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Abedin Taherkenareh / EPA
Iranian women shout anti-U.S. slogans in front of the Swiss embassy, which houses the U.S. interest section, in Tehran on Thursday. Reports from the Iranian capital said about 500 joined the protest of the Internet-circulated movie "Innocence of Muslims."
While the motivation behind the low-budget video "Innocence of Muslims" remains unclear, the reasons it has helped fuel attacks and protests at U.S. diplomatic missions in the Middle East and Africa are both emotional and political, experts say.
While it is true that images of Muhammad are not allowed in Islamic tradition, that doesn't explain the violent reaction, said Hassan Shibly, an imam and civil rights lawyer in Florida who works for the Council on American Islamic Relations.
The reason for the prohibition in the Quran was that Muhammad wanted to discourage idolatry, he explained.
"The Islamic tradition forbade depictions of any prophet or any holy people so that people throughout the years don’t start worshipping the prophet," Shibly said. "God is supposed to be the focus, not Muhammad or Jesus or anyone else."
Images of God, whom Muslims call Allah, also are not allowed because Muhammad believed that no picture could capture the creator, Shibly said. This is why the walls of mosques are typically decorated with abstract art and calligraphy.
The film, which has been blamed for fueling protests at U.S. diplomatic posts, including the violence at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans dead, and Danish cartoons that caused so much protest in 2005 caused outrage among Muslims because they were seen as ridiculing or criticizing the prophet.
Actors and the assistant director of the film "Innocence of Muslims" told NBC News that the original spoken lines in the screenplay were dubbed over without their knowledge. NBC's Mike Taibbi reports.
"For Muslims, Muhammad is a sacred symbol," said John Esposito, a professor at Georgetown University. "Muhammad represents and embodies the religion of Islam. He’s not a god, but plays the role historically that Jesus played historically."
Images like these are now making their way, via the Internet to Muslim populations who have never before been exposed to sharp critiques of their faith, which also helps explain the level of anger they have stirred.
Esposito said the reaction resembles those in the West earlier in history.
He pointed to the uproar over 1988 Hollywood film "The Last Temptation of Christ." Director Martin Scorsese's adaptation of a book by the same name showed Jesus struggling with lust, depression and doubt, and engaging in sex — in his imaginings — before snapping back to reality and dying on the cross. That movie was seen as blasphemy by some Christians, who — though not violent — were vocal enough to prevent the film from being shown in many parts of the United States.
Shibly stressed that there is no justification for the violence that took the lives of the four Americans in Libya, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, on Tuesday. CAIR on Wednesday issued a call for Muslims to ignore what it called the "trashy" anti-Islam film and has condemned the killings.
"It’s so hypocritical for (the attackers) to do these acts in the name of the prophet Muhammad,” said Shibly. "Muhammad didn’t win over his enemies by violence, he did so through compassion."
However, he says that insults to Muhammad hurt deeply.
"Muslims love the prophets of god more than we love our own parents, more than we love ourselves," said Shibly. "When people attack Muhammad, it definitely hurts us on an emotion level. But, that said, it doesn’t justify the violence. That’s just totally unacceptable."
"Innocence of Muslims" features wooden acting, poor dubbing, awkward sexual moments and ham-fisted insults, with none of the production values of "The Last Temptation of Christ," or any serious exploration of Islam. Experts said it would almost certainly have remained obscure had it not ignited the protests and violence after being circulated in Arabic via the Internet.
So far, it remains unclear who produced the film, and who funded it. Initially, the maker was identified as an Israeli-American man identified as Sam Bacile. But by Thursday, published reports were suggesting that it was the work of a group of anti-Islam Christians.
The latest reporting suggests that Bacile is actually Egyptian-born Coptic Christian named Nakoula Basseley who lives in the Los Angeles area. The Copts are a minority in Egypt, and often victims of discrimination in the majority Muslim country, as well as attacks by extremists.
In a geopolitical context, said Esposito, the film plays right into the hands of extremists in the region who are using anti-American sentiment to advance their own goals.
"What we have here, and it’s significant symbolically ... on or around 9/11 (anniversary), two terrorist or extremist attacks in Benghazi and in Cairo. … They are attacking symbols of the U.S. They are playing to a population. … It would be anti-American, but (they are) using this (video) to legitimize what they are doing."
Shibly also wonders if the film itself was produced or circulated strategically to stir up well-known sensitivities.
"The sad thing is these people are doing it on purpose," he said. "And unfortunately these Muslims fell right into the trap."
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My religion is Patriotism. Yet you do not see me trying to kill Muslims every time I see one burn MY FLAG. Why? Because I am a member of a civilized, rational society that has taught me that hatred towards others beliefs will only spread ill will and discontent which leads to. . . War and Death. Where as respecting others opinions has never caused the death of a living being.
I have yet to see a war caused by agnostics or atheists.
