Billboards Raise Islam Awareness in US

Rasa - A new billboard campaign has been launched in Michigan to present the true message of Islam and to support stronger interfaith relations in the US.

News ID: 613

Date: 30 January 2014 - 20:44

"We want to make sure that we work on the commonalities that there may be between Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and other faiths," Dr. Sabeel Ahmed, the director of the Gain Peace campaign, told Public News Service on Tuesday, January 28.

"If they are activists in the church or in the synagogue, we would like to work with them for the betterment of the society."

Gain Peace is a national organization supported by the Islamic Circle of North America.

Launching the new campaign, the organization aims to reach Michigan residents through billboards, newspapers, television, and radio ads.

Gain peace campaign aims to reach Michigan residents through its multimedia campaign that will include disseminating Islam message through billboards, newspapers, Television, and Radio ads.

The billboard includes two questions; "What Is Islam?" and "What Are The Muslims?"

It also includes a phone number for those interested in getting more information about Islam as well as a free copy of the Noble Qur’an.

Prompted by the increasing Islamophopia after 9/11, the campaign aims to defy misconceptions about Islam in a state that has one of the largest Muslim populations in US.

Though there are no official estimates, the US is home to an estimated Muslim minority of six to eight million.

An earlier Gallup poll found that the majority of Americans Muslims are loyal to their country and optimistic about their future in the United States.

Another US survey has revealed that the majority of Americans know very little about Muslims and their faith.

The campaign directors have denied accusations that they were trying to convert Americans to Islam.

Sponsored by the Islamic Circle of North America, Gain peace campaign has received a positive feedback since its launch; "Not only (do) we have our Christian friends and our Jewish friends calling," Ahmed said.

"We've also had a few atheist people who are calling, and they want to know who is doing this, and they want to engage with us about discussing topics within Islam," he added.

Away from Michigan, Gain peace organization has launched another Islamic outreach campaign in Chicago.

The campaign will use Chicago's transportation to convey messages about Islam through ads.

About 105 buses and 275 trains will carry ads of various messages of Islam. Giant ads will be displayed outside and inside buses, along with ads inside trains.

The ads will include the contacts of the organization to allow residents an easy access to ask questions about Islam or get a free copy of Qur’an.