Clarion Fund

This article is about the Clarion Fund. For the Clarion Foundation writing workshops, see Clarion Workshop.

Clarion Fund

Founder(s)	Raphael Shore
Tax ID No.	20-5845679
Founded	2006
Location	New York City
Website	radicalislam.org

Clarion Fund is a New York City-based nonprofit organization^[1] founded in 2006 whose stated mission is "to educate Americans about issues of national security," with its main focus on what it calls "the most urgent threat of radical Islam."^[2] The organization was founded by Canadian-Israeli^[3] film producer Raphael Shore.^[4]

The Clarion Fund has collaborated with the pro-Israeli media watch organization HonestReporting in the production of its films. The Clarion Fund has also collaborated or had their films shown at venues such as the Hudson Institute, Heritage Foundation, Library and Archives Canada, and Fox News Channel.^[5]

The group has been involved in the production or distribution of documentaries such as Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West, The Third Jihad, and Iranium.

In December 2010, the organization announced an advisory board including:

• Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, and President of the Center for Security Policy
• Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, President and Founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy
• Daniel Pipes, Director of the Middle East Forum and founder of Campus Watch
• Dr. Harold Rhode, Former Foreign Affairs Specialist at the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment and Senior Advisor at the Hudson Institute

^[6]

Origins and affiliations

According to Clarion Fund's incorporation papers, it is based at the same address as Aish Hatorah, a pro-Israel organization.^[7] The three founders of The Clarion Fund are or were full-time employees of Aish HaTorah.^[8] Raphael Shore, the leader of The Clarion Fund is also a full-time employee of Aish HaTorah.^[8] Clarion Fund initially denied its ties to Aish Hatorah, which were first discovered by an IPS investigation in 2007.^[9][10]

The International Relations Center reports that the Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) was Clarion's distribution partner for the Obsession DVD. EMET's advisors include former Israeli ambassador Yoram Ettinger, a former chair at the Ariel Center for Policy Research.^[11]

"Obsession"

Main article: Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West

In September 2008, the group gained attention by distributing free copies of the film Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West, produced and co-written by Shore, by mail and in newspaper supplements.^[12] The Fund has reportedly sent 28 million DVDs to at least 70 newspapers in the United States to place at the doorstep of newspaper subscribers.^[13] The DVDs were distributed almost exclusively in swing states. The DVD's website www.radicalislam.org endorsed John McCain in September 2008, before being pulled down.^[14]

Amongst its notable content, Obsession intersperses scenes of Muslim children being encouraged to become suicide bombers with shots of Nazi rallies.^[14]

The movie starts with a disclaimer:

"This is a film about radical Islamic terror. A dangerous ideology, fueled by religious hatred. It's important to remember most Muslims are peaceful and do not support terror. This is not a film about them. This is a film about a radical worldview, and the threat it poses to us all, Muslim and non-Muslim alike."

^{[15][16][17][18][19]}

Despite this statement, the DVD's content was controversial. The film features Walid Shoebat, who, according to the Huffington Post, said "Islam is the devil."^[20] The NPR called the DVD inflammatory.^[21] The film draws parallels between Nazi Germany and monolithic Islam, according to Willamette Week.^[16] News & Record, a newspaper that refused to distribute the DVD, called it "fear-mongering and divisive."^[19]

The National Public Radio reported that it is unclear as to who funded Clarion's distribution of the DVD. Clarion claimed it used only money from U.S. citizens.^[21]

Allegations of McCain support

The endorsement of John McCain, on the website of the DVD Obsession, was noted by several media sources. The Patriot-News reported that the website stated,^[22]

McCain's policies seek to confront radical Islamic extremism and terrorism and roll it back while [Barack] Obama's, although intending to do the same, could in fact make the situation facing the West even worse.

