Islamic-Themed TV Spot Would Promote Qur'an-based Animal Protection Message
For Immediate Release:
December 14, 2011
Contact:
Kristin Richards 202-483-7382
Upset over a recent episode of TLC's All-American Muslim in which one of the "stars," blaming her allergies, gave away her husband's 16-year-old dog, whom he had had for 10 years, PETA has sent a letter today to David Zaslav, the president, CEO, and director of TLC, asking him to air a PETA public service announcement featuring Muslim-Americans asking viewers to consider the words of The Prophet (PBUH): "All creatures are like a family of God; and He loves the most those who are the most beneficent to His family." PETA's TV spot would focus on IslamicConcern.com, a little-known website devoted to Muslims and animal issues, and would feature Muslim-Americans discussing how their religious beliefs have influenced their decision to go vegetarian or to make a lifelong commitment to their companion animals—a commitment that many people with allergies have been able to make by toughing it out or taking medication. PETA's letter is signed by Hanif Akhtar, former president of the Pakistan American Business Association.
"Maybe if more American viewers realized that teachings of compassion for animals are common to all the major faiths—including Islam—they'd be interested in learning what else we all have in common," says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "Promoting understanding is never a bad thing: An individual's race, religion, gender, and species should not be a factor in deciding how to treat him or her."
For more information, please visit IslamicConcern.com.
PETA's letter to David Zaslav, the president, CEO, and director of TLC Television Networks, follows.
David
Zaslav
President,
CEO, and Director
TLC
Television Networks
Dear Mr. Zaslav,
On behalf of my friends at PETA and their more than 3 million members and supporters, congratulations on your new show All-American Muslim. We were sorry to hear that Lowe’s removed its sponsorship because we believe that understanding is the cornerstone of peace. We were, however, deeply disturbed by the awful message sent when one of your stars, Shadia Amen, discarded her husband’s dog, who had been the man’s constant companion for many years, simply because she has allergies (a challenge many caring people with animals successfully overcome). It was a shatteringly cruel episode with the lessons that lives are expendable and that convenience trumps compassion. Such lessons go against Islamic values.
We would like to show our support of your program and also mitigate the negative message that Ms. Amen sent by offering you a public service announcement (PSA) designed specifically for your show. The PSA will highlight the tenets of Islam that advocate kindness toward animals as shown on our website IslamicConcern.com, a resource for Muslims in America and worldwide.
Many American viewers do not realize that teachings of compassion for animals are tenets of all the major faiths, including Islam. As IslamicConcern.com shows, the Quran teaches that animals are communities and nations unto their own, not mere resources. In fact, on many occasions, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encouraged his followers to treat animals, from the tiniest bird to the long-suffering donkey, with great kindness.
If you like the idea of this PSA, we would like to include words from Muslims who are vegetarians or show their compassion for animals in other ways, including sharing their homes with animals, sharing their own stories, much like the stars of All-American Muslim, and explaining why they believe kindness to animals is required by the peaceful tenets of Islam. We think this PSA will fit perfectly with the show’s theme.
Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Hanif
Akhtar
Former
President, Pakistan American Business Association