---

AP, via the International Herald Tribune, USA
Aug. 24, 2007
www.iht.com

---

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 19136 • Posted: Saturday August 25, 2007  

---

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida: A Christian televangelist in Florida who harshly criticizes Islam and other religions said Friday that his late-night program is being pulled off the air because of pressure from a Muslim group.

Earlier this month, officials from the Council on American Islamic Relations wrote a letter to the TV station’s owners asking for an investigation of the show it broadcasts, “Live Prayer with Bill Keller.”

In a May 2 broadcast, the televangelist said Islam was a “1,400-year-old lie from the pits of hell” and called the Prophet Mohammed a “murdering pedophile.” He also called the Quran a “book of fables and a book of lies.”

Council officials asked for equal air time for Florida Muslims to counter Keller’s comments, but never got the chance, the St. Petersburg Times reported in its Friday editions.

Station manager Laura Caruso of WTOG, which airs the show, said the decision to end Keller’s contract was a programming one, made by station executives and the televangelist.

But after speaking with CBS executives, the Islamic group claimed credit for Keller’s demise. His last broadcast will be Aug. 31.

“They really based their decision upon our letter,” said Ramzy Kilic, the group’s civil rights coordinator. “They really did not know that Bill Keller was involved with this kind of anti-Muslim rhetoric.”

Keller said his “Bible-based” message has not changed in the five years the program has aired.

“(CAIR) intimidated the folks in New York, and the folks in New York caved in,” Keller said.

Keller said he is starting a new morning TV show on another Tampa Bay area station that will debut Sept. 3.

A telephone message left by The Associated Press at the new station Keller says he will be working at was not immediately returned.

Ahmed Bedier, executive director of the Tampa office of CAIR said the council is weighing its options on what to do regarding Keller’s supposed new employment.

“Obviously we have concerns, Bedier said. “He’s more of a liability with stations than an asset.”

---

What You Can Do From Here

---

Read More Articles On These Topics Categories: Bill Keller Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article Subscribe Religion News Blog RSS feed [What is this?] RSS by topic: Bill Keller Read Another Article Previous entry: Juanita Bynum’s husband was having troubles Next entry: For televangelist Juanita Bynum and other women, domestic violence knows no limits RNB Homepage with latest headlines Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults Find Related Books Bill Keller Most Popular Today I know the dark side of Scientology…I almost lost my friend when she became obsessed with it Church of Scientology told to drop Churchill images

---

Share This Article

---

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:

• Post a link on your blog or website:
  
• Send in an email or IM:
  
• Post on a forum:
  

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.