ISLAMABAD: Railways minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, who offered $100,000 for the death of a film-maker who produced an anti-Islam movie, Tuesday stood by the bounty, saying it was the "only way" to stop insults to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
Bilour sparked international condemnation when he offered the blood money and urged the Taliban and al Qaeda to carry out what he called the "noble deed".
Pakistan’s government and Bilour's own party have distanced themselves from the reward for the person behind the crudely-made "Innocence of Muslims", which has sparked violent protests across the Islamic world.
But Bilour insisted public opinion was behind him in Pakistan - which has seen dozens of protests against the film including nationwide rallies on Friday that ended in bloodshed and looting, with 21 people killed.
"I expressed my personal view and faith. I stand by my declaration," he told AFP.
"My faith is non-violent, but I cannot forgive and tolerate (this insult)."
He said a businessman from Lahore had offered to put up a further $400,000 for the reward and said that freedom of speech should not be used as an excuse to insult Islam.
"Killing is not a good way, but right now it is the only way, because no action has been taken from Western countries (against the film-maker)," he said.
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.
Correction: In an earlier headline, the term "noble" was misspelt. The error has been fixed.
COMMENTS (73)
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Was blowing up the 2000 year old gentle and noble Buddha's statues good.?Would you announce a reward for the punishment of these desecratees' or is this to be ignored when it is about other religions.
Mr Bilour has not read The Holy Quran !! Shame on you !!
@R2D2: Nope, not yet. But it did announce bounty on Osama, Saddam etc.
@janamhussain: I you don't , then you must .. !!
* RESPECT *
No matter what he did in the past ....
@Owais: grow up. Your statement is totally irrelevant.
@lala gee
i assure you 1600 million people were not hurt by this film. most of us do not even care.
Every time I see his picture and during the clip of him offering the bounty I always end up wondering the same thing. Is he on drugs? Not in the "that action is so messed up you must be on drugs" way. I mean, literally. Look at his eyes.
@Imran Munawar: something which is wrong can't be cute. It is your perception to think it otherwise., need to grow.
He is a cunning businessman. He knows when to purchase and when to sell. He has shown that he is more loyal to Islam than leaders of religious parties. What he has purchased today he shall sell tomorrow at the election time. Now the defeat of JUI candidate is guaranteed. Moreover, it is hoped that as a "man of principles" he shall also announce a bounty for the killing of those so-called Muslims who have burned a church and Bibles in Mardan and defaced the name of Christ on the walls of the church. As per the Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) a Muslim is one who likes for himself the same what he likes for others,
@ Vishnu Dutta: "IF US announces a bounty on your head in response then you wouldnt live for a day." Wrong comparision;
"IF FILM-MAKER announces a bounty on your head in response then you wouldnt live for a day."
US had nothing to do with the film and bounty was not announced against the US. But the sentiment seems right. The wife comment was uncalled for. ..pc
Someone please ask him how much railway track equals $100,000.
@unbeliever: You missed the point. The minister is rich and corrupt and has destroyed the railways in the country as he owns a fleet of trucks. That is all that was emphasized. No one can and would put a price on your country. The world has gone insane.
Bilour claims that his bounty for committing murder is based on his personal conviction and faith. As Islam is supposed to rule everything (morality, psychology, socio-economics, politics, relations, etc.) in an Islamic State his personal conviction does not matter at all. Actually he should not have any personal conviction if he is a good Muslim. He should just live in accordance with the Holy Quran. So either his claim is in accordance with Islam or it is not. If not he should be punished in accordance with Holy Quran (according to his own belief). The comments above show that (mostly educated) readers as usual do not agree. A frightening number seem yet to agree with his act. Others are of the retaliatory school and call for a bounty on his head (Hammurabi, Abrahamic religions). If his act is in line with the teachings then one should not be surprised that non-Muslims will be critical about the basics of this belief system as his act is against the basic (secular) laws in most civilized nations. This is not a game of words but goes to the heart of separation of State and Religion as the Holy Quran is an essential part of the Pakistani Constitution. This dilemma needs an answer. Especially because Bilour is a Minister. Maybe a case for the SC being responsible for upholding the Constitution.
Is this not a clinching evidence to declare Pakistan a State Sponsor of Terrorism like North Korea?
