- 16 Sep 2012
Anti-Islam film: Amid protests, Rs10 million bounty offered for filmmaker - 15 Sep 2012
Anti-Islam film: Protests reverberate across Muslim world - 14 Sep 2012
Violent protests break out in Muslim world over anti-Islam film - 14 Sep 2012
Offensive content: PTA orders video block on YouTube - 14 Sep 2012
Pakistan bolsters security at US diplomatic missions
- RSS
- Today's Paper
- Subscribe
- beta 2.1
Alerts
Ultimatum to US: ‘Criminalise blasphemy or lose consulate’
One protestors dies from smoke of burning US flags, banners.
Angry protesters push at a barrier, burn an effigy in front of the American consulate on Sunday. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/EXPRESS
LAHORE:
Several Muslim parties and a Christian group held rallies on Sunday to protest against a movie released in America.
Around 10,000 people participated in the main rally organised on The Mall by the Tehreek Hurmat-i-Rasool (THR). The participants marched from Nila Gumbad to Masjid-i-Shuhada on The Mall. Despite a ban on rallies on The Mall, the road remained blocked for vehicular traffic from noon to 6pm.
The rally was addressed by Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, THR head Ameer Hamza, JD leader Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, Pakistan Muslim League (Zia) head Ijazul Haq, Jamaat Ulema Islam-Sami (JUI-S) leader Asim Makhdoom and Jamaat Ahle Hadith ameer Hafiz Abdul Ghaffar Ropari.
One of the participants of the rally, Abdullah Ismail, passed away after he was taken to Mayo Hospital. Witnesses said he had complained of feeling unwell from the smoke from US flags burnt at the rally.
Hafiz Saeed alleged that the film, Innocence of Muslims, had been produced with the backing of US establishment. He said the director, the producer and all those involved in the production and release of the movie must be hanged publicly. “The US must make a law against blasphemy – or we will not let the US consulates in Pakistan function,” he said.
He said a resolution condemning the movie in the parliament was not enough. Instead, President Asif Ali Zardari must announce jihad against countries like the US that supported attacks on Islam. The Organisation of Islamic Countries Conference should announce a boycott of US goods. Ijazul Haq, the PML-Z chief, said the people had shown their loyalty to Islam. He said the government leader’s silence was shameful. He said no one had dared commit blasphemy during his father Ziaul Haq’s rule.
Shabab-i-Milli, the youth wing of the Jamaat-i-Islami, also held a rally near Punjab University’s new campus.
Speaking to the gathering, Jamaat-i-Islami Ameer Munawar Hasan said the film had been produced by a Zionist with US support.
He said, “If the US claims to be a civilised nation, why does it stoop to insult other religions and civilisations?”
JI general secretary Liaqat Baloch said the US stooges ruling the Muslim world were on the run now. They had met a humiliating fate in Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey. He said Pakistan was on the threshold of a revolution.
A small protest rally against the film was also taken out by a group of Christian from Model Colony, Gulberg. The rally concluded at Seven Up Chowk having marched through Mecca Colony.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2012.
Read more:
AntiIslamfilm
Reader Comments (264)
Punjab Latest Stories
Consumer court: Shoe shop sued for selling ‘defective goods’
The petitioner was offered a new handbag to replace the damaged one, but he did not accept it, says defendant.
Hajj policy: LHC seeks report from ministry
Hajj quota should only be allocated to well-reputed tour operators, says CJ.
Couple escape family’s wrath outside courtroom
LHC dismisses petition for kidnapping case against husband.
Endowment fund: GCUF students provided Rs40 million scholarships since 2008
VC says higher education rate in Pakistan is as low as six per cent.
Debilitating disease: ‘A million children suffer from thalassaemia in Pakistan’
‘People should be encouraged to donate blood’.
Mission unaccomplished: Two arrested for plot to blow up priest’s house
An accomplice was killed when the explosives went off.
Revivers Galleria: Women, tradition and architecture
Using various themes and media to depict diverse expressions.
Punjab University: PTV seeks return of controversial ICS teacher
According to DPCC rules, candidates cannot attempt the comprehensive paper exam more than three times.
Blasphemy: ‘Prisoners say I deserve to die’
Defendant claims she is treated like a criminal even though her guilt has not been established.
Recent Slideshows
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2013 The Express Tribune News Network.
Technical feedback? [email protected]
@Parvez Amin:
Free speech may be hurtful at times but none the less it is free speech. Guaranteed by the constitution. When we start shutting the mouth of those we feel offensive it will not be long before some one is insulted by what you say and want to take your rights away also. But having your feelings hurt is a poor excuse for acting like this. Americans we need to protect our constitutional rights regardless of whom they offend.Recommend
@Shahid:
You make it so easy to insult Islam and muslims.
