Lawsuit: Fox Theatre denied Muslim promoters Sept. 11 reservation

By Alexis Stevens and Christian Boone

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Two local promoters who hoped to book a concert at the Fox Theatre marking the end of Ramadan claim the venue turned them down because they are Muslim.

Basheer Jones and Nardin Jihad say their company, Da Akhs Entertainment, sought the reservation in March for a concert titled "EID 2010." Eid ul-Fitr is a Muslim holiday marking the end of a fasting period, and the first Saturday following Eid is Sept. 11.

"We were kind of nervous at first, but we thought why not take a day that saw such great destruction and use it instead for something uplifting," Jones told the AJC.

But a spokeswoman for the landmark venue said the Sept. 11 date was not available due to two prior bookings. Kristen Delaney, a Fox Theatre spokeswoman, said Jones and Jihad were given the option of choosing a different date, but did not respond.

"No they didn't [offer another date]," Jihad told the AJC on Wednesday night.

Jones and Jihad have filed a lawsuit against the theater and its owner, attorney Charles Mathis said.

"On the application they submitted, they listed previous events they had promoted, which included some Muslim-related celebrations," Mathis said.

The Fox released the following response to the lawsuit: "We respect all rights to assemble as well as religious freedom. The organizers were informed that there were two reservations for that date taking priority before their request.

"In addition, we explained the Fox Theatre was sensitive to that date in terms of the meaning it has for all Americans, in particular those impacted by the tragedy on September 11th, 2001."

Jones and Jihad instead booked the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, where a Sept. 12 concert is planned.

"It's shocking that something like this happened in Atlanta, the mecca of the civil rights movement," Jones said.