(U-WIRE) LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Muslim students at USC say they are fearful of the portrayal of muslims that may falsely link terrorism and Islam in the new film "The Siege," which opens today in theaters nationwide.
"The Siege," released by Twentieth Century Fox, stars Denzel Washington and Annette Bening as government officials and Bruce Willis as a military general tackling a series of terrorist bombings in New York.
The film has generated controversy over negative portrayals and mistaken connections of Muslim and Arab cultures with terrorism. Muslim students at USC have joined several national Muslim organizations to express concern that the film may enforce stereotypes that could affect the way others view the Muslim culture.
"We already have enough problems with stereotyping that we face everyday," said Sultan Al-Harbi, the president of the Muslim Student Association at USC.
"Why do movie makers want us to face more hate and more misunderstanding?" said Al-Harbi, a graduate student in computer engineering. "It is a clear invitation against basic human rights."
Al-Harbi said that he can understand the concern over the film although he has not yet seen it, because he has been the victim of stereotypes.
While running an informative exhibit on Islam on Trousdale Parkway in late September some students screamed "terrorist" at Al-Harbi and fellow MSA student members, he said.
"It is really intimidating sometimes," said Rashed Alabbar, a senior majoring in computer engineering. "Somebody who doesn't know me personally sees the movie and looks at me and has a premeditated reaction. People feel segregated from us."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has expressed concern as to how the public might perceive the way Muslims are represented in "The Siege."
"Once we watched it, it was worse than we could have ever imagined," said Hussam Ayloush, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Southern California.
"They specifically portray the details of Islam and its religious practices, the dress, the beards, reinforcing stereotypes."
In April, CAIR members met with the producer and director of the film, Edward Zwick, and after screening the film, suggested some changes in the film's script. Although some of the changes were accepted, the producers refused to change many parts of the script linking images of Islamic culture with terrorism, Ayloush said.
"Stereotypes were introduced and left unchallenged," Ayloush said. "Muslims are shown doing rituals and religious practices and these images are intercut with images of terrorism. They show ritual cleaning and prayer, then Muslims attacking schools and blowing up buses."
Al-Harbi said he has read reviews on "The Siege" and has had discussions with Muslim community leaders about what they find troubling.
"They show a man praying, then bombing people," he said. "People around me will think I am making the ceremony for bombing them while I am simply praying. How will people respect my holy book, ?The Qur'an,' while they are told that it supports killing innocent people?"
Other Muslims felt that the film does not help straighten out negative assumptions about the religion.
"I have been personally attacked because of what I believe to be the media's portrayal of the actions of a few," said Shariffa Carlo, who is married to Al-Harbi. Although not a USC student, she actively participates in MSA-USC events.
"We don't want the public to see the violent characters in the movie acting in the name of Islam. Most people don't have a clear picture of Muslims when they see the movie, and this is dangerous for Muslims," Carlo said. She said was driving to help with a campus Islam exhibit when someone shouted "terrorist" at her as well.
In order to counteract the negative stereotypes that might result from the movie, CAIR has initiated a proactive informational campaign."
"We are going to the premieres of the movies in different locations to hand out pamphlets about Islam," Carlo said. Similar events have been planned in communities across the country.
The pamphlets make an effort to correct the negative images in the movie by trying to separate fact from fiction, organizers said. One of the false images they outlined is: "Terrorists blow up bombs in public places in the name of Islam."
This statement is challenged by a excerpt out of the Qur'an which states: "SAnd whoever kills an innocent soul, it is as if he killed the entire humanity."
The pamphlet accompanies a public invitation to mosque open houses in locations within their community to learn more about the American Muslim community.
There are an estimated six million Muslims in this country and some 1.2 billion worldwide. Islam is one of America's fastest growing religions.