NEW YORK:
Condemning “mindless violence” over the anti-Islam movie, US President Barack Obama has said that the US could not ban the controversial video under the First Amendment law of the Constitution – which protects freedom of speech – in his address at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly.
However, terming the sacrilegious video “crude and disgusting”, the president reiterated that the US government had nothing to do with the movie and insisted that there was no speech that justified violence.
Beginning his speech by eulogising the late US Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, who was killed two weeks ago along with three other Americans, President Obama said: “There are no words that excuse the killing of innocents. There is no video that justifies an attack on an embassy. There is no slander that provides an excuse for people to burn a restaurant in Lebanon, or destroy a school in Tunis, or cause death and destruction in Pakistan,” he asserted.
“I believe its message must be rejected by all who respect our common humanity. It is an insult not only to Muslims, but to America as well – for as the city outside these walls makes clear, we are a country that has welcomed people of every race and religion.
“We are home to Muslims who worship across our country. We not only respect the freedom of religion – we have laws that protect individuals from being harmed because of how they look or what they believe. We understand why people take offense to this video because millions of our citizens are among them,” he told UN General Assembly.
Freedom of speech
The US president said that while they could not ban the video under the First Amendment law of the Constitution, there was no speech that justified mindless violence. “Here in the United States, countless publications provoke offence. Like me, the majority of Americans are Christian, and yet we do not ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs.”
Obama also warned that in 2012 “when anyone with a cell phone can spread offensive views around the world with the click of a button, the notion that we can control the flow of information is obsolete.
“The question, then, is how we respond. And on this we must agree: there is no speech that justifies mindless violence. There are no words that excuse the killing of innocents.”
‘Relentless revenge’
He vowed to hunt those behind the “attack on America” in Libya that killed the US ambassador.
“The attacks on our civilians in Benghazi were attacks on America. There should be no doubt that we will be relentless in tracking down the killers and bringing them to justice.
“Today, we must affirm that our future will be determined by people like Chris Stevens, and not by his killers. Today, we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our United Nations.” (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (75)
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@Reallity Check: Nothing of this sort will happen.
@Muhammad Saleem Usmani: "will he not ban a video if it only raised questions about the perceived holocaust?" This has been asked and answered multiple times. There are NO holocaust denial laws in US. It is not hypothetical about what Obama would do. You can go to youtube today and type holocaust lies. You will come up with any number of holocaust denial videos. So that proves they are not banned.
@Truth: "If I were in USA and used my freedom of speech and said–The halocaust is just a fairy tale, it never happened. Hitler was a saint and a hero! would they have said fine, its okay with his freedom of speech? Can anyone say this in the USA and still remain free?"
Yes, you would remain free. If you say things that are unpopular, you may paya socioeconomic price but you WILL remain free if you deny holocaust in US and even if you praise Hitler. BEcause there are NO holocaust denial laws in US. Also if you go to youtube (the same youtube where this movie was uploaded), you willbe able to find countless movies that deby holocaust. No one has asked Youtube to remove them and if they have, you tube has not complied.
Can we have freedom of speech on the fabricated story of so called Holocaust? Can we do research on Holocaust? If you are dark it does not mean that you can get away with anything and people will stop cursing you unlike GW Bush…
@Truth... are you in a dream land... many ppl in america say that, it is very common to criticize anybody and everybody, until and unless you do not cause any harm physically... everybody has the right to have their opinions, and the opinions cannot be forced onto anybody... ARE YOU GUYS SERIOUS? do you really not understand this, or are you guys just playing the victim card?
So how about I launch monkey chants about Obama? Hey its freedom of speech right. So what if its offensive? Oh wait that becomes hate speech. And this is freedom of expression.
@Moise: Just FYI In America you can question the Holocaust in the USA. In fact there are many Holocaust deniers in the US. Holocaust denial is a punishable in those countries where atrocities against the jews was actually committed. The countries include Germany,Romania, Hungary etc. This may be due to the collective guilt of the people from these countries.
Hope entire world adopts US constitution.
@rome: you can speak whatever vile you want and can answer me with vile comments if I abuse you. But I want to point out that I call ,your say your mom, something... that doesn't make her that,does it? So it is best when you ignore such people.
