I don't know how these nutties got my e-mail address, but I am sure it is down to some Data Protection rules being violated! Anyway, I have no idea what they say, but here are two e-mails I had the pleasure of receiving in my inbox last week:
1PRESS RELEASE: iERA responds to Channel 4's "Islam: The Untold Story" by Tom Holland
29th August 2012
On the 28th August 2012, the UK broadcaster Channel 4 showed a documentary ?Islam: The Untold Story? by Tom Holland, which sought to cast doubt on the historical record of Islam from both Islamic and non-Islamic sources.
The Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA) has found the programme fundamentally flawed, relying on dubious and rogue scholarship rejected by established academics, both Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
Media organisations have a duty to present before the public a balanced and fair account of the facts, as established by mainstream authorities within their respective fields. If fringe or as in this case, completely absurd views are to be put forward, they should be presented us such, so that the public can make real informed judgements.
After all, would a discussion on holocaust denial be presented in such a way that invites doubt on mainstream scholarship, simply because some rogue (and dangerous) elements exist? Or, indeed, a scientific discussion that climate change is not affected by human activity? No. This would not happen on any of these important issues, yet it seems the integrity of the Islamic historical record is fair game to malign.
This seems a desperate attempt from Channel 4 to get ratings by allowing blatant untruths to be aired to millions of people, which is grossly irresponsible from such a respected broadcaster.
Hamza Tzortzis and Adnan Rashid, researchers at iERA, have written a comprehensive paper scrutinising the outrageous claims made by Holland.
Holland claims there is no historical evidence from the seventh century on the origins of Islam. This is categorically refuted by the existence of a number of chronicles such as the Doctrina Jacobi (635 CE), a record of the Arab conquest of Syria written in 637 CE and writings from Sebeos, Bishop of the Bagratunis (c.660CE).
Holland also makes another blunder when he states that the city of Mecca is not mentioned in the Quran when it is clearly stated:
"And it is He who withheld their hands from you and your hands from them within [the area of] Makkah (Mecca) after He caused you to overcome them. And ever is Allah of what you do, Seeing." (Qur'an 47: 133 - 138)
Holland relied heavily on the work of Patricia Crone and other sceptics who themselves have been discredited by fellow historians. This selective use of ?experts? on Islam shows Holland in a bad light as someone who appears to have had an agenda to portray Islam in a way that belies its undeniable rational and historical basis.
http://www.iera.org.uk/press_29aug2012.html We invite Mr. Holland to a dialogue with iERA in order to clear up any misconceptions he has about the foundations, origins and sciences of Islam.
END
Notes to the Editors 1.
iERA stands for the Islamic Education and Research Academy
2.
iERA is committed to presenting Islam to the wider society, see
www.iera.org3.
To contact our media team please email
media@iera.org.uk.
4.
iERA is a registered charity in the United Kingdom - #1134566
5.
iERA is a registered Non Profit Organisation in Canada.
6.
Follow this upcoming conference on Facebook -
Search ?iERA? and on Twitter - @iERAUK
2ACTION ALERT: Respond to Channel 4's "Islam: The Untold Story" by Tom Holland
British broadcaster Channel 4 aired a programme "Islam: The Untold Story" on Tuesday 28th August 2012 with the show presented by Tom Holland. A number of absurd and outrageous claims were made by Holland against Islam such as Makkah not being mentioned in the Quran and that all historical information from about Islam from the earliest sources is fabricated and unreliable.
Please see
http://www.iera.org.uk/press_29aug2012.html for a detailed response to Holland?s baseless claims.
Holland relied on rogue scholarship and discredited academics to make his claims that Islam has no historical or intellectual basis and it is scandalous that a major broadcaster such as Channel 4 allowed this programme its airtime.
We urge all Muslims and non-Muslims alike to complain to Channel 4 and Ofcom as it is fundamentally irresponsible for flagrant untruths about one of the world?s most significant religions to be spread amongst millions of people
Please write to Channel 4 at
www.channel4.com/4viewers/contact-us and to Ofcom at
www.ofcom.org.uk.
By complaining, we want to ensure that Channel 4 will not allow such programmes to be shown on their services again. Muslims need to make sure Islam is accurately portrayed in the media which already has a bias against our beautiful religion.