A MAN suspected of involvement in
the making of an anti-Islamic film that has sparked violent protests across the
Middle East and north Africa is being questioned by US probation officers.
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula was convicted of bank fraud in 2010 and
later released on condition that he did not access the internet or use aliases.
He has denied involvement in the film, clips of which have been
posted online.
At least seven people died in protests over the film on Friday.
The Egyptian Prime Minster, Hisham Qandil, has called on the US to
ensure no further insults to Prophet Muhammad.
The US, he said, should “take the necessary measures to ensure
insulting millions of people and their beliefs does not happen.
“It is unacceptable to insult our prophet and it’s also
unjustifiable to have a peaceful demonstration turned violent,” he said in an
interview with BBC Arabic.
On Tuesday, the US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans
were killed after the US consulate was stormed in the city of Benghazi.
Anger over the inflammatory film was cited as a spark for the
attack, but there is suspicion that it was pre-planned.
The US victims were repatriated on Friday in a ceremony at Andrews
Air Force Base attended by US President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton.
It is unclear who is behind the film –– Innocence of Muslims ––
which has been widely circulated on the internet in English and Arabic.
Any portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad is considered blasphemous,
and the film depicts him as a foolish, power-hungry man.
The character is also seen having sex with his wife and other
women. In one scene he is seen sanctioning the sexual abuse of children, in
another he says he is gay.
The original posting of a 14-minute trailer for the film on
Youtube came from an account linked to the name ‘sambacile’.
No film-maker by the name of Sam Bacile has been traced, and the
US authorities suspect Nakoula Basseley Nakoula of using the pseudonym.
Nakoula served 21 months in prison for using stolen identities to
open numerous bank accounts that he later used to withdraw funds.
He was released in June 2011 with the proviso that he did not
access the internet or use any aliases without permission.
Nakoula, who was also convicted of drugs offences in 1997,
volunteered for questioning and was escorted from his home by officials early
on Saturday, according to a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Department.
He wore a scarf, hat and sunglasses to hide his identity as he
left his home in the suburb of Cerritos.
Local media reported that a man later emerged from the police
station wearing the same outfit.
Anger over the film erupted on Tuesday when, as well as the attack
in Benghazi, the US consulate in Cairo was attacked.
There has since been violent unrest in Yemen, Sudan and Tunisia,
with further protests in Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey.
An attack on a Nato base in Afghanistan yesterday that killed two
US marines was also carried out in response to the video, the Taliban have
said.
The US has stepped up security at its embassies across the region,
and the EU has urged leaders in Arab and Muslim countries to call for peace.
Day Six: World Leaders React
President Barack Obama
I have made it clear that the United States has a profound respect
for people of all faiths.
Yet there is never any justification for violence... There is no
excuse for attacks on our embassies and consulates.
Anti-American protests have swept the Muslim world in response to
the film, which insults the Prophet Muhammad.
President Mohammed Mursi
Egyptians reject any kind of assault or insult” against the
Prophet Muhammad. I condemn and oppose all who... insult our prophet. [But] it
is our duty to protect our guests and visitors from abroad.
I call on everyone to take that into consideration, to not violate
Egyptian law... to not assault embassies.
Prime Minister Hisham Qandil
The US must do all it can to stop people insulting Islam. It is
unacceptable to insult our Prophet. But also not right for peaceful protests to
turn violent.
His comments come amid protests in the Middle East and north
Africa over an anti-Islam film made in the US.
Egyptians, Arabs, Muslims - we need to reflect the true identity
of Muslims, how peaceful they are, and talk to the Western media about the true
heart of the Muslims, that they condemn violence.
At the same time we need to reach a balance between freedom of
expression and to maintain respect for other peoples’ beliefs.
When asked whether he thought the US should change its laws
governing freedom of speech laws, he replied: “I think we need to work out
something around this (the US freedom of speech) because we cannot wait and see
this happen again.
This is a small number of people doing irresponsible work and
everybody’s paying the price.
The link between the US and Egypt was a relationship that we need
to make stronger based on mutual interests and respect for sovereignty.
The US and other governments have to take the necessary measures
to ensure insulting billions of people, one-and-a-half billion people and their
beliefs, does not happen and people pay for what they do, and at the same time
make sure that the reflections of the true Egyptian and Muslims is well in the
Western media.
Leaders of Bangladesh National
Hindu Grand Alliance
This movie is the creation of some mentally insane people, whose
ulterior motive might have been to create social anarchy in various societies.
Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance leader feel that the American and
Western nations should not become victim of such madness of a handpicked number
of mentally insane people.
Islam preaches peace and the Muslims will surely not make innocent
people victim of the madness of those masterminds of the controversial movie.
Muslims around the world has the fundamental right of bringing
criminal charges against the producer and director of the film.
US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton
This film which gave rise to these protests is disgusting and
reprehensible. The US utterly rejected its contents and its message. But the
film was no excuse for violence.
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