Automotive Jihad?

Reader Robin sends in this tip about a car dealership in Ohio that is coming under fire for a radio ad in which it declares “jihad on the automotive market.” From the AP:

“Several stations rejected the spot from Dennis Mitsubishi, which boasts that sales representatives wearing “burqas” – head-to-toe traditional dress for Islamic women – will sell vehicles that can “comfortably seat 12 jihadists in the back.”

“We firmly believe the ad does not in any way disrespect any religion or culture, but we feel, I guess, that maybe poking a little fun at radical extremists is fair game,” dealership president Keith Dennis said on Saturday. “It was our intention to craft something around some of the buzzwords of the day and give everyone a good chuckle and be a little bit of a tension reliever.”

Unfortunately for Keith, the Columbus chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations wasn’t laughing.

“Using that as a promotional pitch when so many are dying from the criminal activity of suicide bombers, that’s not funny,” chapter president Asma Mobin-Uddin said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate when it causes real pain. It exploits or promotes misunderstanding in terms already misunderstood or misused.”

Here are a few more choice quotes from the rejected radio spot:

“Our prices are lower than the evildoers’ every day. Just ask the pope!”

“Friday is fatwa Friday, with free rubber swords for the kiddies.”

Oh dear.

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