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U.S. cancels jihad conference
31.05.2009 14:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A Nashville hotel is citing safety concerns for
turning away a conference booked for this weekend that featured a
controversial Dutch politician and filmmaker who has criticized Islam
in Europe.
A group called New English Review signed a contract in January to use
the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel for a two-day conference called
"Understanding the Jihad in Israel, Europe and America."
Dutch politician Geert Wilders, whose 15-minute film, "Fitna," has
been called insulting to Muslims, was to be the keynote speaker. The
film challenges radical Islam and got Wilders banned from entering
Britain.
The hotel's managing director, Tom Negri, told The Tennessean
newspaper that it canceled the event for the safety and health of
guests and employees, but he would not provide details about those
concerns.
Rebecca Bynum, listed on the New English Review's Web site as
publisher and a senior editor, said the hotel stated no actual threat
was made against Loews for hosting the symposium.
"We find it interesting that even without a specific threat that the
fear of violence is so great that they would decide to cancel our
event," Bynum said.
The group's Web site had a statement that said, "Loews Vanderbilt
Plaza Hotel succumbed to intimidation and canceled hosting our event."
Bynum said Loews knew the topic of the event and had talked with the
group about the possibility of having security, though she and other
members were not worried.
The New English Review's Web site lists a Nashville mailing address,
but it does not include a description of the group's purpose or
mission.
Bynum said the organization seeks "to raise awareness about the nature
of the jihad and all its various instruments, which do not all
necessarily involve violence." She declined to elaborate.
The symposium started Friday as scheduled, but at a venue revealed
only to people registered to attend, AP reported
31.05.2009 14:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A Nashville hotel is citing safety concerns for
turning away a conference booked for this weekend that featured a
controversial Dutch politician and filmmaker who has criticized Islam
in Europe.
A group called New English Review signed a contract in January to use
the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel for a two-day conference called
"Understanding the Jihad in Israel, Europe and America."
Dutch politician Geert Wilders, whose 15-minute film, "Fitna," has
been called insulting to Muslims, was to be the keynote speaker. The
film challenges radical Islam and got Wilders banned from entering
Britain.
The hotel's managing director, Tom Negri, told The Tennessean
newspaper that it canceled the event for the safety and health of
guests and employees, but he would not provide details about those
concerns.
Rebecca Bynum, listed on the New English Review's Web site as
publisher and a senior editor, said the hotel stated no actual threat
was made against Loews for hosting the symposium.
"We find it interesting that even without a specific threat that the
fear of violence is so great that they would decide to cancel our
event," Bynum said.
The group's Web site had a statement that said, "Loews Vanderbilt
Plaza Hotel succumbed to intimidation and canceled hosting our event."
Bynum said Loews knew the topic of the event and had talked with the
group about the possibility of having security, though she and other
members were not worried.
The New English Review's Web site lists a Nashville mailing address,
but it does not include a description of the group's purpose or
mission.
Bynum said the organization seeks "to raise awareness about the nature
of the jihad and all its various instruments, which do not all
necessarily involve violence." She declined to elaborate.
The symposium started Friday as scheduled, but at a venue revealed
only to people registered to attend, AP reported