Here is the latest news from EDITOR AND PUBLISHER:
dated February 13, 2009
editorandpublisher.com
by Greg Mitchell [editor of Editor and Publisher] 2/13/09
Man Who Launched TV Network to Show Muslims in Positive Light Arrested for Beheading His Wife
NEW YORK A prominent Buffalo area businessman who founded the BridgesTV network to improve the image of Muslims in the U.S. has been arrested and charged with murdering his estranged wife – by beheading her at his company’s office on Thursday.
Police have charged the husband, Muzzammil Hassan, 44, with second-degree murder in death of Aasiya Z. Hassan, 37.
In its logo, BridgesTV boasts of “connecting people through understanding” via its dish network. Its Web site quotes comments on the company by Jay Leno, Brian Williams and others, plus a screen shot of a CNBC interview with Hassan conducted by Maria Bartiromo.
The site also shows a picture of Hassan with his slain wife, described as playing “an instrumental role in the creation of Bridges TV since she came up with the idea for the network.”
NPR's "All Things Considered" profile the Hassans in 2004. The segment opened, "A new cable network for Muslim-Americans is up and running in Detroit. Bridges TV says it wants to inform and entertain Muslims and, at the same time, give viewers who aren't Muslims a glimpse into their culture....
"Mo Hassan was traveling from Buffalo to Detroit a few weeks after the September 11th terrorist attacks when his wife came up with the idea for the new network. They were in the car listening to the radio when they heard some derogatory remarks about Muslims."
Programs include kids shows, "American Muslim Teen Talk," Amy Goodman's "Democracy Now" and an interview show with James Zogby. Its new program "brings you balanced coverage from around the world. News you can trust."
The alleged killer is called “Mo S. Hassan” at the web site. He is CEO of the company after stints as a sales rep at Proctor & Gamble and as a banker in Buffalo. He got his MBA at the University of Rochester. The bio concludes: “Mr. Hassan brings to Bridges TV vision, persistence, data-based decision making and financial discipline.”
Police says the wife had an order of protection from the man. A murder weapon has not yet been recovered.
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Greg Mitchell is editor of Editor and Publisher. His new book is "Why Obama Won" |