About the video,yes it was very offensive but there are hundred of videos on Youtube which are vile and offensive to Christians,Jews,Hindus etc and they have been made by Muslims. Nobody has complained about them,have they? And Youtube has not deleted those videos,has it? So if you are asking America and Youtube to delete this one,then all of those must be deleted too for equal treatment. That is simply not possible with the sheer large no. of videos and the different perception of and tolerance level of different people.
@Colleen: Why protect such nastiness? That is the question. Distinguish between Freedom of Speech and Freedom to abuse/blaspheme. Tolerance to the limit of being insensitive is not good. Then it becomes evil. You may have become insensitive to abuse but is that good? Why allow such nonsense under the garb of Freedom of Speech. Anyway, 1.6 billion Muslims cannot tolerate hate speech/abuse against their prophet. Can you be sensitive to that at least? Having said that the reaction was totally out of line and absolutely wrong for which Muslims should apologize.
@Moise: The ADL does not have that kind of authority, nor would it be legal, nor did it happen. I challenge anyone reading this to find legitimate proof from an unbiased source that the U.S. had a bounty out for this man's head. The man is still alive and has renounced his position. Here is the link to a story about a published book in the U.S. that denied the Holocaust. The author was arrested, but only in The Czech Republic because it was illegal there. His publication was legal in the U.S. http://www.adl.org/mainExtremism/DavidDuke_Arrested.htm I understand anger in the Islamic world about Israel, but there's no reason to buy into every Zionist conspiracy diatribe you hear.
The free-est speech by the leader of the so-called "free" world.The speech is totally free of: 1."mindful thinking", 2.common, rare, any sense, 3."the US government had nothing to do with the movie" implies that, 4."the Pakistan government had nothing to do with the reaction to the movie" 5."the Libyan government had nothing to do with the killing of the US ambassador", 6."the government of any country had nothing to do with the reaction to the movie", 7.Therefore governments are a redundant specie, no more needed, so forget about elections, 8.“The attacks on our civilians in Benghazi were attacks on America", implies that, 9.“The drone attacks on Pakistani civilians in Waziristan are attacks on Pakistan". 10.“The US attacks on civilians in Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. are attacks on those counrties", 11."There should be no doubt that we will be relentless in tracking down the killers and bringing them to justice", Pakstanis too, will be relentless in tracking down the killers of civilians in Waziristan (by drones) and bringing them to justice", 12."Today, we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our United Nations", "Pakistan also declares that this violence and intolerance has no place among our United Nations". I can't type any more Oh! ..... Oh!Baa!Maa! Regards.
@Truth: Yes I can because saying anything against or about the holocaust is NOT a crime in America. You are thinking of Germany.
Questioning the holocaust is entirely legal in the U.S.
Actually, It is only illegal in a small number of European countries that involved in Nazism.
@Muhammad Saleem Usmani: No he will not genius. 1) Cause it not illegal to produce such a video about the Holocaust, 9/11 or whatever hateful nonsense you want. (As long as its not inciting violence) 2) Cause he has more important things to do like running a country then worry about some stupid video.
And maybe you people should also concentrate on more important things that might actually help Pakistanis. Muslims are sadly fast becoming the laughing stock of the world cause of their primitiveness, stupidity and ignorance.
Obama is a liar.....will he not ban a video if it only raised questions about the perceived holocaust?
Well make sure you know what you are asking for i.e. "Banning anything that offends....."
Just Muslims: if yes, then there isn't a bigger hypocrite/bigot than you in the world.
All Human being: Wont Muslims have to reciprocate by banning anything that offend other human being. Mind you kalma stating no god but one god will offend monothiesists religions i.e. hindus.
would you ban reciting kalma. i guess not.
