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Reverend Don Shriver as appeared in the ad
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CAIRO, June 14 (IslamOnline.net) – A U.S. Christian group has filmed a TV
ad to be aired Tuesday, June 15, on Arab satellite channels,
condemning the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by "rogue"
U.S.
soldiers and affirming that the people of
America
do really care.
FaithfulAmerica.Org,
an affiliated group of the National Council of Churches, has raised
$20,000 to be shown in several slots on the Arab world’s most
popular TV stations, Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya.
The
cash came from more than 1,000 donors, while more than 15,000 people
have already endorsed the clip.
"We
need to send a message directly from us, the people of the
United States
, to the people of
Iraq
and the Arab world, telling them that as Americans we stand shoulder
to shoulder with them in demanding justice for these sinful abuses
committed in our name," the group said on
its website.
"As
our leaders continue to blame a few rogue soldiers, a cycle of mutual
suspicion and dehumanization between the Arab world and the
U.S.
deepens."
Interfaith
Message
The
heartfelt solidarity is conveyed by leading Christian, Jewish and
Muslim figures in the
United States
.
The
speakers are, in order: Reverend Don Shriver, Imam of Al-Farah Mosque
in New York City Feisal Abdul-Rauf, Sister Betty Obal and Rabbi Arthur
Waskow.
The
30-second spot features the four reading out a statement in English,
which is translated in Arabic subtitles.
"A
Salaam A’alaykum. As Americans of faith, we express our deep sorrow
at abuses committed in Iraqi prisons. We stand in solidarity with all
those in
Iraq
and everywhere who demand justice and human dignity. We condemn the
sinful and systemic abuses committed in our name, and pledge to work
to right these wrongs," read the ad’s transcript.
The
U.S.
found itself in an unenviable situation after the ever-growing scandal
of Iraqi prisoner abuse at the hands of American soldiers and officers
broke
into public view last April.
Bush
had denounced the misconduct as "abhorrent, shameless and
unacceptable" and apologized
for it.
He
appeared on Arab TV channels on May 4 in an attempt to regain trust of
the Arab world in the aftermath of the abuse scandal, asserting the
behavior of few soldiers does not reflect the American culture and
values.