Why is that?
Recommend
Heres my opinion, adopt islamic censorship or lose consulate. . .Hmm let me think about it, isn’t it about time we stop wasting money in these middle easterns anyway? I mean honestly how much of our nation debt is from dealing with this region of the world, and I’m sorry but Americans will refuse to give up a single right to the wills of a foriegn power. If Islam is such a tolerant and peaceful religion then why is it every time somthing insulting is said they behave like a mob and burn and destroy stuff, I mean if you dont want to defame your religion than don’t act like this.Recommend
@us:
It has been removed. It is no longer on YouTube. And bowing to these individuals is just giving power to a bunch of crazy people.Recommend
@M.Ahmer Ali:
“Would you like to explain that when a film is made then is passed and permitted by the film censor board to become releasable or unreleasable and who controls the film censor board?”
You obviously don’t know much about the film industry or YouTube. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) does not deal with YouTube videos. Also, there is no such thing as a “censor board”. This movie was not even released. You are allowing yourself to get riled up without knowing any of the actual facts.
“suppose if any muslim makes any blasphemous movie against Christianity or any other non-muslims’ religion then what shall you do?????”
That happens in this country all the time. People continuously put out anti-religious videos, artwork, books, etc. People speak their minds about it, possibly even protest it, but no one calls for the death of those who made it. What I would personally do is ignore it. It doesn’t affect me in the slightest.
“Either shall keep silence and show patience and tolerance or defend and protest in violating ways like the muslims are now-a-days???????”
Like I said, people may actually protest it, but no one calls for the death of those involved, nor do they actually kill people.
I hope Pakistan calls for a ban on the sale of USA goods. I hope Pakistan refuses to allow the US to have an embassy there. I also hope that the USA cuts the $1 Billion+ that are given to you every year. If we can’t work together, so be it.
Recommend
@Parvez Amin: You do not have a right to not be offended. If you want to criminalize blasphemy, then be careful what you wish for. By denying the divinity of Christ and reducing his status to that of a mere prophet, Islam itself is blasphemy to Christians. Should we start jailing all Muslims for that? Of course not, Any religion that contradicts or denies the beliefs of another religion is blasphemy to one. Of course Islam’s solution for this is simple, everyone become a Muslim and this problem goes away.
Recommend
Instead of protesting, burning effigies and wasting your energy I encourage hold some symposiums in the praise of the Holy Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad SAW. This is what usually Ahmadiyya Muslims do. Islam is a peaceful religion and we have to show it practice. Peace upon all.
Recommend
Finally somebody speaks with common sense. Good job… @Mubashir:
Recommend
@Mubashir:
Thanks for proving that “intelligent muslim” is not a contradiction in terms.
Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
Not in the USA. Burning the U.S. flag offends patriotic U.S. citizens, but U.S. judges have consistently ruled that laws outlawing flag-burning are unconstitutional and therefore un-enforceable. Another case in point: one of the most popular shows currently playing on Broadway is a musical that mocks Mormons and the Mormon religion in extremely vulgar ways. No one has torched the theatre or offered a bounty for assassinating the producer.
Recommend
I see here a basic misunderstanding of “freedom”. True freedom is not granted by any country, religion, or organization. It is a God-given right and each individual is answerable to Him for the exercise of those rights. We are free to be as kind and respectful or as rude and crass as we please. As a Christian, I will ultimately answer to God for every word I utter in this life, but it is God’s law that I violate if I am unkind, not man’s. As a Christian, I am offended every day by things that people say about my Lord and Savior, cursing and using His name in vain, but I acknowledge the fact that God will also hold them accountable and they stand before God the same as I do. Here in America, we are free to be rude, and free to be kind. We are not robots that are programmed to think a certain way. We are free to choose good or evil, and understand there are consequences from those choices.
Recommend
What would it take to make protesting Muslims understand that their behavior is more insulting to Islam than some third-rate youtube movie?
Recommend
@Cautious:
The making and uploading of a 14-minute video without the prior knowledge of any U.S. official or the public at large should not be attributed to an entire nation. This is so obvious I shouldn’t need to say it.
Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
No it doesn’t. Offensive speech is Exactly what the First Amendment is intended to protect.
For instance I find Your ingnorant speech offensive, but that does not mean I can keep you from spewing your ignorance all over creation or even punish you after the fact.
What you are suggesting, however, would allow me to do just that.
Would you really like ME to be able to sensor YOUR speech? Or are you proposing that You be the final judge of all speech and only My speech be censored.
Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
I’m sorry for your offense sir, but by your Muslim country not recognizing Jesus Christ as the only true Son of the ONLY true God is in insult to me. I take offense. But rather than lighting cars on fire, and rioting and hurting others, I will quietly go through my day practicing my belifes and praying that you see the Truth of Jesus Christ. You will never hear me degrade you like you do to Israel and Jews, so if Islam would “practice what you preach”, we would all get along. Stop whining.
Recommend
Do you really want war??? These actions are making more and more Americans upset. Almost every American thought the film was insensetive and despicible. More Americans think these actions against us should be an act of war. Keep it up and you will witness the tolerance of the United States fade. We don’t want to go to war but we feel these acts are a threat that cannot be ignored. The election is soon and we may change presidents and congress who won’t be as kind.
Recommend
Time to get serious…
We should announce that the Marine embassy guards will be locked-and-loaded…
With orders to shoot the first protester over the wall. (Yes, it is our territory)
And put the Pakistani government on notice that access and security to the embassy will be maintained, or they can pay the consequences of deciding not to honor their obligations under the Vienna Conventions. We can withdraw our embassy, expel theirs, and withdraw recognition of their government…as being unable to maintain law & order within their own territory.
Recommend
@Mubashir:
Quran Chapter 5 verse 33
Recommend
I see the Islamic love in the flag burning “death to America” protests. Islam is being represented just as this idiot that made the video was hoping. The radical muslums have fallen into the trap and are made to look the fool. I support freedom of speach and freedom to ignore. Unpopular speach is exactly what is protected. When Pakistan executes everyone that says death to America in a protest then call me back and we will work on the free speech removal. I highly recommend the export of poisionous to burn American flags free to all that want to use HATE speech in the name of Islam.
Recommend
All those people who think we should not comment on the criminal hate material that is the film in question, continue to respond to the likes of JAMATUD DAWA leaders. They are no less sickening in their behaviour than the video makers.
Each such mischief is explioted to its maximum by the inept religious leaders of our country to incite hatred towards the liberal world. They have created a hellish world for themselves and now wish for all others to do so too.
Recommend
Everybody has a right to believe what they want and I respect that right. But I do not have to respect that belief.
Blasphemy is a victimless crime.
Recommend
@us:
@Parvez Amin: The US should not bend to the will of these people. We should not break out constitution for anyone. Jews have faced prejudice for the majority of their existence and not once have they acted in this matter.
Once the US bends over to these hateful people, it will be the end of us and the world.
I am not a jew myself and have no affiliations to either side. I merely speak one what ive seen.
Recommend
@Parvez Amin: One of the most highly protected rights of US citizens is the right to expression. There are no protections against being offended.
Recommend
The US government cannot punish the maker of the video without
Breaking the law. Americans have the right to freedom of speech
And expression. We also have freedom of religion. Blasphemy is not
Illegal here. The video was offensive but not illegal. With so many different people
And belief systems living together someone is bound to be offended by something.
People make fun of my religion all the time. But I will defend their right to do so because
If one persons freedom of speech is taken away then mine could be taken too.
Freedom cannot be compromised.
Recommend
Americans disrespect our flag everyday. How many t-shirts, stickers, and credit cards do you see with it on it?
Recommend
These People are a Hatefull People.
Who are they to condem the US .Who is set to give them 2 billion dollars a year
thanks to Barac Obama, One of them. (Muslim’s)
This money comes from the working class tax payers of the US who have Freedom of Speech. Get Over It.
Recommend
Whenever religion is discussed in American schools, the various religions of the world are almost universally discussed in a non-judgmental, intelligent manner.
Christian and Jewish religions enjoy the same respect when discussed in an Islamic educational setting, right? Yeah, right.
Recommend
I agree with them get our people the heck out of there
Recommend
I totally agree with them, get our people out and cut their funding NOW!! This outrage is NOT dying down this movie was made by and Egyptian who is from Egypt and it was aired in Egypt on 9/11. He used a Jewish name and said he was funded by a Christian organization, I believe the Muslim Brotherhood is behind all this. I dont agree with the movie, I was offended and I am not a Muslim but this was preplanned
Recommend
Say what you want about my God. I’m not so insecure that I care. He is bigger than that. As far as our country making a law against blasphemy, IT’S CALLED SEPARATION OR CHURCH AND STATE. We don’t bow to Sharia law, and never will.
Recommend
Ok, soooo….if we don’t criminalize blasphemy we need to remove our consulate from Pakistan? Great! No problem! And let’s just make sure we take all of our trade goods and money with us. Actually, how about we do that with ALL of these countries that hate us and give haven to terrorists? And while we are at it let’s put that money we used to give them into paying down our debt and rebuilding our middle class instead of paying people to hate us…sound good?
