"Leaving Islam?" Reads The Slogans On Buses

By Suparna Chakaraborthy

Thursday, May 27, 2010, 15:04

"Fatwa on your head? Is your community or family threatening you? Leaving Islam?" is the slogan being carried on by many city buses. This has been started by Pamela Geller, a conservative activists, in association with several other organisation.

This group gives information about ways to shed following Islam. Pamela Geller, leads an organisation, named 'Stop Islamization Of America'. She confirmed that this step has been taken for those who fear leaving Islam. This organisation will advice people about how they can leave their faith legally.

"It's not offensive to Muslims, it's religious freedom," she said. "It's not targeted at practicing Muslims. It doesn't say 'leave,' it says 'leaving' with a question mark," says Geller.

The ads costed Geller ,000. Similar ads run on buses of Miami. They were taken off form the buses of Miami thinking that it would be offensive but later the ads were reviewed and declared not offensive.

The ads might hurt the feelings of the religion in question but the slogan in no way crosses the legal guidelines. The court too has declared that the slogan in itself holds nothing offensive to Muslims. The movement falls under 'Right To Speech', as mentioned in the constitution.

Though the court see the risk of Muslims banning using bus and attacks from activist forces, it has allowed the practice of the slogan as it does not violate the guidelines. The agency however, had received no complaints since the ads went up on May 14th.

Geller confirms she has nothing against the Muslims, she was working to "maintain the separation of mosque and state." Geller however does not support the building of a mosque and cultural center near ground zero.