@ Truth
Let me share some Truth, if you want to come to the US and say that the Holocaust never happened and that Hitler is your hero then you are more than welcome to do so. Let me make this perfectly clear to EVERYONE who seems to be under some crazy misconception, there are NO Holocaust denial laws in the US and yes all that Hilter is my hero garbage is protected under the first amendment. As is burning the US flag or any other flag, any books and any religious art (such as the piece where Jesus on the cross is submerged in some guy's urine). Do Christians like it? No, they don't, but since it is protected under our laws, there isn't anything they can do about it but ignore it or write angry letters.
if a movie was made where hindu Gods are blasphemised,plenty being made as it is, then what do the hindus do.They just look bleak and say."guys,you are barking up the wrong tree" and while the guys go on barking, they stay up the tree enjoying the fruits of life!! Learn to ignore, the barking will stop.Reaction good or bad,shows immaturity and frustration and signs of ones own weakness.
@Talha: Thanks for the correction. Regards from under the rocks.
@Marie: That is why there was a kill order on David Cole in US from ADL.
If I were in USA and used my freedom of speech and said--The halocaust is just a fairy tale, it never happened. Hitler was a saint and a hero! would they have said fine, its okay with his freedom of speech? Can anyone say this in the USA and still remain free?
@Qasim: "Let us start with Obama first with “N” names, his family and all of his loved ones. Will he or will he not react?" He will be offended and will tell you to learn about black history and if you still dont get it he will follow the LEGAL process whatever it maybe. Dont you think he has already experienced this abuse being the first black president of the US. Im certain he wont be burning buildings, killing people and then crying that we should remove the word 'Nigger' from the internet. Some of you people make me wonder in which direction Pakistani society is heading. Even educated people wont even think for a second.
Well said President Obama. Freedom of speach cannot be compromised in any circumstances. People should learn to show restraint in this information age where spreading of religious hate is very easy
This morning's news: Posters asking for support to "civilized" in their fight against "savage" jehadis has been posted on New York subway stations. Those will be there for one month. Due process before it was allowed to be posted determined that it is "free speech" and cannot be banned. Some people interviewed for their reaction observed that "savages" was a little harsh; "barbarians" would have been a better word!
@rome: Let us start with Obama first with "N" names, his family and all of his loved ones. Will he or will he not react?
The debate here is pointless. The laws will always be written by the powerful / victors and in today's global economy clearly the western civilization is the victor and hence their laws are being adhered to.
So much so that even in Muslim majority and financially better off countries, there has been minimal efforts to ask the western countries to amend their constitutions to ensure these things are not repeated in future.
Unless we build up our economy and educate our masses things will remain as they are today!
@Lala Gee: "Then you shouldn’t be complaining about the Pakistan’s non-state actors’ as well, as Pakistani government also has nothing to do with their actions."
So be it and then you too should not be complaining if the US targets Pakistan whole sale! Point is very simple. If one does not want to watch a movie, one can do so, but can one prevent a terrorist from not killing someone if the victim of terrorist so decides? Or do you think that the people who are killed by terrorists volunteer to be killed? So Lala Gee keep this irrational logic to yourself. No point being clever by half.
@vinod: u must be living under a rock or did really bad at geography.....its not 'south i arabia' its 'SAUDI ARABIA'
I dont get it. Youtube removes the video and songs that repeatedly uses the word 'NIGGER' off their server as HATE SPEECH. I simply dont GET IT!
US pl keep on making these low cost WMDs.Its a smart way to deal with the block heads
This is the face of america and Europe . Liberal Facist should look into this and stop praising america and Europe
Shouldn't there be a difference between Freedom of Speech and Freedom to abuse/blaspheme? Why allow anyone to cross the level of decency in a civilized society. If anyone was to abuse anyone's family, can he take cover under First Amendment and Freedom of Speech?
@Justice: to prove that they are hopelessly ignorant
Obama, what about those Muslims who r killed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, bur ma and Israel and U r the responsible..
Perhaps a lot of people need to understand that this is 21st century and the way society functions has changed completely during the past 1000 years. They need to realize and understand the rules of the civilized world and no doubt America stand for freedom and freedom of speech, anyone who doubts it should first look at their own constitutional provisions regarding minorities!!
We now demand a Yome Ishqe Haqqani +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
@VINOD: you got to have one to amend one. :).
I really wonder whether the movie maker was the inducer of the violence or the egyptian TV channel which translated the dialogue into arabic and loaded it onto utube is the instigator. Why no action against the TV channel for instigating violence.
freedom of speech does not mean hurting the feelings and beliefs of millions of people by broadcasting false images and portraying untrue facts about Islam and its followers. This movie should be banned and the responsible culprits should be punished.
they got what they wanted...end of story..!!
