ACTION REQUESTED: 1. Support Eid-ul-Adha/Hajj Ads. Your support is necessary for this important project. CAIR is asking the Muslim community to sponsor the Eid-ul-Adha ads. Each ad will cost $250, on average, to broadcast.

CAIR-LA invites the Muslim community (individuals, businesses, and Islamic centers) to help sponsor the Ramadan ads. Please help continue educating the larger community about the truth about Islam. Send your support today.

To donate contact CAIR-LA at 714-776-1847, or E-Mail: socal@cair.com

American Muslim community urged to support ads

ANAHEIM, CA - The Southern California office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today announced the launch of a radio ad campaign designed to educate the public about Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha.

The twenty-four 60-second spots will air on 980 AM KFWB from Thursday, January 20 to Sunday, January 23 throughout the day.

These radio ads are a continuation of the Ramadan radio ads that were aired in October, 2004. They are just one part of CAIR's effort to educate fellow Americans about Islam and Muslims. Other campaigns include placing ads in newspapers, sending books and videotapes to libraries across the country and placing educational messages on billboards.

The CAIR Eid radio ads begin with the Muslim praises of God (Takbeerat) and continue with a message about different aspects of Eid.

Recent CAIR research has shown that as many as 1-in-4 Americans holds anti-Muslim views. That same research indicates that anti-Muslim prejudice decreases when people have access to accurate information about Islam and relate to ordinary Muslims.

SEE: http://www.cair-net.org/downloads/pollresults.pdf

The following are the transcripts of the ads:

"Abraham"

On January 20, Muslims in America and around the world concluded the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, "the Hajj", with Islam's most important holiday called Eid ul-Adha or "festival of the sacrifice."

The central figure in this religious celebration is Prophet Abraham. Muslims believe that Abraham built the first House of Worship to God, known as the Kaaba. The Hajj commemorates Abraham's prayers at the Kaaba. The Qur'an, Islam's holy book, states: "Who can be better in faith than one who submits his whole self to God, does good and follows the way of Abraham, the true in faith?"

This fact offers an excellent opportunity for all of Abraham's children - Muslims, Christians and Jews - to recognize and cherish their shared religious heritage and to promote a harmonious future as people of faith.

To learn more about Islam and the Muslim community, please visit www.cair.com

---

"Malcolm X"

"There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white."

Those were the famous words of the late American civil rights leader Malcolm X in his letter to America after returning from Hajj, or annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Hajj is the largest and the oldest annual spiritual gathering on earth. Every Muslim aspires to perform Hajj once in his or her lifetime.

On January 20, Muslims in America and around the world concluded Hajj with a holiday called Eid ul-Adha or "festival of the sacrifice." The greeting for this holiday is "Eid Mubarak" which means "Blessed Holiday". The Muslim community wishes you and your family "Eid Mubarak!"

---

"Prayer"

This week, two million Muslims from America and around the world concluded the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj. Hajj is the largest and the oldest annual spiritual gathering on earth that every Muslim aspires to perform once in his or her lifetime.

Hajj is concluded with a holiday called Eid ul-Adha, or "festival of the sacrifice," which is celebrated by all Muslims around the world. During this holy season, Muslims offer their devotion to God and ask Him for forgiveness of their past sins and guidance for the future.

In these difficult times of division, wars and natural disasters, prayers such as these are needed more than ever. Hajj is a time to pray for God's mercy and guidance, and for the ability to love and extend compassion to all peoples...

- END -