Recommend
“Criminalise blasphemy or lose consulate”
the answer is NO!
Recommend
We cannot expect these people to honor our values as they do not understand and/or respect them. We have a greater value on life than they do and we have a great appreciation for free speech. The US government should suspend all monies sent to these countries, it is a watse and does nothing to promote peace there.
Recommend
Free speech is still the first amendment.
http://politichicks.tv/Recommend
Well if those are the choices, we would gladly close our consulate. But do you think we’re going to a country like yours dictate policy, and issue ultimatums to the U.S.? No. How about instead, we criminalize your disproportionate terrorist responses to the imagined injury that you claim has taken place, when somebody says something you don’t find flattering about your prophet? There are those in the United States that take their religion just as seriously as you take yours. The BIG DIFFERENCE is we don’t turn around and try and hurt or kill people in the name of vengeance, if somebody says something we don’t like, or agree with. At the heart of America we are a tolerant, and peaceful nation. Which makes us superior to you, and yours. But we will not shrink in defending ourselves if you continue to make the huge mistake of attacking us.Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
Sorry but that’s not how freedom of speech works. Do some research before you post.Recommend
died from inhaling fumes from burning American flag?
it’s a start
Recommend
i think we should send them several new batches of flags….
Recommend
its a start
Recommend
@us:
‘The video should be immediately removed as it is highly offensive and provocative to 1.2 billion of the globe.’
the 1.2bil gets provoked on almost anything expect on the poverty, illiteracy, women’s rights, killing of muslims by other muslims, abuse of human rights in their own countries, and the list goes on. grow up!
Recommend
@M.Ahmer Ali:
In reply to your questions to liberal fascist as unbelievable as you may find this:
1) There is no censor board in the USA. Anyone can make any movie. Anyone can post it to YouTube. It may be difficult to convince people to watch it though. No one would watch a movie as badly made or written as the one creating the controversy.
2) Movies blasphemous to Christians are made all the time in the USA. Christians boycott them or ignore them. They don’t riot or hurt people or call for hangings though.
Recommend
Peace brothers to you all be it Moslem or Christian or Jew or Atheist.Recommend
john 3:16
Recommend
Amazing what a massive group of uneducated religious zealots will protest over. Recommend
Who cares? Everyone needs to get over it! Next step for mankind.
Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
Sorry , the first amendment to the constitution guarantees free speech. You will find that a progressing nation shall not deny free speech. Come on over to the 21st century. No such thing as Blasphemy charges in the US . We respect the rights of others no matter what their faith. If someone offends you super hero it doesn’t mean they are put to death or sent to prison. Sticks and stones and all that. What could not happen in this country is the intimidation of free worship. You cannot enter another personal property and burn a cross or bible or Koran ,That’s not the same thing.
Recommend
So will the US get blamed for this death as well? Actually, the flag was probably made in China so using their logic….
Recommend
@Karim Azizi:
I agree. I feel the same who would make this video are burning flags. Just someone else s flag. we must get past all the extremism.
Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
No,Freedom of speech STARTS when the words and actions offend, insult and provoke others others. It’s not designed to protect only speech you or I like or agree with. The freedom comes from being able to say that which offends, insults and provokes. Otherwise it’s just the ability to say what others want to hear.
Recommend
If the US ever criminalizes blasphemy (not that I want to), it should make islam illegal because it’s blasphemy against christianity, and christianity illegal because it’s blasphemy against islam.
Recommend
If we cut off aid to the countries that are burning our flag, I bet that will send a message. This was the act of one fool who made a D rate movie that was not even the quality of a Saturday Night Live skit. These people need to see it for what it is. Many questionable movies and satires have been made about Jesus Christ and the Christians do not riot in the streets.
Recommend
@Parvez Amin: It’s freedom of speech no matter if you or i agree or disagree with it. Period, and that whole keeping church and state separate thing that is in the constitution. Just because a religion wants something in the US the belief is not going to get a law for it, and it’s laughable.
Recommend
I see all the protesters against the West in…..jeans,t-shirts,tennis shoes on cell phones with twitter accounts , while being broadcasted on You Tube and T.v……… I see a trend here!
Recommend
I know of a few good A-10 pilots looking for work
Recommend
I guess a little toxicology advice should have been in order. Many, many combustion products (wool,synthetics, other fabrics) contain cyanide (look at the deaths in hotel fires and plane crashes when there are no burn injuries in fatalities).
Oh well, I guess there weren’t enough secular protesters present. Trust me, faith doesn’t turn chicken sh*t into chicken salad. Natural laws make no exceptions.
