CHICAGO – GainPeace, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization, has launched a new campaign titled “Truthful Man” to educate Americans on the true manners of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and countering a hate campaign that went up last month.
“There had been some recent attacks targeting Muslims in Chicago and across the nation. Islamophobia at times stems from the lack of education about Islam and Prophet Muhammad or education from unreliable sources,” Sabeel Ahmed, executive director of GainPeace, said in a statement cited by IndyStar on Thursday, July 20.
“Thus, we want to offer our fellow Americans an opportunity to learn the true teachings of Islam from its main source, the Qur’an.
“Previous educational campaigns of GainPeace have generated numerous calls of support and building of alliances with interfaith groups, minority groups, and neighbors.”
The billboard followed a controversial billboard which popped up last June in Indianapolis on I-465 near the Washington Street exit.
Featuring the words “The Perfect Man”, apparently in reference to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the billboard followed by a list of attributes including “rapist” and “slave owner.”
The billboard gives no indication who paid for it, save for the word “Truthophobes” – an Australian group dedicated to publishing anti-Islamic materials.
Indiana representative Andre Carson said he believes the billboard is untrue and that the billboard’s author takes Islamic text and history out of context “just like Al-Qaeda, ISIS and the Klan do to religious texts to justify their bigotry.”
GainPeace said the billboard, which will be up until July 30, is one part of a six-week campaign designed to educate people about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).