Atheists’ organizations have been offending Christians for years with their irreverent billboards, but the latest is directed toward the Muslim community.
American Atheists unveiled a billboard Monday in Memphis written in Arabic to promote its 2015 national convention and invite ex-Muslims to attend.
According to the translation provided by American Atheists, the message says: “An atheist convention featuring Ayaan Hirsi Ali on Easter Weekend? Looks like we’re skipping mosque again!”
Ms. Ali, the Somali-born Dutch politician and fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government known for her criticism of Islamic society, is the keynote speaker at the convention, slated for April 2-5 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis.
The billboard also features a photo of a smiling young girl wearing bunny ears, the same photo used in billboards that ran from March 3-10 in Memphis with the message in English, “An atheist convention on Easter Weekend? Looks like we’re skipping church again!”
In a statement, the group says “the Islamic religion plays an upfront role” at this year’s convention. In addition to Ms. Ali, speakers include Bangladeshi atheist blogger Asif Mohiuddin, who served jail time after being arrested in 2013 for “blasphemous” blog posts, and Muhammad Syed, president of Ex-Muslims of North America.
American Atheists President David Silverman said in a statement that, “Memphis has a thriving Muslim community, and in such communities closeted atheists can feel completely alone.”
“Our message is that you are not alone, and you don’t have to pretend anymore,” Mr. Silverman said. “Atheism is the fastest-growing religious demographic in America, and we throw fun, welcoming conventions — the largest of which is coming to your city in two weeks.”
The organization issued press releases about the latest billboard in both Arabic and English.
American Atheists had attempted to post the same English-language sign in Nashville two weeks ago, but the billboard leasing company rejected the original wording as “offensive” and “aggressive.” Instead, the Nashville billboard ran the message, “Hop over to Memphis for the biggest gathering of atheists in the country!”
Mr. Silverman called the rejection of the wording “as ridiculous as it is discriminatory.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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