Koran Doc to Air on American Forces Network

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 30:
American Forces Network (AFN) will broadcast the National Geographic Channel’s
two-hour special Inside the Koran
on August 9, following its U.S. premiere.

The show will air at 10
a.m. in Japan, Korea and Central Europe, at 11 a.m. in Iraq and at 12:30 p.m.
in Afghanistan.

Through first-person
accounts, the special, which will premiere in the U.S. on the National
Geographic Channel on August 5, examines a cross section of Muslims living
according to varied interpretations of the Koran. Historical footage is
combined with rarely seen interviews with Muslim leaders, experts, scholars and
religious activists to provide a comprehensive perspective on the Koran.

Inside the Koran is produced by Juniper Communications. The
producer, writer and director is Antony Thomas. For National Geographic
Channel, the executive producer is Noah Morowitz, the senior VP of special
programming is Michael Cascio and the executive VP of content is Steve Burns.

Steve Schiffman, the
general manager of National Geographic Channel, said: “We are extremely proud
that this film will be seen by our military personnel in the Middle East
through the American Forces Network. We hope our show will help these brave men
and women in uniform gain valuable insight and better understand the
sensitivities within the communities that encompass their theater of operations,
just as we hope domestic audiences will gain valuable insight via the U.S.
broadcast on NGC.”

“AFN's mission is to
entertain and inform American military personnel and their families stationed
worldwide,” said Larry Marotta, AFN’s chief of television. “Inside the Koran is an important program for our audience to see,
and we’re grateful to our friends at the National Geographic Channel for
allowing AFN to be a part of this broadcast.”

—By Jackie Stewart