Columbus, Ohio (http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/09/24/ap/headlines/d8kb3ci00.txt)- A car dealership's planned radio advertisement that declared "a jihad on the automotive market" has drawn sharp criticism for its content but will not be changed, the business said Saturday.

Several stations rejected the Dennis Mitsubishi spot, which says sales representatives wearing "burqas" - head-to-toe traditional dress for Islamic women - will sell vehicles that can "comfortably seat 12 jihadists in the back."

"Our prices are lower than the evildoers' every day. Just ask the pope!" the ad says. "Friday is fatwa Friday, with free rubber swords for the kiddies." A fatwa is a religious edict.

Dealership president Keith Dennis said the ad does not disrespect any religion or culture. He said it was "fair game" to poke "a little fun at radical extremists."

"It was our intention to craft something around some of the buzzwords of the day and give everyone a good chuckle and be a little bit of a tension reliever," he said.

The Columbus chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations decried the ad as disrespectful.

"Using that as a promotional pitch when so many are dying from the criminal activity of suicide bombers, that's not funny," chapter president Asma Mobin-Uddin said. "I don't think it's appropriate when it causes real pain. It exploits or promotes misunderstanding in terms already misunderstood or misused."

The ad, written and produced by the company, will begin airing next week, although he was uncertain of which radio stations had accepted the spot, Dennis said.

:drinktoth

I see the advertising as funny. May be an excuse for some to riot in the streets, burn images of cars, and cut the heads off engines.

After morning services, the local chapter of the Brotherhood will fire bomb the place. This will help to reaffirm theirs as the religion of peace.

I think it's kind of funny, but how completely clueless do you have to be to think that there won't be an uproar of some sort (and in a college town no less).

You've got to hand it to them, they know how to get publicity.

I think it's original - Fatwa friday :) Although they are making fun ruthless killers - mayby not so funny for Nick Berg's family and others affected by real "jihadists"..

Continually treat them as if they're insignificant. Don't give in to the idiotic demands they make. Display irreverence at every opportunity. They give no respect to others and deserve none in return. As they come out of the sewers & undergrowth proclaiming how important (impotent) they are (in their own minds) pick them off one by one & send them elsewhere.

Bwawaaaaahahaa. Hilariously innappropriate.

Bwawaaaaahahaa. Hilariously innappropriate.

The pot calling the kettle black?

hahaha, thats a good one - what a way to get free publicity, just as long as they don't get blown up on fatwa friday

Continually treat them as if they're insignificant. Don't give in to the idiotic demands they make. Display irreverence at every opportunity. They give no respect to others and deserve none in return. As they come out of the sewers & undergrowth proclaiming how important (impotent) they are (in their own minds) pick them off one by one & send them elsewhere.

One of the best arguments I've heard for running that commercial.


Hell, here in the States we poke fun at various Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses, postal workers and politicians. I don't see the harm in poking a bit of fun at Islamic Jihad, if there's one group of people that NEEDS poking fun at, it IS the Islamists, dammit.

And dammit, es347fan, I was going to do a post on this particular topic.

Geez.

I see the advertising as funny.

I do too.......lol.

And i would 100% support the airing of Dennis Mitsubishi's commercial EXCEPT for the fact that ifthere were advertisements being aired that were anywhere near as derisive or dismissive of or as poking-fun-of Christianity, you'd see the Christians in this country complaining to no end.

The Christian faction --- smug in their absolute dominance in all religious matters in the U.S.--- think it is perfectly ok to diss all religions...................EXCEPT FOR ONE;

Christianity.

I do too.......lol.

And i would 100% support the airing of Dennis Mitsubishi's commercial EXCEPT for the fact that ifthere were advertisements being aired that were anywhere near as derisive or dismissive of or as poking-fun-of Christianity, you'd see the Christians in this country complaining to no end.

The Christian faction --- smug in their absolute dominance in all religious matters in the U.S.--- think it is perfectly ok to diss all religions...................EXCEPT FOR ONE;

Christianity.
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Probably feels that he will have more Christian customers than Muslim.
You don't bite the hand that feeds you. Its bad business.

"Jihad" (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14990383/) car ad upsets Muslims.

CINCINNATI - A car commercial proclaiming a jihad on the U.S. auto market and offering “Fatwa Fridays” with free swords for the kids is offensive and should not be aired, Muslim leaders said on Sunday.
(...)

Two employees at the dealership said they had been deluged with calls about the commercial.

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Any publicity is good, right?