CAIR
A prominent national Muslimcivil rights and advocacy organization today called on HBO to apologize for an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" in which the main character splattered urine on a painting of Jesus.
In a letter to HBO Chairman and CEO Bill Nelson, Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wrote:
"It is beyond tasteless to insult the religious sensibilities of billions of people in America and around the world with such a cheap and vulgar publicity stunt. Jesus, peace be upon him, is loved and revered by both Christians and Muslims. Muslims view him as one of God's greatest messengers to mankind.
"The Quran, Islam's revealed text, states: 'Behold! The angels said: "O Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and in (the company of) those nearest to God.'' (The Holy Quran, 3:45)
..."We understand the drive for ratings, but no one benefits from such a crude attempt to boost the network's bottom line by manufacturing a religious controversy. HBO should apologize."
Awad added that American Muslim television viewers contacted CAIR to express their concerns about the HBO episode. Full story