@Lala Gee:
Please do not bring all 1600 Muslims in the picture; I may say this is a collective decision of majority of (out of almost 5400 million) non-Muslims to let Muslims know that they do not have monopoly on being offended by others. Muslims have been insulting almost all non-Muslims religions including fringe groups such as Kafirs, atheists, agnostics, LGBT, and similar group who also share the same planet.
If he was that upset that did not want to spend his money on the poor people of Pakistan but to have a punishment for the movie maker, (if he was civilized) he could have done what the US had done with criminal hafiz saeed, that is to issue a bounty on any info about the movie maker that may help to create a legal case against him, but since he is not civilized he did what uncivilized people do to offer a bounty on the head of a citizen of another country.
@Vishnu Dutta: didnt US issue a bounty on another criminal, Hafiz Saeed?
@choptocut: Muslims want to intimidate others into their compliance, and in the process prove those people right that islam was spread through sword and that it is a violent religion
Its great to see the Minister proclaim he is a Muslim first and a Government representative later.... perhaps he can let Islam be his Moral compass fort the rest of the year as well and refrain from bleeding the Pakistan Railways dry... This is just a cheap publicity stunt from a man who has a known track record of graft, corruption and nepotism.
Typical political stunt of trying to act holier than the pope on other people's sins while turning a blind eye to your own conduct....
Why is this guy not fired yet? Goes to show the incompetence of current government.
Noble Deed??? Is it in Quran or we get its evidence from the Prophet (PBUH) own life ? In fact taking human life is the greatest sin. If such people are in authority Pak is indeed the most dangerous country.
"but bilour says public opinion is behind him in Pakistan".
That is the problem. Leaders are supposed to lead and do what is right and not just popular. And the government not holding him accountable and prosecuting him shows what little regard we have for our laws. The hypocrisy is mind boggling. We have arguably the most immoral society where the fundamental right of life is challenged at every corner due to ones ethnicity, gender, class and religion. Where corruption, abuse of women and minorities, drug and human trafficking, prostitution and honor killings are a part of daily life. And we have the audacity to ask other people to show respect? That's just pathetic, hypocritical, immature and dishonest. Until we look within and improve our own moral character, it would be best to shut up and not ask others to improve theirs. Mr bilour, I thank you bringing shame to my country yet again, as if he evens of the recent past were not enough
@shafi: Two things, first you misspelled "hundred" so i dont know how seriously people will take your offer.
Second, the movie isnt released yet, it was just a trailer which was released in july.
The "bounty" on offer is no peanuts. Would the FBR care to find out the source of this kind of loose change lying around with Mr. Bilour. Also how much did Mr. Bilour pay as Income Tax in the last fiscal year??
mr minster you saying these words in pakistan only in other country you are total finnish you have no any words in your mouth who many muslims country minster says these word which you are saying mr minster first for all you see your country then will talk mr minster you are total fail minster mr minster say only words of your minster you are over limmit talk
Isn't it cute, but its wrong!!!
in the name of railway..
A leader is supposed to do what is right, even if it's unpopular.
The minister should be removed from the cabinet without further loss of time for two good reasons ie tarnishing Pakistan image in the international arena which is now at its lowest level amongst the Muslim nations and gross mismanagement of Pak railways which is suffering Rs one crore loss per month.
@Vishnu
"IF US announces a bounty on your head in response then you wouldnt live for a day. even your wife will want to collect the bounty."
Thanks for that... I haven't laughed so hard in a while.
MR Noble... the symbol of corruption.. destroyed railways.. has amassed enough wealth to buy a fancy villa in Emirates hills in dubai.. how about investing that money in train carriages... sick of these uneducated hypocrites .. sick of this democracy..
So...this fellow Bilour is inviting someone to murder based on a monetory reward. First of all this is a criminal act secondly the invitation is based on inducing someone to murder for money (not for misplaced devotion to the Messenger)
He should be charged for inciting murder and thrown in jail.
Some got fifteen minutes of fame through uploading You tube video Some got fifteen minutes of fame through putting up bounty Some got fifteen minutes of fame through increase viewership to News Channel Some got fifteen minutes of fame through destroying property of Muslim world Some got fifteen minutes of fame through increase traffic to Google Some got fifteen minutes of fame through making billions due to increase traffic to Google
Google shares rose more than two percent to a new high of $749.38 at the close of the Nasdaq exchange on Monday and continued to rise in after-hours trading.It Is (still) Economy Stupid
@shafi: entire pakistan cannot buy a state of maharashtra, let apart buying half india.
if you have corrupt politicians, then our are gems(curse) on humanity, who have amassed so much money that they have long time back found better pastures like mauritious(kala paisa safed karne ka tarika), whereas yours are still stuck in SWISS BANK(that means that bank can still keep that limited money).