Every year, we treat people who believe their faith will allow them to handle poisonous serpents
Recommend
Why in Gods name are we occupying places where we are not wanted, we should get out and let them to their own demise. By the way… have you ever seen anyone burning US currency in protest? NOT!
Recommend
@Parvez Amin: You are wrong. Freedom is speech is nothing if it doesn’t extend to what offends you.
Recommend
@Nabil: Racial profiling and sexual harassment are behavior, not speech.
Recommend
Alright let’s go with that Blasphemy law. We are a Christian nation built on Christian precepts and I believe the Muslim faith states that our Saviour Jesus Christ was not what he claimed. So who is blaspheming who in this case? The movies says nothing about Mohammad that he didn’t say or claim himself. So how is this blasphemy? Yet your hatred of those of us who believe in and worship Jesus is now a violent affront to our constitutional rights. We have the right to choose who we worship and also freedom of speech. Just as you do. When we have a movie which attacks Jesus, as Christians we merely boycott it. You may want to try that intelligent method of civil disobedience. Emphasis placed on “CIVIL”!!!!
Recommend
Perhaps these fanatics should wrap themselves in the American Flag before they light it aflame….then they wont have to worry about inhaling toxic fumes……
Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
Bull. This is America. We don’t control our people. If that’s how you want to live, so be it. But stay out of our land.Recommend
@AnisAqeel:
I enjoy the fact that one of the Muslim protesters, Abdullah Ismail, died from inhaling fumes from the burning U.S. Flag. We should put chemicals on all U.S. flags that go overseas, when burned, turn into poisonous gas. Leave our flags alone, no one gets hurt, Burn them, you die. Excellent. Excellent.
Recommend
Freedom of speech does not end when someone is offended. You have no right to be unoffended your whole life. You DO have the right to speak out against it, however (and again, that is freedom of speech).
The idea of freedom of speech was created to protect unpopular speech. If you don’t understand that, then you really don’t understand the concept at all. Anti-blasphemy laws are NOT freedom of speech- they are an infringement on human rights, and are easily abused.
Recommend
@Nabil:
“@Liberal Fascist:
Although I agree with you but I fail to understand that why then do we have laws against racial profiling or sexual harassment. The principle involved is similar is it not?”
No it is not. Racial profiling and sexual harassment deprive a person’s fundamental rights for personal freedom as they “attack” the person and not an idea. Verbally criticizing, lampooning, burning a book, shooting a video etc. about religion in no way affects the freedom of people to practice that religion.
Recommend
hay what ever happened to Salomom Rushdi
Recommend
The world where USA begins to mind its own business instead of trying to ‘help’ other countries, specially in the Middle East, would be a much more peaceful world. That will only stop if the US stops considering itself to be the World’s police.
If my house isn’t in order, I want time and space to deal with whatever issues I have. I don’t a guy from across town telling me what he thinks is best for me. Every individual is different, every country is different.
Recommend
@sabi:
“If you mean blasphemy law then ,it is not supported by Quran,sunnah.fiqah,hadith,or by any companion of Holy prophet (pubh).If you think it is islamic law then burden of proof lies on your shoulders.”
Yes, there is plenty of support for blasphemy laws in the quran, sunnah and the hadith if you take the effort to do an objective study of the scriptures.
Recommend
@Mubashir:
Very well spoken. I agree that Muslims should not let the rantings of another cause such turmoil. They should teach with love, peace, and forgiveness. Finally, someone with some sense spoke what needed to be said. Proud of your response. Thank you.
Recommend
@Nabil. The principle is not the same because race, sex, etc aren’t a choice. Religion is a choice and a belief..it is not discrimination to have a negative view of it or its followers. (although we do have laws against persecution based on religion) in the same way as you will have a negative view of your politcal opponents etc. you are allowed to not like and not respect others beliefs.
Recommend
The movie says more about the producer than it does about Islam. It is so bad, the producer is insulting himself more than being blasephemous to Islam. If you choose to be so offended, you should first look at what is tolerated by yourself, your country, and your peers. Ironically, the biggest offender to Islam are the violent Jihadists who prey mostly on other Muslims. And many of those violent Jihadist gained widespread support in the Islamic world in one form or another. Ironically, a country with a Christian majority is leading the fight against organizations which have made it routine to kill other Muslims. Many in Islamic countries still do not understand they are willful victims. How can they tolerate and idolize those among them who prey on them? Idolotry is forbidden in Islam, but Bin Laden was a living idol.
Recommend
@Not Likely: if you believe in freedom of speech why dont you publish a film about denial of the holocaust just for fun…. lets see if the “freedom” is given for you to do that… its a joke and dont even try and justify it….