The Huffington Post referred to the distribution as a "propaganda campaign".^[20] The National Public Radio received complaints from listeners who said the DVD seemed like a partisan message in favor of McCain.^[21]

The group Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed a Federal Elections Commission complaint against Clarion Fund, Inc. CAIR alleges that the free distribution of the documentary Obsession was designed to help John McCain win the presidential election. CAIR also claimed that Obsession is intended to foster hatred of Muslims.^[23] Because they are a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, the Clarion Fund is not legally permitted to intentionally influence voters.^[24]

Clarion Fund director of communications Gregory Ross, later acknowledged that the article "crossed the line" and would be removed.^[20] The Clarion Fund has denied that it endorsed any candidate, and asserts that they are a non-partisan organization.^[25]

The Third Jihad

Main article: The Third Jihad

The Third Jihad: Radical Islam’s Vision for America is a 72 minute documentary released in May 2009 and produced by NBC News journalist and Clinton administration advisor Erik Werth.^[11]

Unlike its predecessor, The Third Jihad focuses on Western Europe and America, and not on worldwide radical Islam.^[26]

"Third Jihad" in the title refers to, according to the film makers the rise of Islamic terrorism (the film makers claim that Arab spread throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa in the seventh century, then the Turkish push into Constantinople and Southeastern Europe in the fifteenth century, were the first and second jihads).^[26]

The film starts of with the statement

“This is not a film about Islam; it is about the threat of radical Islam. Only a small percentage of the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims are radical. This film is about them.”

^[27]

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Guliani stated that The Third Jihad was “A wake up call for America.”^[27]

Iranium

In 2011, the Clarion Fund released a film entitled Iranium, which focuses on the history of Iran's government since 1979 and perceived threats associated with the Iranian nuclear program.^[28][29]

Criticism

Clarion Fund has been criticized for what some^{[by whom?]} see as close ties to Aish Hatorah, a Jewish educational organization. According to Clarion Fund's incorporation papers, it is based at the same address as Aish Hatorah, a religious organization.^[7]

According to the International Relations Center, Eli Clifton said that the Clarion fund was attempting to “stir up a climate of fear in the United States.”^[11]

See also

• Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West
• The Third Jihad
• Iranium

