California Muslims launch goodwill campaign using billboards
Posted: Friday, February 08, 2002
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Billboards designed to improve Islam's image in the wake of Sept. 11 are going up along California highways.
Three billboards sponsored by regional chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, show seven smiling Muslim men and women of varying age and ethnicity with the message: ''Even a smile is Charity -- a message from your Muslim neighbor.''
The campaign is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation by Muslims, a spokesman said.
''There have been some people who have damaged the image of Islam,'' said CAIR executive Hussam Ayloush, and ''our goal is to simply correct that image.''