Recommend
Abdullah Amin died as a result of the “smoke from the US Flag” !! Sad it is on one sense, but also quite hilarious — probably for the first time in recorded history that a flag of a country “kills” a person — but this just goes to show how powerful America is … when even its flag is lethal medicine…
Recommend
@MZJ:
If America started minding it’s own business and stopped helping other countries, half the world world starve to death or die of disease.
Recommend
I watched the trailer of this video, which, fortunately can be used in America to express an opinion. We have been assaulted on our own soil by people who think their beliefs are the only ones that count. Now they are saying we have no right to disagree with their belief, that this somehow has “infringed on their rights”? The maker of this video, in my view, is neither “right” or “wrong” to have an opinion. This “my god is better than your god” thinking has to stop and real communication has to begin if we are ever to have peaceful and pleasant lives. This country was founded on the premise of freedom of expression and freedom of choosing what to believe. To be “religious” is a choice, to be “non-religious” is a choice. We can do and be who we choose to be. If this government chooses to use prior illegal actions to haul this video maker into court to appease the radicals of any persuasion, then our first amendment will be down the tubes, and then?
Recommend
@Shahid:
It is funny that you disagree with US policies, but when the Muslims move here they forget their faith. Women drive; go out by themselves, drink and smoke. Where is your faith then? Why are so many Muslims forgetting their faith when they are here? It is because they have a choice? Is it because they really do not believe in their faith? I am a Christian and there are many times that Christ has been insulated. I do not go out and burn houses, kill people or have demands. You don’t want the US in your country fine. But don’t call us when you are in trouble
Recommend
@us:
It does not take much to get a billion muslems out in the street burnig there cars and business ,
Recommend
i’m sorry that more of them didn’t inhale the fumes from the burning flags.
Recommend
1st Amendment to the US Constitution:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Please note that our (I’m a US citizen) right to both freedom of (and, if one so wishes, from) religion AND speech were considered important enough to be placed together in the FIRST amendment. It will be awfully hard to convince any American that either should be curtailed just to asuage anothers hurt feelings. Learning to accept an insult without taking it personally, and sometimes even forgiving the person for it, is often considered a mark of maturity and adulthood for many of us.
So important do we consider our freedom of speech that some of us take Voltaire’s words as a personal oath: “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
There is nothing the filmmaker nor the producer can be charged with under US law. They could have made an equally insulting film about Jesus, Moses or non-religious figures like President Obama. Some years ago a photographer exhibited a photo of a crucifix immersed in a jar of urine. He was not prosecuted, and there were no violent protests. This is called “freedom of speech” and like most Americans I deplore this film and will not view it but do not believe our laws should be changed.
Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
Umm, no. Freedom of speech is just that. Because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it needs to be outlawed. I think many of the things our President says are absurd and wrong but that doesn’t mean they need to be made illegal.Recommend
@Abdul Majid: Actually people do try to deny it happened.Mostly they are ignored or ridiculed. The only ones they impress are those that agreed with them in the first place. Their problem is that there is too much evidence that the holocaust really did happen and decent Americans are horribly offended by that. So films like that get made and cost their makers money and time and reveal them as the haters they are. Eventually they self destruct in some way. If it was not the holocaust it would be something else. Recommend
@Parvez Amin: Actually that’s not true. Freedom of s
Speech means just that. How you feel about it is on you.
I do hope that we separate the two countries. You can stay in the 13 century, we shall move on.
Recommend
Even a child, in less than 2 minutes, can watch that video and see that the people who made it not only had no resources, but also had no knowledge about cinema, which questions their IQ in the first place. So a group of people world wide, with the only visible common thread being called “Islam”, determine that the correct action should be to start executing ambassadors, etc., or for that matter, any American they can get their hands on. The Middle East is the last remaining piece of the planet where no improvement in human rights has occurred since before the Ottoman Empire existed. It would be for the best if the protesters stepped up the attacks to a level where the U.S. could finally step and finish the ongoing onslaught of barbarian behavior.
Recommend
@M.Ahmer Ali: Would you like to explain that when a film is made then is passed and permitted by the film censor board to become releasable or unreleasable and who controls the film censor board?
Funniest thing I’ve read all day. What on earth is a film censor board?
It is quite heartening to read some of the comments of those who “get it”, but from an American perspective we are bemused by some of the more ridiculous assumptions made about how things work here, and to be truthful this episode makes us wonder how strong a faith can be if such a silly film can cause it damage.
Recommend
@Supa: President Obama supports freedom of speech and freedom of religion, the first amendment in our Bill of Rights, which includes those citizens who do not identify with any religion. I do agree with you that “blasphemous” films have been made in America, but even as a devout Christian, Bill Maher’s film (actually titled “Religulous”) doesn’t shake my faith. In fact it strengthens it, because it engages me to explore my faith and find interior peace. Even if I disagree, I believe first and foremost that he is free to express his opinions, and it’s more important and betters my person to engage in civil discourse through an open mind and non-violence. A child is easily provoked, but a mature person walks through the valley of the shadow of death and is not shaken by fear nor stirred into violence (lol, James Bond).
Recommend
So those marginals want us to change our constitution because you do not like a movie or our freedom of speech? Instead of protesting… be happy. Go get yourself a good burger with lots of bacon, stone your women for being raped, and keep up the good work you are doing with your “peacefull religion” as you say it is
Recommend
@Nabil: An interesting analogy, but it is not the same principle. Racial Profiling and Sexual Harassment can lead to physical or socioeconomic harm, a direct threat upon a person’s life. Those protections are in place to prevent false arrest, false imprisonment, sexual assault, rape, and infringement upon other amendments in the Bill of Rights. If the producer of this incendiary film had attacked Muslim persons then he would be charged with a Hate Crime. His attack is limited to speech (speech Americans were not even aware of until these protests, because few Youtube videos receive wide distribution), and thus is protected. If we disagree, we are more than free to voice our opposition (or even make a responding video), but any reaction that incites violence or harm becomes the true crime.
Recommend
@M.Ahmer Ali: Response to Question 1: Who controls the film censor board: The MPAA, or the Motion Picture Association of America, a private, voluntary entity not enforced by law. Meaning, there is no government control involved.
Response to Question 2: Actually, if there were a film blaspheming Christianity (aren’t there plenty already?) we’d react exactly as you’ve stated; keep silence and show patience and tolerance. True followers of ANY faith show patience and tolerance. Anyone who attacks with violence, death and hatred is not a true follower of their faith, and thus is the real blasphemer.
Recommend
@Jamshed:
First of all all of the us aid is spent on the illetrate rulers of pakistan. Which already means that we are living without the neednof any aid and other than that if the gawadar port is made, which probably will not because of the americans, we could get 4 times the revenue and budget to control Pakistan. Why does it happen in usa why isnt china or germany invovled in such acts?
Recommend
so, wait. we should stop all aid to Pakistan and blockade all imports, sounds like…
wonder how long it would take before they decided maybe they need the US after all…
Recommend
@Liberal Fascist who says “How is the US government responsible for this video?”
Similarly what Taliban led Afghan Govt had to do with 9/11?
Saddam Led Iraqi govt had to do with weapons of mass destruction?
I am sure you know where are you wrong.Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
“Freedom of speech ends where the words and actions offend, insult and provoke others”
NO IT DOES NOT
Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
Your comment offends me deeply. I demand that you be tried and punished, immediately.
Recommend
What you all fail to understand is that the anger is not really about the film, but US interference in the region which has been going on long long before 9/11.
This US interference for oil which comes in the forms of various wars and support for tyrants is what these “extremists” are saying must end.
Anger against the film and now cartoon was just the unifying principle to express this more direct demand.
It is therefore a disservice to mischaracterize this anger and display a willing ignorance .
Recommend
@honey bee
Love Oil, but hate Muslims?
Yeah think about that bud.
You know why it’s called petrodollars? It’s not their oil.
Recommend
@joni
Please stop using oil from the Middle East.
Stop supporting tyrants like Hosni Mubarak.
The oil is not yours , and your dollars mean nothing without that oil
So just stop taking the oil from the middle east
Recommend
@Parvez Amin: Anyone can claim to be insulted, offended, or provoked by pretty much anything. There is no freedom of speech if speech is limited by possible offense, insult, or claimed provocation of others. That’s tyranny, not freedom. That’s mob rule, not freedom. In the USA one of our most basic rights is the freedom of speech. We hope that people use that freedom respectfully, but some don’t. By law, their freedom of speech is protected also, as is everyone else’s rights to disagree with what was said. The only limits on freedom of speech are when something one says clearly causes immediate and unnecessary danger to others – such as yelling ‘fire’ in a crowded area when there is no fire. In that situation, panicked people trying to flee all too often accidentally wind up crushing others. Otherwise, we expect that people are mature and civilized enough, however, that they will not take out frustration or anger at something someone says by destroying property, or physically attacking the offensive person – or even worse, by attacking other innocent people. When they aren’t, they are the ones who wind up in court and who are punished, not the person exercising their freedom of speech.
Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
you’re wrong, in America there are no exceptions to offense. words should never be an excuse to murder a fellow human being.
