EU 'deplores' Bilour's bounty call for anti-Islam filmmaker

US finds Bilour's announcement inflammatory, inappropriate: Official


Afp September 24, 2012

BRUSSELS/ WASHINGTION: The European Union deplored Monday the call by Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad Bilour for a $100,000 bounty to be put on the head of the maker of an anti-Islam film which has sparked deadly protests around the world.

"We deplore the call for a bounty," Michael Mann, spokesman for EU foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton, told a press briefing.

"We are particularly concerned that this call should come from a member of the government even if the prime minister has dissociated himself from the remarks,” Mann added.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Sunday rejected the bounty promised by Bilour as a "prize" for killing the filmmaker.

The producer of the film, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, is reported to be a 55-year-old Egyptian Copt and convicted fraudster, based in Los Angeles and currently out on parole.

US reports say Nakoula wrote and produced the film, using the pseudonym Sam Bacile before being identified. Police questioned him before he went into hiding with his family.

The film has sparked outrage across the Muslim world, with protests reported in more than 20 countries and over 50 people killed in demonstrations or attacks.

US slams Bilour's bounty

The United States also condemned the offer made by the railways minister.

The State Department weighed in Sunday, with an official recalling that US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “have both said the video at the core of this is offensive, disgusting, and reprehensible.”

The official added: “But that is no justification for violence and it is important for responsible leaders to stand up and speak out against violence.”

“Therefore we find Bilour’s announcement is inflammatory and inappropriate,” the official said in a statement.

COMMENTS (42)

Dr. A.K.Tewari | 11 years ago | Reply

Pak railway minister has acted as per Islam being practiced in Pakistan while world opinion is in favour of to root out such Islam for ever . The war against terrorism will remain inconclusive without meeting the said goal .

Muhammad Ali | 11 years ago | Reply

@Suhaib Sumrani: Voice of every true muslim should be doing him/herself, instead of asking others. He is just playing with words, his career as a minister turned out to be total disaster. After Rehman Malik, he is most criticized minister. Now he wants to play pious guy role.

Fool Pakistani nation once again stand behind those who use Islam for their gains...We as a nation are truly at lowest point....

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