Tricked by the Clip
Now the fuel has been added to the fire. Freshly published cartoons defaming Islam in a satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo, will definitely provoke fresh protests. Cartoon shows Prophet Mohammed naked. The cartoons published within a week when already worldwide protests are going on over an anti-Islam movie clip "Innocence of Muslims" showed on Youtube.
Nakoula Basseley is the man said to be the main culprit whose face on camera was wrapped with a cloth in order to avoid identity by face. Trial is going on but the job has been done. 'Violence' is the word which has been frequently used to blasphemy Islam. Nobody knows about the full movie which is set to release but the 14 minute clip which ran on Youtube, now banned in several countries, can be easily identified as an amateur clip which was made especially to provoke Muslims. While watching, anyone can easily point out the lack of graphics, cinematography, acting or whatever words you can associate to a fine filmmaking art. The clip lacked everything, but still it has been said that full movie was ready to be screened into the cinemas.
Therefore, the idea behind showcasing the movie clip is to provoke Islamists and create instability between them. And violent protests have added to the much needed joy of those who made the clip, as it dilutes Islam. It definitely left a question mark on their intellect. The Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) made repeated calls for Muslims not to be provoked by the movie. Muhyiddin Junaidi, head of MUI’s cooperation and international relations division, said-"Muslims should not respond to the movie emotionally. Even if it humiliates and assault (Islam), we should not be provoked by other parties and should keep protecting the public interest."
"People will clap once we will be provoked, as they manage to achieve their aim of creating havoc and dividing us."
On the contrary what has happened? Muslims engaged themselves in violent protests all around the world and damaged their own public property. Many lost their lives. Police force of various countries engaged in staunching violent protests by their own people.
In northwest Pakistan several hundred demonstrators clashed with police setting fire to a press club and a government building. The reason to set ablaze the press club was, they felt that their rally didn't got appropriate coverage. Police was compelled to charge down the crowd beating protesters.
In Cairo, Egypt clashes between protesters and security forces near the U.S. Embassy left more than 200 people injured.
In Jakarta Seven police officers and several protesters were injured in a protest in front of US embassy which gone violent.
In eastern parts of Afghan capital Kabul clashes between police and protesters occurred during demonstration against the movie which turned violent.
In Kashmir, India violence broke out between protesters and police during Kashmir bandh. Government vehicles were destroyed and anti US slogans were shouted.
Two people killed and 28 were injured in Tunis, Tunisia when protestors scale the walls of the US embassy and set fire to an American school in the city.
In Tripoli, Lebanon 25 people were wounded, including 18 police when protesters set fire to a KFC outlet.
Out of every incident the most tragic was in Pakistan. In Islamabad Pakistani officials opened an investigation into a business man who has been accused of blasphemy after refusing to join protests and allegedly trying to convince others not to take part. Police officer said when hundreds of people rallied to demonstrate against the movie, they demanded businessman to shut his shop in order to show the solidarity, which he refused. Blasphemy is punishable by life in prison or death in Pakistan.
These all incidents showed the incapability to deal a deliberate blasphemy against a religion with some applied intellect. The movie clip is highly subjective in its views, but the way it was dealt is also highly objectionable. It’s something like playing into the hands of culprits.
MUI reminded Muslims that engaging in violent actions would only taint the image of Islam and Muslims in general. He further added that, "Violence and anarchy are not part of Islamic teachings."
Muslim around the world should have respected these words by MUI which they have not. Youtube denied removing the clip even after a notification from white house. That's quite indigestible. But still, banning social media website is not a good option because it will show the extremist face of any religion. Protest should have been registered but not by creating anarchy. Now the published cartoons can add fuel to the protest, but who is the real looser? The people who provoked it, or people who got provoked.
FI Networks
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