[Washington Post] Kevin Sullivan - Moez Masoud, 29, is a Muslim televangelist, in a stylish goatee and Western clothes, who preaches about Islam in youthful Arabic slang. He says imams who outlawed art and music were misinterpreting their faith. He talked about love and relationships, the need to be compassionate toward homosexuals and tolerant of non-Muslims. Masoud is one of a growing number of young Muslim preachers who are using satellite television to promote an upbeat and tolerant brand of Islam. Television preaching in the Middle East was once largely limited to elderly scholars in white robes reading holy texts. But as TV has evolved from one or two heavily controlled state channels to hundreds of diverse, private satellite offerings, Masoud and perhaps a dozen other young men - plus a few women - have emerged as increasingly popular alternatives. The Middle East now has at least 370 satellite channels, nearly triple the number three years ago, including 27 dedicated to Islamic religious programming, up from five two years ago.
2007-12-07 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive