INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION FUND ANNOUNCES THE ISLAM PROJECT, A MAJOR TELEVISION INITIATIVE FOR ABC AND PBS

 NEW YORK, NY – February 19, 2002 – Misconceptions and lack of understanding dominate America’s perception of Islam, the world’s second largest and fastest growing religion.  Now, a major television initiative – The Islam Project – will introduce both commercial and public television audiences to an in-depth look at what it means to be Muslim in the 21^st century. 

ABC News NIGHTLINE will broadcast a four-part series examining how Muslims view the West, the first installment scheduled to air on Wednesday, February 20, 2002. FRONTLINE, the award-winning PBS series, will broadcast MUSLIMS, a two–hour special, scheduled for May 9, 2002.  The Islam Project was conceived and developed by Alvin H. Perlmutter, the executive producer and director of the Independent Production Fund.  The NIGHTLINE segments are a co-production between the Independent Production Fund and NIGHTLINE.

 Over the past two years, crews have traveled through six countries – Egypt, Malaysia, Iran, Turkey, Senegal and the United States – to explore how Muslims live and practice their faith.  Through this cross-section of cultures, the programs report on the diversity within the religion, its growing popularity, its varied political perspectives and its kinship with Christianity and Judaism.

 "Today, with tensions between Islam and the West at an all-time high, there is a need for a new perspective," says Perlmutter.  "The Islam Project offers that perspective and will introduce viewers worldwide to the broad religious, historical and cultural roots of the religion, the diverse interpretations within Islam, the struggles within the religion to adapt to the modern world and a deeper understanding of the political forces at work within the Muslim world."

 Both of the television productions for The Islam Project hope to enlighten viewers beyond the current widespread belief that Muslims may be anti-democratic, oppressive and prone to violence.  Those perceptions have been nurtured by decades of images of urban terrorism, besieged embassies and the activities of organizations such as Hamas and Hezbolah and factions such as the Taliban.  But, as Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, an advisor to MUSLIMS and founder of the American Sufi Muslim Association says: "What we have to fear in America is not Islam, but ignorance of Islam."

 The two-hour FRONTLINE project, MUSLIMS, was in production long before the events of September 11^th. However, the documentary includes reactions to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.  The TV crews visited homes and businesses of Muslims around the world, some on the days immediately following the attacks.

MUSLIMS deals with Islamic politics, militarism, culture and domestic life, including the role of women in various Muslim societies.  The documentary finds evidence to balance the widespread perception that women are subjugated in the Muslim community.  In this context, MUSLIMS differentiates between what are cultural practices in various countries and what is considered to be true Islam. 

NIGHTLINE will broadcast four half-hour programs focusing on the relationship of Muslims and the West.  These segments will explore attitudes through the eyes of four individuals and trace the schism between Islam and the West.  The first segment will explore the life of Ayatollah Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani, a 40-year-old professor of Islamic jurisprudence at the Islamic Seminary in Qom, Iran.  In this very "traditional" family, both husband and wife work - she is a professor of Islamic philosophy at the women’s college in Qom – and all four of their children, boys and girls, are studying for professional career. 

In addition to the television productions, The Independent Production Fund, in collaboration with the producers of "Muhammad – In the Footsteps of a Prophet," a documentary on the Prophet Muhammad that is scheduled to air on PBS in the fall, have established an educational outreach program.  A study guide for junior high schools, high schools and colleges is being published and will be distributed to educational institutions nationwide, along with the distribution of MUSLIMS, "Muhammad" and the NIGHTLINE series on videotape. An interactive Website will provide viewers with additional information about Islam worldwide. Community events will be held in key cities to provide an opportunity for religious and educational groups to discuss the issues raised in the program. 

As an independent producer, Perlmutter has produced highly acclaimed information programming for more than 30 years.  He has earned six Emmys for, among others: "The Great American Dream Machine" and "Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth, with Bill Moyers." He earned a Peabody Award for "The Public Mind with Bill Moyers" and five Cable ACE awards for programming on HBO. Perlmutter also served as NBC News Vice President, where he was responsible for all network documentaries and news magazine programs.  Earlier, he was Director of Public Affairs Programming and programming Manager of WNBC-TV in New York. 

With Perlmutter, Anisa Mehdi is executive producer, Martin Smith is senior producer and Graham Judd and Elena Mannes are the producers/writers of MUSLIMS.   Associate producers are Dina Hossain and Hassan Fattah. The videotape editor is Bernadine Colish. The executive producer for Frontline is David Fanning.  John Schwally is production manager.  Lisa Zbar is director of outreach activities. 

Ted Koppel is the anchor and managing editor of NIGHTLINE. Tom Bettag and Leroy Sievers are the executive producers. Paolo Marenghi is the NIGHTLINE producer for the Islam programs. NIGHTLINE airs at 11:35 p.m. weeknights on the ABC Television Network.

Major funding for The Islam Project and MUSLIMS has been provided by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the William & Mary Greve Foundation.   Additional funding is from The Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Fetzer Institute and the Lilly Auchincloss Foundation.

Contacts:

Leslie Schwartz                                                             Erin McKenna
Goodman Media International                                   Goodman Media International

(212) 576-2700 X223                                                  (212) 576-2700 X239

lschwartz@goodmanmedia.com                                   erin@goodmanmedia.com