Clarion Project
Clarion Fund is a nonprofit organization founded in 2006 based in New York City whose mission, according to its website, is "to educate Americans about issues of national security," with its main focus on what it calls "the most urgent threat of radical Islam."[1] The organization was founded by Israeli-Canadian film producer Raphael Shore[2].
According to Clarion Fund's incorporation papers, it is based as the same address as Aish Hatorah, an Israeli organization.[3] The Clarion Fund has collaborated with pro-Israel media watch organization HonestReporting in the production of its films. HonestReporting originally was a project of the Aish Hatorah organization.[4]
According to In September 2008, the group gained attention by distributing free copies of the film Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West, produced and co-written by Shore, by mail and in newspaper supplements.[5] The Huffington Post asserts that the Fund is "a shadowy outfit whose financial backers are unclear".[1]
The Fund has reportedly has sent 28 million DVDs to at least 70 newspapers in swing states to place at the doorstep of newspaper subscribers.[2][3] The media outlet also claims this is an attempt to mislead the public. According to the Clarion Fund's website, "Clarion Fund, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. We are independent and do not accept funding from the U.S. Government, political institutions, or foreign organizations."[6] The Tampa Tribune, however, reports that "Clarion has yet to file a 990 tax return with the Internal Revenue Service, which is required of all tax-exempt entities.[4] Also, The Palm Beach Post points out that the Fund "is not listed with Charity Navigator, which rates nonprofits based on efficient use of donors' money" and that Clarion has provided "No names of directors. No sources of money. Just the mission statement" on its website. The editorial ends on the note that
The irony is that The Clarion Fund, whatever the group is and whoever runs it, is operating like the secret cells it warns about. Terrorists are cowards. In their own way, so are the people sending out this campaign ad.[5]
Some believe that the Fund's objective is to misleadingly portray Islam as a threatening religion bent on the destruction of Western civilization, interspersing untruthful and incendiary commentary with images of Nazis and suicide bombing indoctrination.[7][8][9][10]
Jaccii Farris, a reporter for WFMZ, said:
- "'Obsession, Radical Islam's War against the West' uses footage from Arab TV to illustrate the hatred brewing among Muslim extremists. The images are disturbing... bloody and violent. The video basically will trigger hate crimes against Muslims. While the documentary makes a very distinction between Islamic extremists and the overwhelming majority of peace loving Muslims... Local Muslim leaders say placing more than 28 million copies in battleground newspapers and mailboxes is irresponsible... And they question why it was done."[11]
See also
References
- ^ "Clarion Fund: National Security Through Education". Retrieved 2008-09-14.
- ^ "Obsession - Radical Islam's War Against the West - The Filmmakers". Retrieved 2008-09-14.
- ^ http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43983
- ^ http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43983
- ^ 'Radical Islam' video angers South Florida Muslims, September 16, 2008 Miami Herald. URL retrieved 2008-09-16.
- ^ http://clarionfund.org/
- ^ http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2008/09/obsession_local_newsapers_dist.php
- ^ http://cbs4.com/local/obsession.muslim.religion.2.818889.html
- ^ http://www.newsobserver.com/580/story/1220249.html
- ^ http://wfmz.com/view/?id=423652
- ^ http://wfmz.com/view/?id=423652
External links
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