Stalin was a paranoid atheist. Hitler was an atheist. Mao Zedong was an atheist. The leader of over 1,000,000 killings in Cambodia was an atheist. The "Dear Leader" of North Korea is an atheist. You ain't seen many wars, have you. Watch, another will come.
Strictly speaking, I wouldn't call Hitler an atheist. He was raised a Catholic, and by most accounts remained at least nominally Catholic. And it's hard to believe an atheist would single out another Religious group for perhaps the most visceral hate the world has ever seen.
They're only atheists cuz religious believe distracts from complete, blind worship of the State. If you look at their methods, you'll see they all use population control concepts used by religions. Its not that they dont believe in God, they want to be the "God."
Like it or not the movie represents free speech. Free speech may bring out debates, antagonism, dislike, or love, peace and comfort. In this case it unfortunately just brought out a bunch of inhuman self degrading goons.
Why does anything spark violence with these barbarians? Kill 'em all.
Because their religion is so weak that it feels threatened by cartoons and movies. Keep in mind that the great ottaman empire was turks, not arabs. These animals could never control themselves enough to run an empire.
It is a non-violent peaceful religion, so they say. That is why it's full of fanatics that do not understand what tolerance means or that Sharia law doesn't mean Jack Sh!t in our country.
And Pax Romana didnt mean that the romans were peaceful. :)
I am Muslim and I am ashamed of attacks that killed innocent people. A Muslim should not behave like that. Islam is all about peace and universal brotherhood. Islam teaches no innocent people or places of worship be harmed under any conditions, even in cases of war. Hateful extremists from all religions are provoking each other into more hate and wars. I am glad most Muslims have condemned the attacks and ignored the film all together. An educated Muslim of his/her religion knows that the best way to deal with a situation like that is to ignore it. The Koran says if you hear ignorant people attacking God or religion, then do not sit with them, pass by them and say "peace".
Ramon-2231097 (#30):
It is a shame that a minority (this includes extreme "Right" Christian groups as well as Muslims) always make it worse and miserable for everyone else.
Although I am a Christian, I am embarrassed by what so-called "real" Christians say/do in the name of God.
Why do images of the Prophet Muhammed spark violence??
Because Muslims tend to be Bat-@!$%# Crazy that's why.
Remember we are talking about a religion that supports stoning women to death for dating outside of their brand of Islam or being raped (whores) and generally teaches that it's ok to kill non-muslims who don't want to convert because they are infidels. Religion of peace....my ass
How do you explain the riots after somebody wins a sports championship then?
It's not about the movie. The US has zero credibility in the Mideast with its war mongering and unconditional support to the apartheid regime in Israel.
yea israel just wants to rob the lands of non-jews and kick them out in peace.
Jeiwhs Halackah law says it is OK to kill and rob non-jews in the so called promised land, which is what Israelis are doing to Palestinians
yea Israel just wants to rob and kill non-jews in peace. Jewish Halacka laws and the Old Testicles says it is OK to do that, and Israel is doing it, has been for 65 years.
"Muhammad didn’t win over his enemies by violence, he did so through compassion."
I don't know what planet this person lives on. Islam has, since its inception, been spread through violence. Read the Koran. The goal of Islam is to subjugate all non-Muslims and to kill those who will not be subjugated.
aka destroy the corrupt christian religion.
To me, the motivation behind the movie is not unclear at all. Sadly the intent is to insult, to hit hard, to cause deep pain. This does of course not justify the violence but it is an explanation. Now the Coptic Christians in Egypt will suffer because of the ego inflation of some co-religionists in safe, faraway California. Irresponsibility gets cloaked as free speech. Now the initiators lament that they need to go into hiding (?)
The reason of not-depiction is indeed to avoid worshipping a human being and lapse into idolatry. This interdiction, however, has been circumvented throughout Muslim history in various ways by Muslim artists themselves. But not to insult of course.
I was just channel surfing and saw Southpark had what appeared to be Jesus Christ as one of the characters appearing in their lampoonish cartoon. Even though I don't watch this show I have never had a thought of protesting , burning another company's flag, or killing someone as a result of something which could be considered blasphemous. The reason is simple--I am a veteran who fought for the right of anyone to say or do whatever they want because in America we still can--at least until the thought police take over. We are different than the rest of the population of the earth for one reason--at the end of the day we are all Americans--something they will never be!
Isn't it amazing, just utterly amazing that in the past say 2 or 3000 years, just how many humans have been murdered, beaten, dismembered, raped, butchered, tortured and worse in the names of Jesus Christ, Muhammad, and Abraham. The collective stupidity is as brainless as the acts of violence, the attacks and the hatred. These "so-called" humans follow and endorse these despicable acts, like the mindless sheep that they are. At some point with the technology we have in our military arsenals, huge groups of these people will be exterminated. Maybe its better that way, maybe it is the only way to have a lasting peace, if for only a while.
I've read a lot of stupid things in these posts, but this one takes the cake.
Stan in "Oakland".
