Founder Of TV Network To Improve Muslim Imagery Arrested For Beheading Wife
Attention to all members of groups seeking to change negative, stereotypical imagery. If this is true, this is not the way to do it:
A prominent Buffalo area businessman who founded the BridgesTV network to improve the image of Muslims in the U.S. has been arrested and charged with murdering his estranged wife – by beheading her at his company’s office in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Thursday.
Police have charged the husband, Muzzammil Hassan, 44, with second-degree murder in the death of Aasiya Z. Hassan, 37.
In its logo, BridgesTV boasts of “connecting people through understanding” via its dish network available in several states. Its Web site quotes comments about the company by Jay Leno, Brian Williams and others, plus a screen shot of a CNBC interview with Hassan conducted by Maria Bartiromo.
The site also shows a picture of Hassan with his slain wife, described as playing “an instrumental role in the creation of Bridges TV since she came up with the idea for the network.” The alleged killer is called “Mo S. Hassan” at the web site.
According to police, the woman had an order of protection from him. NPR had profiled the couple in 2004.
Programs include kids shows, “American Muslim Teen Talk,” Amy Goodman’s “Democracy Now” and an interview show with James Zogby. Its news program “brings you balanced coverage from around the world. News you can trust.”
The crime itself is shocking and a pity, and so is its impact: the stated goal in founding the network was a laudable one. But by allegedly dealing with his marital difficulties this way, Hassan has provided one more tidbit that will strengthen a stereotype that touches on Muslims in general — the majority of whom would never thinking of beheading anyone.
The bottom line: his network had been on the cutting edge of battling stereotypes, but now he and by association the name of his network are on the cutting edge of a crime story…
Blog reaction is plentiful — but beware when you read comments, which suggest that the TV network has a LOT of work to do to change stereotypes. Some reaction here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
Newsbusters argues that the network had some other problems in nurturing the kind of positive press it had sought -because it offered some content that played to stereotypes.
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5 Responses to “Founder Of TV Network To Improve Muslim Imagery Arrested For Beheading Wife”
“In its logo, BridgesTV boasts of “connecting people through understanding”
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The operative word is “people”. In many cultures, not just islamic, women are not equated with that word. So the jump from butchering pigs to women is but a small one. Or the jump from treating them as they do livestock in other ways is but a small one.
Isn't it a bit strange that he would decapitate his wife? Your garden variety, enraged wife killer uses a gun, knife, or blunt instrument. Whether the victim is alive or dead, sawing the head from the neck is a gruesome, bloody task that even the most deranged murderer wouldn't think to perform in his own place of business.
Perhaps I'm not culturally competent enough to distinguish his actions from his beliefs.
It almost makes me want to listen to what Michael Savage has to say about it. (No doubt he's still on the radio somewhere out there.) Almost.
[...] story from Nov 2006 around the time of the founding of the network], then as the editor of “Moderate Voice-MV” blog states: “his network had been on the cutting edge of battling stereotypes, but [...]
Dear Weightman. I agree. And, I am sorrowful to tell you that in the mideast, it is not uncommon to behead women. They are often taken to an arena and it is done before audiences, if one can call people who come to see such by a name such as 'audience'… meaning those who hear. Surely if the 'audience' to the ritual beheadings of men and the women in the mideast were truly listening, they would hear the soul crying to the core of the earth. I've written a good deal at TMV about 'honor killings.” It takes a lot out to write about those. I can see I need to gird up and do it again. And again. Thank you all, and Joe, for looking at such events head on instead of sidestepping them with sarcasm, 'gallows humor,' or a tossed off remark. I have a long list here at my desk of women and men who have been beheaded by men who have lost their minds. And their souls.
dr.e