Press Release | 14 September 2012

On Tuesday, gunmen stormed the US consulate in Benghazi reportedly killing Washington’s envoy to Libya alongside three others. In Cairo, a group of people scaled the walls of the US embassy, ransacking it and pulling down that nation’s flag flying at the building.

As news reports have it, public protests have now spread to Tunisia, Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq and as far as Bangladesh.

A somewhat obscure film Innocence of Muslims, aimed at provoking Muslims, has come onto the limelight through these consulate and embassy attacks in Libya and Egypt respectively.

A trailer of the film which has been on the Internet since 2011, has had an Arabic version of it circulated in the Middle East during this week, sparking an outpouring of indignation.

By his own admission, the supposed creator of the film who is said to have gone into hiding, is reported to have said that the “two-hour movie cost $5 million to make and was financed with the help of more than 100 Jewish donors.”

Once told about the attacks on the two US embassies, he is reported to have reacted by saying: “Islam is a cancer, period.”

Circulation of material that provokes Muslims is disdainful and represents continued and orchestrated attempts to marginalise Islam and Muslims, negating the values of mutual understanding and respect.

We condemn all those people that go to great lengths, committing resources, simply to promote hate and bigotry by propagating lies and distortions about Islam and Muslims, let alone insulting the honour of Muhammad .

Regardless of time, space and the characterisation of Muslims as ‘moderate,’ ‘ultra-conservative’ or ‘extremist’, an insult against the Prophet  evokes same emotions and outrage from among his followers.

We appeal to all Muslims to protest in defence of the honour of the Prophet, with restraint and in a dignified manner lest our reaction plays out to serve the interests of Islamophobes and those who have dedicated themselves to acts of provocation.

“O Allah! Shower Thy blessings upon our leader Muhammad and on his descendants as You showered Your blessings upon our leader Ibrahim and his descendants; verily You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah! Bestow favours on our leader Muhammad and on his descendants as You bestowed favours on our leader Ibrahim and on his descendants; verily You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.” (Bukhari)

E.I. Bham (Moulana)

Secretary General

14 September 2012