References

1. ^ Choi, Robert (2007-07-27). "letter" (PDF). Internal Revenue Service. Center for Investigative Reporting. http://centerforinvestigativereporting.org/files/Clarion1.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-10. "...we have determined that you are exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code." 
2. ^ "Clarion Fund: National Security Through Education". New York City: Clarion Fund. 2008. http://www.clarionfund.org/. Retrieved 2008-10-29. 
3. ^ Berman, Daphna (2007-06-28). "'Obsession' stokes passions, fears and controversy". Haaretz. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/873843.html. Retrieved 2008-10-29. 
4. ^ "Obsession - Radical Islam’s War Against the West - The Filmmakers". http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/about_filmakers.php. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 
5. ^ "Documentary Portrays Islamic Extremists' Call to Arms Against the Free World". Fox News. 3 November 2006. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,226482,00.html. Retrieved 23 January 2011. 
6. ^ "Clarion Fund Announces Advisory Board". 23 December 2010. http://www.radicalislam.org/news/clarion-fund-announces-advisory-board-ahead-new-documentary-iranian-nuclear-threat. Retrieved 23 January 2011. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Gharib, Ali; Clifton, Eli (2008-09-24). "Neo-cons, Ex-Israeli Diplomats Push Islamophobic Video". Inter Press Service. http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43983. Retrieved 2008-10-29. 
8. ^ ^{a b} [1]^{[dead link]}
9. ^ "A dangerous Obsession". Asia Times. 2008-09-26. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JI26Ak03.html. 
10. ^ Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton. "Neo-cons, Ex-Israeli Diplomats Push Islamophobic Video". Inter Press Service. http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43983. 
11. ^ ^{a b c} "Clarion Fund". Right Web. 2009-05-12. http://www.rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/Clarion_Fund. Retrieved 2010-05-13. 
12. ^ 'Radical Islam' video angers South Florida Muslims^{[dead link]}, September 16, 2008 Miami Herald. URL retrieved 2008-09-16.
13. ^ Shimron, Yonat (2008-09-13). "Controversial film on Islam delivered nationwide". The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina: The McClatchy Company). http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1217021.html. Retrieved 2008-10-29. ^{[dead link]}
14. ^ ^{a b} Mitchell, Greg; Strupp, Joe (2008-09-13). "Newspapers Deliver Millions of 'Terror' DVDs to Subscribers -- In 'Swing States'". Editor & Publisher (Nielsen Business Media). http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Departments/Top%20Stories/update-newspapers-deliver-millions-of-terror-dvds-to-subscribers-in-swing-states-31982-.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-29. 
15. ^ "Terrorism: Looking for context". The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Florida). 2008-09-16. http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/091708/opi_333084896.shtml. Retrieved 2008-10-09. "The documentary, Obsession, a DVD contained in this newspaper last Sunday, begins with a disclaimer. 'This is a film about radical Islamic terror.'" 
16. ^ ^{a b} Mesh, Aaron (2008-10-01). "Obsession". Willamette Week (Portland, Oregon: Willamette Week Newspaper) 34 (47). http://wweek.com/editorial/3447/11601/. Retrieved 2008-10-09. "'It's important to remember,' a title card warns in the first minute, over the sounds of ominous ululating, 'most Muslims are peaceful and do not support terror.'" 
17. ^ Miller, H Bruce (2008-09-30). ""Obsession": Springing a September Surprise?". The Source Weekly (Bend, Oregon: Lay It Out Inc). http://www.tsweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3348&Itemid=71. Retrieved 2008-10-09. "The opening sequence contains a cautionary note: 'It is important to remember most Muslims are peaceful and do not support terror.'" ^{[dead link]}
18. ^ ""Obsession" DVD Raises Concerns Over Propaganda". WFOR-TV (Miami, Florida: CBS Television Stations). 2008-09-16. http://cbs4.com/local/obsession.muslim.religion.2.818889.html. Retrieved 2008-10-09. "At the beginning of the film, it points out 'It's important to remember, most Muslims are peaceful and do not support terror.'" 
19. ^ ^{a b} Robinson, John (2009-09-21). "Why we didn't distribute "Obsession"". The Editor's Log. Greensboro, North Carolina: Greensboro News & Record. http://blog.news-record.com/staff/jrblog/2008/09/why_we_didnt_di.shtml. Retrieved 2008-10-09. "fear-mongering and divisive" 
20. ^ ^{a b c} Ose, Erik (2008-09-12). "Pro-McCain Group Dumping Twenty Eight Million Terror Scare DVD's In Swing States". North Carolina: Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erik-ose/pro-mccain-group-dumping_b_125969.html. Retrieved 2010-05-13. 
21. ^ ^{a b c} "Some Answers On Clarion, And Still Some Questions". National Public Radio. http://www.npr.org/blogs/secretmoney/2008/10/clarion_answers_some_questions.html. 
22. ^ "DVD on radical Islam offends Lemoyne recipient". The Patriot-News. http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2008/09/pennsylvanias_smoking_ban_migh.html. 
23. ^ "CAIR Asks FEC to Probe Anti-Muslim DVDs Sent to Swing States". CAIR. 2008-09-23. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erik-ose/pro-mccain-group-dumping_b_125969.html. 
24. ^ Gharib, Ali (2008-09-19). "Anti-Islam Film Targets "Swing States" Voters". Washington: Inter Press Service News Agency. http://www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=43940. Retrieved 2010-05-13. 
25. ^ Ian Wilhelm (30 September 2008). "Advocacy Group under Fire for DVD". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. http://philanthropy.com/blogs/government-and-politics/advocacy-group-under-fire-for-dvd/10814/. Retrieved 23 January 2011. 
26. ^ ^{a b} Davis, James (2009-06-30). "Film Review: The Third Jihad". Newsvine. http://godonline.newsvine.com/_news/2009/06/30/2982601-film-review-the-third-jihad. Retrieved 2010-05-13. 
27. ^ ^{a b} "About The Third Jihad". New York: Clarion Fund. 2008. http://www.thethirdjihad.com/about_new.php. Retrieved 2010-05-13. 
28. ^ Posner, Sarah (2010-05-05). "Clarion Fund Claims Times Square Bombing Attempt Proof of 'Coordinated Jihad Against Western Values'". Washington: religion dispatches. http://www.religiousdispatches.org/dialogs/print/?id=2543. Retrieved 2010-05-13. 
29. ^ "About the Film". http://www.iraniumthemovie.com/about/. Retrieved 23 January 2011. 

External links

• Clarion Fund web site