- Christian Action Network
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Christian Action Network is a conservative, non-profit activist organization based in Forest, VA. It was founded in 1990 by Martin Mawyer, its current President and claims to have 250,000 members.[1]
The group has been involved in numerous controversies related to Islam, with its critics accusing it of being anti-Muslim and spreading “Islamophobia.” It says it is “Protecting America’s Religious and Moral Heritage.”
Contents
Controversies
Alleged Terrorist Camps in America
In February 2009, CAN released a low-budget documentary named, “Homegrown Jihad: Terrorist Camps Around U.S.” that alleged the existence of 35 terrorist training compounds run by Jamaat ul-Fuqra through a front called Muslims of the Americas.
The film shows CAN staff visiting the private communities of Muslims of the Americas and confronting them about their alleged ties to terrorism. The film relies heavily upon an alleged Muslims of the Americas videotape that shows its leader offering its members “Islamic guerilla warfare” training. The tape then shows clips of recruits training in combat. CAN later released a second videotape allegedly showing MOA women receiving paramilitary training at the group’s Islamberg headquarters in Hancock, N.Y.[2]
The film was met with a mixture of praise and ridicule. CBS News reported that it is “without any real foundation.”[3] National security expert Frank Gaffney praised the film in a column for the National Review, saying the filmmakers had “connected the dots” as the intelligence agencies failed to do before the September 11, 2001 attacks.<Gaffney, Frank, “Muslims Against America,” National Review, http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/p17884.xml?genre_id, Feb. 12, 2009</ref>
The film is described as “inflammatory” in the Center for American Progress’ report, “Fear Inc: The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America.” [4]
The Muslim-American organization denies the allegations and accuses CAN of harboring a “Zionist Action Group” that “disguise their conspiratorial actions and hate campaigns by which they intend to cause a clash between Muslims and Christians in the U.S.A.” [5] The MOA accuses CAN of manipulating footage and taking scenes out of context.
The film was the topic of a segment on FOX News Channel’s “Hannity” television show in February 2009. Martin Mawyer is currently working on a book with more information about the alleged camps. The organization says the book will “will reveal the never-before-told story of a high-level source within MOA and our secret meetings with him/her and much, much more!” [6]
“Islam Rising” Billboard
In 2010, CAN released its second film, “Islam Rising: Geert Wilders’ Warning to the West.” It is about Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician who went on trial for hate speech for his criticisms of Islam and Muslim communities. He was found not guilty in 2011. As part of CAN’s publicity campaign, the group had a billboard put up in South Carolina with the film’s title. A petition was started on Change.org that said it is “flagrantly xenophobic” and could “lead to violence and hate crimes.”[7]
“Sacrificed Survivors” Artwork
In 2010, CAN’s third film, “Sacrificed Survivors: The Untold Story of the Ground Zero Mosque,” was released. Its original artwork had the Turkish flag in the ruins of the World Trade Center. On November 4, Turkish ambassador to the U.S. sent a letter to the organization, expressing his strong condemnation of the film’s cover after major Turkish newspapers reported on it.[8]
Campaign Against “Ground Zero Mosque”
The organization had a nationwide screening tour that included stops near speaking engagements by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the former spokesman for Park51. The group’s campaign received wide press coverage.[9][10]
CAN and American Center for Law and Justice threatened the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation with legal action after it was unable to get permits to show its film in several public parks around the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2011 attacks. The Department said the parks were unavailable.[11] The organization was then granted permits to show its film in several parks.[12]
On September 7, Congressman Allen West (R-FL) hosted a screening of the film in the Rayburn House Office Building in Congress, where he reiterated his opposition to Park51 alongside several people who lost family members in 9/11.[13]
Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) responded by sponsoring an event on September 13 to publicize a report about the alleged “Islamophobia network” in the U.S.[14] The report accused Rep. Allen West of spreading fear of Muslims and criticized his involvement in the event. It also criticized the Christian Action Network and other participants.[15]
Current Projects
According to CAN’s website, they are currently working on a film about alleged “pro-Islam bias in the education system and how radical Islamists are helping teach our kids, while Christians are often ridiculed.”[16] It is also in the “last stages” of a film about Islamic extremism in Europe.[17]
Martin Mawyer, President of CAN, is writing a book about the Muslims of the Americas, due for release in 2012.[18]
Films
“Homegrown Jihad: Terrorist Camps Around U.S.” 2009.
“Islam Rising: Geert Wilders’ Warning to the West.” 2010.
“Sacrificed Survivors: The Untold Story of the Ground Zero Mosque.” 2010.
References
- ^ “Martin J. Mawyer—President of CAN,” http://christianaction.org/martinmawyer,
- ^ Unruh, Bob. “’Chilling’ New Video: How to Slit Throats,” WorldNetDaily, http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=119087', Dec. 15, 2009
- ^ ”’Homegrown Jihad’ Documentary Trailer,” CBS News, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/11/cbsnews_investigates/main4793713.shtml, Feb. 12, 2009
- ^ Center for American Progress, http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/08/pdf/islamophobia.pdf, “Fear Inc: The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America,” August 2011
- ^ “Imam El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Gilani Qadri’s Rebuttal to the False Accusations by Zionist Action Group aka Christian Action Network,” http://www.islamberg.org/, November 23, 2009
- ^ “New Book Coming Out Exposing Terrorist Camps in America,” http://www.christianaction.org/node/319, Oct. 14, 2011
- ^ ”’Islam Rising’ Billboard in S.C. Sparks Controversy,” http://www.christianaction.org/node/141, Dec. 2, 2010
- ^ Ambassador Namik Tan, http://www.christianaction.org/Turkish_Embassy_Letter, November 4, 2010
- ^ Stern, Andrew. “Imam Criticized for New York Mosque Embarks on Speaking Tour,” http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/13/us-usa-muslims-idUSTRE70C13L20110113, Reuters, Jan. 13, 2011
- ^ Vitello, Paul. “Imam Behind Islamic Center Plans U.S. Tour,” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/24/nyregion/24mosque.html, New York Times, December 23, 2010
- ^ ”NYC Denies 9/11 Documentary Showings,” http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2011/July/NYC-Denies-911-Documentary-Showings/, CBN News, July 29, 2011
- ^ ”CAN Succeeds in Getting Permits in NYC Parks!” http://www.christianaction.org/node/297, ChristianAction.org, August 12, 2011
- ^ Bolstad, Erika, “West Promotes Film About Controversial Ground Zero Mosque,” http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/07/2395271/west-promotes-film-about-controversial.html, Miami Herald, September 7, 2011
- ^ Mauro, Ryan, http://frontpagemag.com/2011/09/12/congressman-promotes-fear-inc-islamophobia-event/, FrontPage Magazine, September 12, 2011
- ^ Center for American Progress, http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/08/pdf/islamophobia.pdf, “Fear Inc: The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America,” August 2011
- ^ ”Filming Begins on New Documentary About Pro-Islam Bias in Education,” http://www.christianaction.org/node/318, ChristianAction.org, October 6, 2011
- ^ ”Documentary on the Islamization of Europe Set for Completion by the End of This Year!” http://www.christianaction.org/node/320, ChristianAction.org, October 14, 2011
- ^ ”New Book Coming Out Exposing Terrorist Camps in America,” http://www.christianaction.org/node/319, ChristianAction.org, October 14, 2011
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