Innocence of Muslims
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Innocence of Muslims, also known as Innocence of bin Laden,[1] is an unwatchably bad extremely informative (read: prejudiced) Islamophobic film notable for allegedly inspiring violent protests in parts of the Islamic and western worlds during September 2012.
The film was probably made by Coptic Christian fraudster Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, although it was attributed to an Israeli-Californian real estate developer — whose name was given variously as "Sam Bacile," "Sam Bassiel," and "Sam Bassil"[2][3][1] — to express his belief that "Islam is a cancer."[4] Pastor Terry Jones (who previously publicly burned the Qu'ran and sparked fatal riots) has come out in support of the film.[5]
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[edit] The film itself
“”Unfortunately, the films critical of Islam are by the people who do not know how to make films... I have been waiting for decades to watch an Islamic version of ‘Life of Brian.’ Where are our Pythons?
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| —Taslima Nasrin[6] |
Trailers for the film - including one that lasts for nearly fourteen minutes - have been posted online. As a work of cinema, the film is characterised by its rock-bottom production values, awful dialogue, terrible acting, directing, dubbing and editing (on at least one occasion an actor flubbed his lines and nobody bothered to re-take the shot), and unconvincing green-screening effects, with actors superimposed onto stock footage of a desert. Reportedly, this film cost five million dollars.[4]
The film is a puerile and bigoted biography of the prophet Muhammed and his early followers, who are portrayed as brutish despots and child molestors. Among other obscure actors and performers, it features gay porn star Tim Dax,[7] and an actor trying to channel Michael Kelso as the lead role. While films can be surprisingly expensive to make, the idea that such an obviously cheap film could cost five million dollars is hard to swallow.[8][9]
It is however also possible that the film doesn't even exist in any finished form and the only things ever produced were the alleged trailers.[10][11]
[edit] People involved with the film
“”The US lost a lot of money and a lot of people in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but we’re fighting with ideas.
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| —Sam Bacile, or whatever he's calling himself these days[4] |
Early reports mentioned that Bacile identified himself as an Israeli Jew, but later on Steve Klein, who worked with him on the project, referred to the film-maker as a Christian; also confirmed that Bacile's name is a pseudonym. It was eventually confirmed that the manager of the company that produced the film is a Coptic Christian. His name was given as Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, but he is probably Mark Basseley Youseff – he gave that name when appearing in court so this is likely to be his real name.[12] Basseley whatever has a long list of fraud-related convictions.[13] He has been arrested and sentenced to a year in prison for breach of probation conditions, though some of the court proceedings were undisclosed to the public.[12]
Steve Klein, who has past involvement with hate groups, action against abortion clinics, Mormon temples, and mosques, and helped to train Christian paramilitaries, is acting as a spokesman.[14]
Chunks of the film are clearly dubbed by different actors - even though it was shot in English – and members of the cast later went on record as saying that they had no idea they were appearing in an anti-Islamic film, being given completely different lines.[15] Despite getting involved unwittingly, the cast members have received death threats, had problems with their careers, financial trouble, and humiliation.[16]
[edit] Violence in the Middle East and North Africa
The film appears to have had a brief run in a single Hollywood cinema earlier in 2012,[9] but became an instant cult classic when an Arabic translation of the trailer was posted to YouTube.[17] Turns out Muslims do not like people blaspheming Muhammad, and Salafist supporters of extreme Sharia law used the film to gain popularity.[18] On 11 September 2012, riots broke out in front of the American embassy in Cairo and at a consulate in Benghazi, Libya, where the American ambassador was murdered.[19] The epidemic of attacks on American embassies spread to several Middle Eastern and North African nations, together with angry demonstrations in other Middle East and North African nations.[20] In Sudan, the German and British embassies were also attacked.[21] Big protests occurred on Friday 14th September and other western embassies were also attacked.[22] Pakistan blocked YouTube while protests continued throughout the Muslim world and the death toll mounted.[23] A suicide bomber killed 14 people in Kabul and as of 18/9/2012 at least 28 people had died worldwide.[24] On the 21st of September 2012 the French magazine Charlie Hebdo also published material mocking Muhammad, fueling further protests. Protests continued with United States and other embassies being attacked, even cinemas and theaters being set on fire.[25] The toll of dead and injured rose steadily.[26] A Pakistani minister promised $100,000 (£61,616) to anyone, including Taliban and AL-Qaeda, who kill the maker of the film. The minister, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, considered this a "sacred duty".[27] He also demanded laws preventing insulting "our prophet."[28] Obama called on all leaders to speak out against violence and extremism.[29]
Only a minority of the people in the countries affected were involved in the protests, but significant pressure groups manipulated the protesters. The tensions made it harder for new governments that arose after the Arab Spring to stabilize.
After Nacoula (or Youseff) was arrested, protests died down.
[edit] Death sentences
A court in Cairo sentenced seven Egyptian citizens involved with the film to death. Tried in absentia, they will face the sentence if they return to Egypt.[30]
[edit] Free speech
The BBC claimed American laws on free speech prevent the USA from stopping similar provocations in the future and repetitions of the trouble could be inevitable.[31] The episode raises serious unresolved free speech issues.
Despite the low quality of the film, many westerners believe censorship would be worse than tolerating it.[32]
“”(...) and many people have been murdered – all in response to an unwatchable Internet video titled “Innocence of Muslims.” Whether over a film, a cartoon, a novel, a beauty pageant, or an inauspiciously named teddy bear, the coming eruption of pious rage is now as predictable as the dawn.
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| —Sam Harris September 19, 2012[33] |
Sam Harris and others see this as part of a general pattern where Muslim extremists react violently to a wide range of criticisms of Islam. There is concern that Nakoula was arrested to appease Muslims rather than for the ostensible reason. Further, some fear the American government has sent a message that they are prepared to compromise free speech to appease Muslim extremists and free speech in the USA has become more problematic. Others in the US who want to criticize Islam may fear excuses will be found to prosecute them too.[34]
An alternative suggestion is that the film is not constitutionally guaranteed speech because it appears the authors intended to put lives and property at risk and this happened. Indeed the time when the trailer was released, about two weeks before the anniversary of 9/11, suggests deliberate provocation. The First Amendment does not protect speech that is intended to incite violence imminently.[35] Establishing what the authors intended or expected may be difficult, perhaps impossible. Despite this, if the authors really thought a film of the quality they produced would persuade large numbers of Muslims to abandon their religion, then it appears that they were extraordinarily naïve.
[edit] See also
- Everybody Draw Muhammad Day
- Jesus and Mo
- Jihad
- Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons
- Salman Rushdie
- Streisand effect
- The Interview, another shit-tastic movie that managed to inflate itself into a "free speech" cause célèbre
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 CNN: New details emerge of anti-Islam film's mystery producer/index.html 14 September 2012
- ↑ Insert your own pun here.
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/13/innocence-of-muslims-filmmaker-nakoula-basseley-nakoula_n_1880706.html
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Breaking News: Anti-muslim filmmaker goes into hiding 12 September 2012
- ