- When danger is very close to us, it stings harder.
-
- I just received a note from Dr. El-Najjar, the Al-Jazeerah
editor who posts some of my own work on this site. He directed me to the
following explanation of why I would have to hold off on a current submission.
-
- This kind of intimidation is growing in this country,
and even the mainstream media is picking up on some of it. Worse than
the intimidation itself would be our complacency toward it. This kind
of information needs to be dispersed. The URL (regular site currently
shut down) for the explanation is listed at the bottom.
-
- Please keep Hassan A. El-Najjar and his safety in your
thoughts and in your determination to stop the control that is trying to
take over our country and silence those of us who don't repeat the party
line.
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- Thank you, Lisa
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- Al-Jazeerah Editor Threatened
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- Media campaign Against www.aljazeerah.us
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- The Editor of Al-Jazeerah has received threats against
his life 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.
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- May God spread peace on Earth.
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- Dr. Hassan A. El-Najjar Al-Jazeerah Editor April 17,
2003 Dalton, GA, USA
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- http://www.amazonepress.com/index.html
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