Media Ethics, Radical Islam, and Presidential Politics: The Story of the "Obsession" DVD
October 29, 2008 • 12:15 PM • Law School 3043
Omid Safi, professor of religious studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, to discuss the recent appearance of 28 million copies of a DVD entitled "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" in local newspapers in 14 swing states across the country. The DVD, distributed as a free insert in papers such as The News & Observer, makes a number of controversial claims. Who funded this effort? What objectives does it serve? How credible are the claims it makes? Professor Safi to address these and other questions. Then, Duke Professor Jen'nan Read will speak more broadly about the use of religion, specifically Islam, as a scare tactic in the upcoming election. For more information, contact James Pearce at james.pearce@duke.edu.