CAIR-MN: Muslims Welcome Withdrawal of Offensive 'Run Hadji Run' Fireworks

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(ST. PAUL, MN, 7/3/09) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations ( CAIR-MN) today welcomed the decision of a fireworks retailer in Wisconsin to withdraw a product called Run Hadji Run, which was deemed offensive by local Muslims.

[Hadji is an honorific term for those who have completed the pilgrimage to Mecca, but it has been often used as a derogatory term by U.S. soldiers during the Iraq War.]

One side of the fireworks shows a picture of Arabs and Muslims riding camels with a bomber overhead. On the other side there is what appears to be Uncle Sam yanking the long beard of a man in traditional Muslim attire.

SEE: Run Hadji Run
http://www.redrhinofireworks.com/itemview.aspx?ID=CD-2881
ALSO SEE: http://img.moonbuggy.org/run-hadji-run/

After being contacted by CAIR-MN, the company agreed to remove the product from its shelves.

SEE: Racist Fireworks Found Being Sold in Wis. (KSTP-TV)
http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1011199.shtml?cat=206

We appreciate the quick response of the retailer to Muslim concerns and hope that everyone can enjoy the July 4th holiday in an inclusive environment, said CAIR-MN Communications Director Jessica Zikri.

Zikri added that the Muslim civil rights and advocacy group has contacted the distributors, Missouri-based Red Rhino Fireworks, to take similar action and withdraw products from sales in other areas of the country.

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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CONTACT: CAIR-MN Communications Director Jessica Zikri, 612-226-3289, E-Mail: jzikri@cair.com; CAIR-MN Civil Rights Director Taneeza Islam, Esq., 651-587-4712, E-Mail: tislam@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com

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• American-Islamic
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• Fireworks
• Wisconsin
• Minnesota