 2, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  24. Gottschalk, Peter (2012). "Religion Out of Place: Islam and cults as perceived threats in the United States". In Gershon Shafir; Everard Meade; William J. Aceves (eds.). Lessons and Legacies of the War on Terror: From Moral Panic to Permanent War. Critical Terrorism Studies. Routledge. pp. 111–112. ISBN 978-0415638418.
  25. Rice, Stephanie (July 28, 2010). "'Anti-Islamic' bus ads appear in major cities". Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  26. "'Leaving Islam?' bus adverts draw anger in NYC". Telegraph. London. May 27, 2010. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  27. "Stop the Islamization of America (SIOA)". Extremism. Anti-Defamation League. September 14, 2010. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  28. Siemaszko, Corky (February 25, 2011). "Southern Poverty Law Center lists anti-Islamic NYC blogger Pamela Geller, followers a hate group". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on February 16, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  29. "Pam Geller On 'Hate Group' Label: 'A Badge of Honor'". Talking Points Memo. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  30. "Garland shooting: What is the American Freedom Defense Initiative?". CNN. May 4, 2015. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  31. Shane, Scott (July 24, 2011). "Killings in Norway Spotlight Anti-Muslim Thought in U.S." The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  32. Nathan-Kazis, Josh; Guttman, Nathan (August 5, 2011). "U.S. Critics of Islam Vow To Continue Activism After Oslo". The Forward. A statement published on July 25 on Jihad Watch, by Spencer and Geller 's SIOA and Stop Islamisation of Europe, their group's European ally, condemned the attacks. The statement went on to say that Breivik had attempted to join SOIE, but had been kept out of the organization 'because of his Nazi ties.'
  33. "CTA Anti-Muslim Ads: Controversial 'Defeat Jihad' Ads Arrive In Chicago". Huffington Post. November 15, 2012. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  34. "Controversial 'Defeat Jihad' ad to appear in NYC subways". CNN. September 19, 2012. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  35. Flegenheimer, Matt (September 18, 2012). "Ad Urging Defeat of Jihad to Appear in New York Subway". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  36. Ted Mann (July 20, 2012). "Court Rejects MTA's Ban Against 'Demeaning' Transit Ads". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  37. Weiser, Benjamin (July 20, 2012). "M.T.A. Violated Rights of Pro-Israel Group, Judge Says". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  38. "Anti-jihad ads make their way to D.C. subways". CNN. October 10, 2010. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  39. Masood, Ashwaq (October 4, 2012). "Pro-Muslim Subway Ads to Hang Near Anti-Jihad Ads". New York Times. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  40. "JCPA Condemns Bigoted, Divisive, and Unhelpful Anti-Muslim Ads". JCPA. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  41. McGurn, William (October 1, 2012). "Call a Terrorist a 'Savage'? How Uncivilized". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  42. "American Freedom Defense Initiative, Tax Form 990" (PDF). GuideStar. 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  43. "More Ads With Inflammatory Messages About Islam Appear In NYC Subway". CBS news. January 8, 2013. Archived from the original on January 10, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  44. Epstein, Emily Anne (December 7, 2012). "New Anti-Islam Ads to Debut This Month, Now With 25% More MTA Disclaimer". The New York Observer. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014. The quote is from 3:151
  45. Flegenheimer, Matt (December 13, 2012). "Controversial Group Plans More Ads in Subway Stations". New York Times. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  46. "American Freedom Defense Initiative, Tax Form 990" (PDF). GuideStar. 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  47. Paul Duggan (May 15, 2014). "In Metrobus ads, pro-Israel group features photo of Hitler". Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 30, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  48. Bartz, Diane (May 13, 2014). "U.S. court says trademarks can't disparage religious, ethnic groups". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  49. Miller, Michael E. (April 22, 2015). "'Killing Jews is Worship' posters will soon appear on NYC subways and buses". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  50. "Posters slamming Islam for 'killing Jews' can be displayed on MTA buses: court". New York Daily News. April 21, 2015. Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  51. Chasmar, Jessica (January 18, 2015). "'Stand With Prophet' event in Texas draws thousands of protesters". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  52. Merchant, Nomaan; Stengle, Jamie (May 3, 2015). "City: 2 gunmen killed outside Muhammad cartoon contest". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  53. "As graduations near, some fear Garland ISD's Culwell Center now a target". The Dallas Morning News. May 4, 2015. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  54. "Islam debate returns to Garland ISD's Culwell Center with Muhammad art event". The Dallas Morning News. April 27, 2015. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  55. "Police: Men killed in Garland shooting had assault rifles, body armor". dallasnews.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  56. "Obama honors Garland officer who shot Islamic State-inspired terrorists". Archived from the original on June 19, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  57. Stack, Liam (May 3, 2015). "Gunmen Killed After Firing on Anti-Islamist Group's Event in Texas". New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  58. "Garland shooting: 2 killed after they open fire at Mohammed cartoon event". CNN. May 4, 2015. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  59. Chasmar, Jessica (January 18, 2015). "'Stand With Prophet' event in Texas draws thousands of protesters". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on October 10, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.