Nour Matar, right, has launched Irvine-based One Legacy Radio, a new online Muslim radio station. His brother, Sami Matar, at console, is the chief engineer. The station may be the only English-speaking Muslim radio station broadcasting online 24 hours a day in the Western World. (H. Lorren Au Jr.)

Irvine, California- In light of the Fort Hood killings and recent arrests of suspected radicalized Virginian youths in Pakistan, perceptions of American Muslims have taken a beating lately. Closer to home, recent vandalism at a Costa Mesa Muslim mosque and an interfaith display in Mission Viejo delivered yet another blow to a community still reeling from the aftermath of 9/11.

The American Muslim community has endured discrimination, mistrust and hostility, said Nour Matar, an Orange County businessman.

That's why he launched what could be the Western world's first English-speaking online Muslim radio station from his studio in Irvine. The 32-year-old hopes the station, carrying talk shows about almost every aspect of daily life from a Muslim perspective, will not only improve the well-being of his community but also foster understanding among non-Muslims.

"As a community we feel very frustrated by the misconception and misinformation portrayed by the media," Matar said. "We can understand that there are a lot of bad actions done in the name of Islam. In order for us to combat that we have to let our voice be heard as Muslims Americans living in the U.S."

If a listener has a Smartphone, he can tune into One Legacy Radio anywhere including listening while in a car. (H. Lorren Au Jr.)

OneLegacyradio.com can be downloaded as an application on an iPhone, Blackberry or Android, providing listeners with a daily dose of Islamic teachings on everything from weight loss to relationship advice at any time of the day or even the contentious topic of radicalization of Muslim youth.

"We don't just talk about what the Koran says and that's it," Matar said. "We talk about social issues, but from an Islamic perspective or Islamic background. We're a place where people can come in and learn about Islam and to communicate with the Muslim community."

Community leaders and experts say the station is yet another sign of the growing influence of the county's Muslim community.

"This shows the maturity of the American Muslim community (in Orange County)," said Munira Syed, spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations' local office in Anaheim. "They're more organized...they're coming of age.''

Orange County has an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 Muslims, Syed said. Many reside in Anaheim and Irvine.

On a recent afternoon, Matar, a Jordan immigrant, urged the radio hosts to not use as many Arabic words in their greeting to ensure that non-Arab listeners feel welcome.

That day's taping tackled the issue of how fathers can form a strong relationship with their children via the teachings of Islam. Matar, a father of three, listened as the hosts and visitor explained that Islam urges an intimate and tender relationship between father and child.

On other days, the station hosts talk shows tackling what an older generation of Muslims may consider taboo, such as pornography, alcohol and drug abuse. All are forbidden in the teachings of Islam, but Matar says ignoring the problem doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

That's why, he and his brother Sami Matar, the chief engineer, say they want to tackle the issues head on.

Akbar Ahmed, a leading expert on Islam in America, said it seems natural that the station originated from the well-established and well-to-do Muslim community in Irvine.

"I'm not surprised that Muslims are responding in this way, in light of the area they are in," Ahmed said. "I'll put in the perspective of what dominates in California, especially Los Angeles-area -- media with film, radio or television."

Ahmed, chair of Islamic Studies at American University in Washington, D.C., just completed a book called Journey in America, about visits he and his team made to a variety of Muslim communities throughout the country.

In New York, he said, he found Muslims were very nervous, somewhat paranoid and fearful. Ahmed, who has advised U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, Middle East diplomat Richard Holbrooke, and prominent U.S. agencies on Islam and foreign policy, said he believes it's because of that particular community's proximity to the 9/11 attacks.

Here, he discovered a different community.

"In Orange County we found the Muslim community confident, secure and optimistic about the future," he said. "You could ask why. First the reason is that they are far from the scene of 911."

Now is a critical time for Muslim Americans, Ahmed said, and the radio station presents a perfect opportunity to create understanding among non-Muslims.

"Muslims need to explain themselves and they need to explain Islam," he added. "They need to explain their traditions and customs and this is what they're doing with this station. In that sense it becomes an important tool."

The idea of a station of this kind had brewed in Matar's brain for some time, but he hadn't seen it as a sustainable venture until the advent of the smart phone.

"The idea of smart cell phones became more of an opportunity to reach out ... We're not just focused to this area but anyone who wants to listen - all over the world," Matar said about his station's global reach. Matar's studio is next door to his technology business in Irvine.

While the station is closely followed by more of a young professional demographic, Matar said he hopes to provide a bridge between older and younger generations of Muslims. Most shows focus on health and fitness, relationships and other social issues.

Still, the station doesn't shy away from controversial subjects.

Objection, a civil rights talk show that also offers news analysis, recently tackled the subject of radicalization of Muslim youth in America – something Matar calls an issue of concern in the community and across America.

He said he wants to encourage a "dialogue," allowing people to submit questions by phone and online.

"The idea is to establish a voice for us in the Muslim community," Matar said. "Ultimately we want to be the Muslim media outlet in the U.S. This is just the start."

Visit One Legacy Radio

Orange County  Register