Recommend
@Parvez Amin:
You are sadly mistaken, my friend. The constitution places almost no restrictions on speech and offending someone is not among them. We are free to offend each other. It is a very precious freedom. If you don’t like the movie, don’t watch, or make movie of your own. The antedote for bad speech is more speech.
Recommend
What I find offensive is that these radicals find a silly, poorly made film MORE offensive than the riots and murdering of innocent people simply because they happen to be Americans. Then if that isn’t disgusting enough, to call it a “gift”. I doubt that the death of the man who inhaled fumes from our American flag will be looked upon as karma, but maybe it should be. Only one thing is certain…. Violence solves NOTHING and it certainly does not do anything to help the Muslim people who wish to promote their religion as a “peaceful” one. Why can’t people stop blaming an entire country over the actions of a select few? Why are the people in the Middle East so quick to burn and pillage?? It is THEIR COUNTRY after all, not ours that is suffering the damage. Don’t they have better things to do with their time???????????
Recommend
@joni:
Shoulda been done long ago
Recommend
Well, this was a start… Another 1.5 Billion and we’re good to go!
Recommend
We should be fine with these folks not wanting our consulates there. We should close all embassies in Pakistan and withdraw all financial and military aid. We should also revoke all visas of anyone from Palestine and send those folks back home.Then, the next time an American is killed in their country, we should invade the country and send them back into the stone age.
Recommend
@us:
If anyone has a right to be bitter, it is Christians and Jews. You folks have been persecuting them for years. Your imprisonment and execution of Christians is what offends me and you talk about a movie? Get real. Hundreds of thousands of muslims dancing in the streets after 3000 Americans were murdered by muslims in 2001 is offensive. The feigned outrage of third world countries grows tiresome
Recommend
@abc:
The United States is not subordinate to nor are the answerable to the UN.
Recommend
@Maqbool Basha:
Many Americans would favor not buying any more cheap, poorly made crap from Pakistan.
Recommend
people stop being mean to perwez amin, a person has already corrected him so it quite unnecessary to gang up and rant about how wrong he is
Recommend
@M.Ahmer Ali:
“First of all any muslim of the world shall not any blasphemous movie against any non-muslims’ religion of the world because Islam teaches us honor and respect the other non-muslims’ religions of the world and would you like to explain that suppose if any muslim makes any blasphemous movie against Christianity or any other non-muslims’ religion then what shall you do?????”
One thing we don’t do is behead people or otherwise kill, burn the property of, or otherwise persecute other Muslims for your insane beliefs. Please explain to the rest of us civilized people how your “Islam teaches us honor” coincides with that?
Recommend
Where do all these American flags come from? Do you have a stock pile of them just for burning? I have no Pakisani flags, or Egyprian flags, or Iranian flags, or Iraqi,or Afghanastani flags and wouldn”t know where to buy one even if I wanted to burn it in effigy.
Recommend
“Freedom of speech ends where the words and actions offend, insult and provoke others others. The action of making a film clearly designed to hurt the feelings of muslims is wrong and requires trial and punishment.”
Ah, Parvez, please tell me what would be the punishment required for such a video :
http://youtu.be/fmzEE6C9Q0c
and so many others in the same vein, profusely broadcasted on islamic media.
Oh, but stupid me… Only the ones “clearly designed to hurt the feelings of MUSLIMS are wrong and deserve punishment”…Recommend
@M.Ahmer Ali:
“Would you like to explain that when a film is made then is passed and permitted by the film censor board to become releasable or unreleasable and who controls the film censor board?”
It’s EXACTLY why the US government has no responsibility whatsoever in this “film”, that apparently has never been released, nor viewed by anyone, and the only existing trace of it is this 13 mn “trailer” put on youtube (by who ???), and certainly not with the official approval of any US official.
I wouldn’t dare say the same thing about the videos broadcasted by the official islamic medias targeting the jews (cf the link in my previous message).
Recommend
@bosty:
“makes us wonder how strong a faith can be if such a silly film can cause it damage.”
I think you touched a really raw nerve, right there….
Recommend
They better hope they can get anti-blasphemy laws passed. Because Islam cannot stand in the face of reasoned criticism.
Recommend
It’s just a movie that should be protected under free speech. There are many movies, books, and tv shows that express personal opinion or what some see as facts. If this movie should be banned because of its content I believe disrespecting Christianity should be banned as well. I also believe burning the American flag the symbol out our great country should be absolutely not tolerated, but I don’t control the stupidity of Americans. To put blame on a low budget terrible film like this one for terrorism is asinine. Look at the facts and use common sense.
Recommend