Muslims Demand Apology for Arsenio Hall Joke

About 40 Muslims marched in front of Paramount Studios in Hollywood Tuesday protesting statements allegedly made by talk show host Arsenio Hall.

The protesters accused Hall of “depicting Muslims as terrorist bombers” and demanded a public apology. Hall’s alleged statement was made Nov. 30, the day after a Nintendo video game cartridge contained in a suitcase was mistaken for a bomb and was blown up at Los Angeles International Airport.

Imam Riza M. Khalilullah, a representative of the United Islamic Centers, said that, while making a joke about airport security, Hall suggested that someone could easily go through airport security, carrying a bomb “to meet Allah.” Hall allegedly used a Muslim name to refer to that someone.