COLUMBUS, Ohio-
A car dealership that planned to air a radio advertisement calling for “a jihad on the automotive market” issued an apology and promised not to use the commercial.
Several stations had already rejected the spot from Dennis Mitsubishi, which boasted that sales representatives wearing burqas–head-to-toe traditional dress for Islamic women–would sell vehicles that can “comfortably seat 12 jihadists in the back.”
The dealership received sharp criticism after news reports about the proposed ad, which was scheduled to run this week but never aired. The Council on American-Islamic Relations decried it as disrespectful and divisive.
It “was simply an attempt at humor that fell short,” dealership President Keith Dennis said Monday in a prepared statement.
“A large number of people have contacted us. Lots of them have seen the humor we were trying to convey, but far too many were clearly bothered by it,” he said. “I wish to offer my sincere apology to anyone who was offended. We do not wish to alienate anyone in our community–all of whom are potential customers.”
CAIR accepted the apology and said it hopes the issue is now over.
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