LA Jewish, Muslim Groups Call For Release Of Dead Bin Laden Photo
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — In the era of Photoshop and YouTube, some people won't believe anything unless they see it with their own eyes, a rule of thumb that undoubtedly applies to the reported death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
But voices from opposite ends of the religous spectrum agreed on Tuesday that the U.S. government should support its account of the raid on bin Laden's alleged Pakistan hideout.
KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports local Jewish and Muslim leaders agree the photos should be released.
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Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Minera Sayeeda of the Council on American Islamic Relations of Los Angeles were among two supporters who say releasing pictures would send a message to bin laden supporters.
"It's a good step for our government to release at least one or two photos of the body of Osama bin Laden," Sayeeda said.
Heir agreed, saying "it's also important for them to see the United States means business and here's the photo to prove it."
The founder of the Simon Weisenthal Center also said the photos would help quell any conspiracy theories over bin Laden's death.
Meanwhile, KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou reports Angelenos had split opinions over whether it was appropriate for federal officials to approve of such a release.
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"Probably not," said one man. "Sometimes if there's something scary, little kids see something that could be on their mind forever.
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