UAE | General

'End of days' billboards in Dubai to be removed, says official

Shocking billboard advertisement claiming "judgment day" to be removed

By Alia Al Theeb, Deputy UAE Editor
Published: 00:00 April 11, 2011

Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
The contentious billboard in Dubai. A media representative of Family Radio said she and her husband are in town from the US put up the advertisement.

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Dubai: A billboard advertisement claiming that May 21, 2011 will be the "judgment day" according to the Bible, and which shocked many and dismayed others, will be removed, a senior official said on Sunday.

The large billboards put up on various busy roads of Dubai such as Al Garhoud and Al Jaffiliya, carries the sentence "the great and terrible day, who shall be able to stand".

Marie Sheahan, Media Representative of Family Radio, who is campaigning to put up this advertisement about judgment day, told Gulf News that she and her husband are in town from the United States to advertise and "warn people about it, regardless of nationality, religion or anything else because this will affect everybody".

Sheahan said the message has been softened for Muslim countries due to sensitivity.

"We contacted many billboard companies here regarding this advertisement, but they said they did not want to deal with it because it was sensitive.

Then, we found one company, Emirates Neon Group (ENG) who agreed and helped us put up the advertisement after getting the permission. We felt it was good to advertise on billboards," she claimed.

According to the web address mentioned on the advertisement, "This message is from the Bible speaking of Judgment Day where the believers are called up into heaven, a worldwide earthquake occurs and Judgment of the unsaved begins."

Hidden message

About how they [Family Radio] came to know that May 21 is the ‘judgement day', Sheahan said: "Well, it is hidden in the Bible, and not many people can realise it.

"Lots of research have gone into it. Therefore, we know it is 40 days away. We are doing this because in the Bible, we are commanded to warn people."

Gulf News tried to contact ENG for a comment, but there was no response.

Mona Khamis Ebrahim, head of the Advertising Section of Dubai Municipality Planning Department, acknowledged the presence of the advertisement but said: "The municipality will remove these advertisements as soon as possible. This was an unintentional mistake, especially [in view of the fact] that the section receives and licenses thousands of advertisements daily. Anything in contradiction with the Islamic religion is not permitted to be advertised."

Commenting on the claims made by the organisation, a pastor from a church in Dubai, who did not wish to be named, said: "We cannot pinpoint the final day. Only God knows it".

A Gulf News reader, Kasheef Abu bakr yesterday said: "Announcements like this should not be allowed by the Municipality, and companies flouting the law should be heavily fined. The advert is absurd, outrageous and ridiculous."

About family radio

Family Radio's official name is Family Stations, Inc. It is a non-profit corporation headquartered in Oakland, California. It began in 1958 with the express purpose of sending the Christian Gospel into the world. It broadcasts in more than 30 of the major languages of the world so that as many people as possible can hear the true Gospel in their own language.

Family Radio has an intense desire to be altogether faithful to the teachings of the Bible, both in the conduct of its employees and in the Biblical messages it sends into the world.

Source: http://www.familyradio.com

Comments (36)

Added 18:35 April 11, 2011

I agree with Khalid, nice one.. And as a convert to Islam many years ago, no way they should be allowed to put stupid things like this, only Allah/God knows the end of life as we know it and they are going to look STUPID when they wake up on the 22nd and its a new day..

Laura, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:20 April 11, 2011

wish they could have predicted the recession - LOL, this is absolute waste of money and time - they could have helped the people in japan or gone and helped a few poor in the third world countries....it looks like these people don t have proper jobs to feed their families or funds are in the wrong hands of these absurd people........i am gonna be around till may 21 of 2012....trust me 100 percent this prediction is true ....there is judgement day .....no human being can ever predict it

christopher smith, dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:06 April 11, 2011

JUDGMENT DAY is feared by the world and is the day that God will destroy the world because of the sins of mankind. From the Advertisement i read i came to realize that May be the approach of the almighty is near and we need to get prepared now it self. we would not know what is in store tomorrow as there is some one on top who is controlling us and ruling the world. No one can predict or come into conclusions on judgement day. For the time being its best we carry on with our lives and move positively rather than getting paranoid with such advertisements published.

Mathew Litty, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:00 April 11, 2011

What they want is a reaction and now they got it!!!!!

Anonymous, dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 17:45 April 11, 2011

Judgement Day? Is the terminator coming back?

Arnold, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 16:30 April 11, 2011

Yeah, on the 22nd inshallah, you should interview her and her husband again with a big "SO?"

Ameer, Dubai, Egypt

Added 16:22 April 11, 2011

This is height of irresponsibility. No one knows the judgement day, only God knows. People responsible for spreading these kind of false news should be punished.

Shajahan Subhan, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 16:20 April 11, 2011

I agree with Jesullrov, no one knows when will be the judgement day other than God Himself! I will also donate my month's salary to book a billboard in Oklahama that says "We are Still Here"

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 16:08 April 11, 2011

May 21 is a judgement and every other day is not ?! "Hidden in the bible"?! This is ridiculous propoganda- I hope the authorities will respond to this irresponsible advert which holds no valid evidence or proof.

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 16:05 April 11, 2011

Can I get in touch with these people, I want to make them a great offer to buy their house and their cars on the 21st of May. Considering the fact that I can use it only a day, 1000$ is more than generous. :o)

Ahmad, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates