Why is innocence of muslims offensive

Obituary: J Christopher Stevens. In pictures: US film protests. Media outraged by prophet film. Egyptians protest over US film.

The film first sparked protests in the Egyptian capital Cairo. Questions asked. Coptic link? Published 12 September Published 11 September In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood has called for peaceful protests against the film on Friday. Certainly, peaceful protests against anything are permitted under human rights law as a manifestation of freedom of assembly.

Perhaps the Brotherhood is attempting to orchestrate a peaceful outlet for the undoubted passions inflamed by the movie. However, the call for protests confers a status upon the film that it does not remotely deserve, and we must hope that the protests do not get out of hand. Even if one thinks the film should have been banned from the outset, riots and violence are not a justified or proportionate response.

Finally, it is incumbent upon the authorities in Egypt, and across the Muslim world, to do all they can to counter pernicious misinformation which is designed to manufacture even greater outrage over such offensive publications. It should be made clear, for example, that the film is not sponsored or endorsed by the US government, but is rather the work of fringe bigots. Certainly, publications once limited to one country now spread around the world quickly, digitally and virally. The potential for a publication in one State to generate mayhem in another is greater than at any other period in history.

But while the film would undoubtedly be banned in Muslim countries, they cannot demand that the US or Denmark, or any other country alter its constitutional and free speech values to accord with their own.

Things have moved on considerably since I posted the above article on Thursday Australian time. Portsmouth Climate Festival — Portsmouth, Portsmouth. Edition: Available editions United Kingdom. The movie was reportedly written, directed, produced, and put on YouTube by Sam Bacile, a year-old Israeli-American real estate developer living in California. Bacile is now said to be in hiding.

The movie may not exist at all beyond the trailer, which might not have been filmed as the anti-Islam product the world is currently fighting over. While its origins remain questionable, its consequences are already very real. Sure enough, after nearly a day of confusion, CNN has published a statement allegedly written on behalf of those who worked on the video.

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