American Muslims For Palestine (AMP) Chair Hatem Bazian At 2023 Muslim American Society (MAS) Conference: Atheists Like 'Islamophobic Bully' And 'Coward' Bill Maher And Author Sam Harris Mock Oppresse
Dr. Hatem Bazian, National Chair of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), slammed comedian and talk show host Bill Maher for creating comedy "on the back" of "those who are being afflicted with Islamophobia." Speaking at the annual MAS-ICNA (Muslim American Society and Islamic Circle of North America) convention in Chicago on December 30, 2023, Bazian criticized Maher for hosting atheist neuroscientist and author Sam Harris, where the two engaged in what he called "'sophisticated' racist talk about Muslims."
"It is not satire, it is not comedy, it is not funny when you pile on those who are being beaten down," Bazian said. He emphasized that "satire, comedy, and funny is to punch up to those in power," not "pile down on those who are being beaten down, stepped upon, and bombed." Bazian concluded: "Bill Maher, you are a coward" and "an Islamophobic bully."
Hatem Bazian: "Some parts of the political left, or what we call the interventionist left, or the atheist movement, that is represented by Bill Maher, as one of the figures that never misses an opportunity to be an Islamophobe. He brings with him often on his HBO show that is beamed to people... He brings Sam Harris. They think that they are two white men engaging in 'sophisticated' racist talk about Muslims.
"We need to say that there is no way for you to have a comedy [show] on the back of the dispossessed, on the back of those who are being afflicted with Islamophobia. Now let me be very clear. It is not satire, it is not comedy, it is not funny when you pile on those who are being beaten down.
"You are not actually funny or satirical if you are punching down on those who are being stepped upon and bombed. It is not funny nor satirical to go after individuals who are marginalized in society. Satire, comedy, and funny is to punch up to those in power. Bill Maher, you are a coward, because you are piling on those who are being oppressed. There is nothing funny in amplifying Islamophobia.
"There is nothing funny about thinking that you make satire of those who have faced 60,000 tons of bombing in Gaza. You think [you're] funny? Look at yourself in the mirror. I challenge you to punch up and speak truth to power, if you are satirical, rather than punching down to those who are being dispossessed and marginalized. This is what we call: Bill Maher, you are an Islamophobic bully. Bill Maher, you are an Islamophobic bully. We need to understand that."
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