By MARIAM KHAN<\/p>\n
In its first satirical attempt to challenge anti-Muslim bigotry, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation\u2019s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, released a 1-minute ad Wednesday poking fun at discriminatory interactions many Muslims in the country regularly face. The organization claims that it has developed a \u201ccure\u201d for this in the form of a chewing gum called ISLAMOPHOBIN.<\/p>\n
Who, exactly, is the ad aimed at?<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the answer is very, very simple. When it comes to irresponsible statements against Muslims, it\u2019s Donald Trump and several of the GOP candidates,\u201d CAIR\u2019s Executive Director Nihad Awad said in an interview with ABC News.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the candidacy of Donald Trump, and people like him, we\u2019ve seen a spike in Islamophobia, a spike in incidents and hate crimes, and we\u2019re looking for ways to defend our communities and also for ways to defend American values,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The ad, he explained, is a way to incorporate humor into an organization that typically issues strong statements of condemnation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe humor and satire can go a long way,\u201d Awad said, and should help \u201cremind people that your Muslim neighbor is your friend, your Muslim co-worker is your friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
A recent Pew projection found that Muslims are projected to become the second-largest religious group in the U.S. (after Christians) by 2040. The American Muslim population will reach 8.1 million people, or 2.1 percent of the total population, by 2050.<\/p>\n
The chewing gum \u2013 mint green Chiclets \u2013 are for sale on Amazon.com for $1.99 (plus a $4.49 shipping fee). CAIR said the proceeds support the group’s civil rights and advocacy work.<\/p>\n
According to the packaging, the gum is a \u201cmulti-symptom relief for chronic Islamophobia\u201d and a \u201cmaximum strength formula\u201d to treat blind intolerance, unthinking bigotry, irrational fear of Muslims and \u201cU.S. presidential election year scapegoating.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be sending ISLAMOPHOBIN to any public figure who uses Islamophobic rhetoric, so Donald Trump is first on our list,\u201d said Ibrahim Hooper, communications director of CAIR.<\/p>\n
A \u201cwarning\u201d states that ISLAMOPHOBIN \u201cmay result in peaceful coexistence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSide effects\u201d of ISLAMOPHOBIN may include \u201cwarm feelings toward Muslims, immigrants or refugees and an allergy to the promotion of anti-Muslim bigotry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Awad said the organization has seen an unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim incidents nationwide, and CAIR will be boosting its civic engagement leading up to the November election.<\/p>\n
\u201cDiversity in America. Freedom of religion. It\u2019s who we are as Americans,\u201d Awad said.<\/p>\n