OPINION:
Pamela Geller, an outspoken critic of Islam, has claimed a giant victory in exercising her First Amendment right to free speech (“Anti-jihad, anti-sharia ads protected by First Amendment, federal judge rules,” Web, April 21). In her goal to “Stop the Islamization of America” Ms. Geller and American Freedom Defense Initiative have been running anti-Islam ads on buses in major cities for the past several years. Ms. Geller thinks that these ads will make Americans aware of the so-called claim that Islam is anti-Semitic or that Islam is a religion of violence. The latest controversial ad to be posted on the New York City MTA buses quotes a line from a Hamas TV which says, “Killing Jews is worship that draws us close to Allah.”
As an American Muslim I understand the rights provided us by our Constitution. However, I am quite baffled that under the guise of freedom of speech a known extremist (as labeled by the Southern Poverty Law Center) is given free reign to openly spew her vitriol against law-abiding citizens of this country.
Yes, Ms. Geller’s offensive ad is protected by the First Amendment. But it is my First Amendment right that obliges me to protest her unfounded hatred toward the second largest faith in the world.
SHAHINA BASHIR
Germantown
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