Your post make sense from an Oakland view. What a bunch of nimrods you Californians are. Ask a group of 100 people who would WANT to live in Oakland, and you could count them on one hand and have fingers left over.
I don't care why it hurt someone's little feelings. When the "Last Temptation of Christ" came out - Christians, who were equally hurt by a depiction of Jesus Christ that was blasphemous and sacrilegious to their faith had to deal with it. They didn't turn into mobs who attacked, killed, and burned down anything even remotely connected to the movie. Sorry - it looks like Christians can claim their religion is a religion of peace but Islam - well if it's believers think it is acceptable to behave in this manner - than I am left with no choice but to state that Islam is an innately violent religion that is not interested in justice (why kill innocent people instead of the guilty party), discriminatory (if they have no problem insulting other faiths, why should they have a problem when their faith is insulted) and hypocritical (they attack us 9/11, but expect us to apologize).
Even if I have no respect for this "religion", I can't say that Mohammed is a pedophile. Marrying girls of that age was a common practice in that time and place. Many English and European cultures married girls of that age as well. The past is a different culture and we shouldn't apply modern rules to it. What I will say is Mohammed married his daughter-in-law after his son died. Now that is perverse.
Watch "the man from earth" on netflix. Its equally cringeworthy without being so tasteless.
Why?? Because Muslims are all psycho's. The result from in breading with each others brothers and sisters. They rape children and are just plain nuts in the head from being inbred. That's why they go crazy over their child molesting profet.
LOONNIES, MUSLIMS ARE. and that's the real truth folks.
You will never establish a democracy in a country who's religious base DOES NOT believe in democracy.
Its because religion ALL religion is ridiculous superstition which people believe to be some message from a higher power to guide their lives by which is pathetic and ridiculous. So ignorant people who believe in these fairy tales as fact will react negatively when their life view and resulting imaginary maker is challenged or insulted.
Its occultism nothing more. You would think humanity could advance past something that has the factuality of Santa or the Easter bunny but clearly alleviating the fear of mortality and having an imaginary scapegoat is something people will never let go of no matter how ridiculous it is.
Christianity/religion is the opposite of science. One is based on illogical belief one is based on testable peer reviewed verifiable facts. There is no science in the bible its folklore. Whether its a 6000 year old earth, Noahs arc, Jonah and the whale, burning bushes its BS not science.
The universe was created by the big bang. Before this no one knows especially a translated book full of fairy tales written by men thousands of years ago when atoms, gravity, mass, light, planets ect.. were not understood in the slightest. Thats why they created this comical nonsense to begin with IMO.
That is a good book. Science has done such a magnificent job of proving evolution. Spotted moths LMAO
Piltdown man, LMAO I could go on but you see my point.
Evolution is a theory based on facts that are testable and verifiable. Evolution is real and if anyone thinks its not they must be quite dense. Maybe they should revisit the scopes trial or look at mutating viruses or something besides a book of nonsense.
@midnight toker: I thought pot was supposed to mellow a person out...
Not high right now :)
The why are protestors in Iran always waving placards with the picture of their supreme ruler on them?
It "sparks rage" because they are filled with Delusional satanic rage against a False Prophet mohammed, a False little g, god allah, and a book of Lies called the koran. One GOD-The GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, One Book-The Bible and most of All One LORD and Savior-YAHSHUA(JESUS). Nothing Missing, Nothing Broken, It is Finished, HIS Blood Has Spoken. Glory Be To GOD and HIS Only Son Forever and Ever!
the gov will vastly restrict our 1st amendment rights to appease these idiots.
This demonstrates how screwed up our own journalists are.
The Muslim media is a FILLED with hateful,racist and violent programming,cartoons,articles and video.EVERY SINGLE DAY.
The hypocracy is MIND BLOWING! And those nauseating messages are the problem.Extremists are simply using any excuse to incite violence against the modern world.If they didn't have this amateur movie to incite violence they'd simply find something else.Above all - they WANT to commit violence and will find the excuse,any way they can.And they want to commit violence because of the hateful messages they get from their OWN MEDIA every day,across the muslim world.
Why is their God more important than my God? My contry allows for fredom of speach so back off. Make all the films you want on any subject. It is not illegal in my country unless one breaks the law.
Hey Kari ...
They stormed those embasies becuase they want to kill Americans, they don't like us.
The film had nothing to do with these attacks!!!
I agree, Bob. (#51)
Those Islamic fundamentalists just wanted an excuse and, unfortunately, they got it.
Most Muslims have ignored the film all together, as they should. There has not been any protests in the birth place of Islam and Muhammad, Saudi Arabia. It is just the hateful unemployed bored loud minority in all religions and races that are itching for Armgeddon.
Everyone behind and supporting this film needs to be arrested for inciting to violence and accessory to murder,no ifs ands or buts.
d - o - n - k - e - y!!
This is what happens when you deal with simple minded people that can't think for themselves and altogether they create a mob mentality. It ain't rocket science.
That goes for the morons of all religions. Not just Islam