Railway Minister Bilour announces a bounty for the film maker and all here say it is freedom of speech.
@sensible: provided south i Arabia is prepared to amend their constitution and permit complete religious freedom to all.
“We are home to Muslims who worship across our country. We not only respect the freedom of religion – we have laws that protect individuals from being harmed because of how they look or what they believe. We understand why people take offense to this video because millions of our citizens are among them,” he told UN General Assembly.“Here in the United States, countless publications provoke offence. Like me, the majority of Americans are Christian, and yet we do not ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs.” Request every educated Muslim should read these line twenty times and ponder the truth behind.
This is not the freedom of speech Mr obama, This is freedom of act.
@Lala Gee: But Pakistan's "non-state actors" have killed nearly 40,000 Pakistanis (and probably maimed and injured twice that number)!
stop playing ........you fail to do what American people want in 5 years.....it is time for you to leave!
@rome: the whole Pakistan government is corrupt and has been for decades but that's not really our culture (or is it?), similarly, don't blame the whole of America for one stupid ignorant fool and don't mix their culture for their government policies. I condemn the film and the war and the killing as much as you do but I won't blame the whole of America and Americans for this.
nuff said
Thank you Obama for protecting freedom of speech.
@Moise: Denying the Holocaust is not illegal in the U.S. I wish I could write that in big bold letters for everyone to see, because nearly every Muslim outside the U.S. is falsely under this impression, and it feeds this false narrative that this my first amendment rights are being used to single out Islam only. This particular dingbat did single out Islam, but our laws as a whole do not. If it isn't already banned in Pakistan, watch any episode of South Park and you'll see that Christians and Jews get made fun off all the time.
@Lala Gee: "Then you shouldn’t be complaining about the Pakistan’s non-state actors’ as well, as Pakistani government also has nothing to do with their actions."
The issue that US an India have against PAkistani non-state actors like Haqqanis and LeT is not that they offend our feelings but that they kill our people. There IS a difference and it is not very subtle. Further, we believe based on past experience that these non-state actors actualy receive support from the deep state
"“The attacks on our civilians in Benghazi were attacks on America." Can't be said anymore than this.
Restricting free speech is restricting every pulpit sermons, religious or sacrilegious ones.
"Obama said US government had nothing to do with movie."
Then you shouldn't be complaining about the Pakistan's non-state actors' as well, as Pakistani government also has nothing to do with their actions.
If you can call violence "mindless" on a film derogatory of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), what will you do next? Better, I do not write it here.
"Freedom of Expression" is an abusive and highly disparaging term and the US congressional representatives did caution against the free use of this expression when passing the First Amendment.
Mr. Obama! Your late father was a Muslim and you are free to choose your adherence to any religion. Nevertheless, showing respect for another religion acquires primacy of thought and action in every individual, which in your case as the President of USA, is getting abrasive and scorching by the day.
Salams to terra firma.
This is called standing up to the Extremists!
You don't declare national holidays to please them. You tell them what Freedom is all about and we will not budge for hooliganism.
The Film Maker might have provoked, but the trigger was pulled by the Muslims all over the world. His action was in bad taste, but the action of so many Muslims was against Humanity.
We have freedom of Speech but you can't question Holocaust.
Well said.
Mark my words: USA will stop neither FREE SPEECH nor DRONE SPEECH to appease some Pakistani hawks.
if i call a human being donkey 3-4 times on his face i think i should expect a slap or a punch in my face. but some people u can swear abt his mother without him doing any harm to you because he believe im freedom of speech. what world does people live in. there is no such thing as freedom of speech. its against human nature.
well if president obama really thinks that video was disgusting and offensive, then why can't they make another constitution amendment to prevent this outrage in future!
What a joke: Killings in agfhanistan, killings in iraq, drones in pakistan who have killed thousands, urinating on dead people, burning quran etc. And their he tries to tell that their culture is pure and clean and the best in the world. Does he speak to people outside that building or what?. Nobodý take his word seriously. At leas not people who have awareness of what is happening in the world.