"Islam is a religion of peace (and) terrorists do not represent Islam," said Harvey

WASHINGTON, December 10 (IslamOnline.net) – After receiving hundreds of angry messages, the Chicago-based syndicated radio commentator Paul Harvey backtracked on earlier defamatory comments, praising Islam Tuesday, December 9, as a "religion of peace."

The ABC Radio Network commentator, the most listened-to radio personality in the U.S. with 24 million weekly listeners, had infuriated Muslims by claiming, on air, that Islam "encourages killing."

On his Tuesday program, a prepared statement from Harvey said he had received letters from "dear friends" in the American-Muslim community who "reminded all of us that Islam is a religion of peace, that terrorists do not represent Islam," said the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in a press release sent to IslamOnline.net.

CAIR, a Washington- based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group, had demanded an on-air apology and asked Muslims to contact both Harvey and his sponsors to voice their dissatisfaction with his remarks.

That call resulted in hundreds of calls, faxes and e-mails affirming that Islam prohibits murder and gambling and encouraging kindness to animals.

"We would like to thank all those who took the time to speak out in defense of Islam," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad.

"Once again, we see that positive actions bring positive results," he underlined.

Awad also made an open offer to arrange a meeting between Harvey and American Muslim leaders to begin a dialogue on issues related to Islam.

In 1999, Harvey issued an on-air apology to Muslims for remarks suggesting that Islam was a "fraudulent religion."

The apology came after hundreds of concerned Muslims called, faxed and e- mailed both Harvey's office and that of ABC Radio Networks.

Harvey, a lecturer at conventions and organization meetings all over the States, had received eleven Freedom Foundation Awards and has been elected to the National Association of Broadcasters' Radio Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame in his native state of Oklahoma.

In October, Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence William Boykin backtracked on earlier claims that Muslims worship an "idol", saying the remarks had been "taken out of context."