Yeah he is noble all right. He shows adult films in his cinema's, ruins Pakistani railway to give mileage to his khandani coaster business. Very noble indeed.
This guy does not remember Prophet (PBUH) when doing his duty as the Minister for Railway, the railway is in shambles but he wants to defend the honor of the Prophet (PBUH). Bilour, please do your duty as the Minister, you will better serve the Prophet and Pakistanis this way. Your job is to make our lives better, not issue useless bounty statements.
@Owais: where will he get $100,000 from? Same place where Zardari got one million dollar for the gift to Ajmer Sharief? Joe average tax payer. Incidentally Zardari announced one million dollar but gave only 350, 000 dollars.
@Sardar KHAN: Sure. When your Federal Minister says it then it becomes "noble" but when i say it then it is rubbish! Make your mind mate.
Mr. Bilour I wish you had started a sampign to improve the railway system in Pakistan with a same zeal. This killing business does not suit aims for peace. You may never come to know who this man was or if there is such a man who exist even. This bounty is ridiculous.
@Owais: himself going to USA for his NOBLE cause? Americans will roast him, like Pishowri CHAPLI KEBAB.
Nobel prize for the noble deed.
@Lala Gee: "Couldn’t agree more with Mr. Bilour’s statements"
Regardless of your opinion regarding whether the movie is freedom of expression or not (an issue I have debated elsewhere ), are you saying that you support Bilour's intention to take law into his hands and get the filmmaker murdered?
Look who's talking!!
Well if some one agrees to go for this act, he / she should collect money in advance from Bilour. He has a masters in corruption
@Vishnu Dutta:
I announce to offer 2 handred thousand dollars to any one who can kill any of the so called actors of that notorious movie
I put bounties on both the maker of the movie and the minister. The amount will be $0.00 as both are worthless.
Shameful and despicable. And is still nothing less than our minister. Im ashamed of myself.
@Owais:
You dont know Bilour ???? he is a multi billionare man...a few lacs of dollars is just a matter of seconds for him.
Is he also willing to personally reimburse the numerous local businesses that lost millions of dollar that day in the mob violence and property destruction?
For all the misery you have brought to the poor travellers of Pakistan Railways, what if someone announces a bounty on your head? A bounty of 100 bushels of wheat? There would be a lot of public sentiment behind that Mr. Bilour. You have ravaged Pakistan railiways like it was your own bank account and you are not even apologetic about it. Care to go out in public without your guards and experience public sentiment first hand.
The Govt may disown him as well . His presidenr may reveal it at UN .
If Pakistan doesn't remove him from his cabinet position then the USA and EU countries should send the Pakistani Ambassadors packing - should send a proper message to Pakistan that such behavior isn't tolerated.
IF US announces a bounty on your head in response then you wouldnt live for a day. even your wife will want to collect the bounty.
Couldn't agree more with Mr. Bilour's statements. This cursed filmmaker has crossed all the limits of decency and ethics, and has shown his utmost malevolence against Islam. The deliberate act to hurt 1600 million people is certainly not freedom of expression.
It's noble, not nobel
"My faith is non-violent, but I cannot forgive and tolerate (this insult).”"
So either your faith is not non-violent as you claim OR you and the masses who are supporting you are disobeying what your religion asks you to do and bringing it a really bad name among people that do not share your faith. In doing so are you not the blasphemer?
He is in the corner. Someone tell him to stop digging once he has realised he is in a hole !
He is still hellbent on pleasing mullahs to save his own skin..
@Anonymous: Thank you.
'Nobel' deed??? Bilour saab already deserved recognition for their 'nobel' services for Pak Railways and this epic step just makes him the undisputed candidate for the 'Nobel' peace prize! Sometimes I wonder what we did wrong to deserve people like him!
Couple of questions. Number one where will he get $100,000 from? Number two why doesnt the minister himself travel to the USA n carryout the action himself?
You have misspelt "noble" in your heading.
It's noble not Nobel (by which name the awards go). Low standards of editing that such an elementary mistake ends up on the front page.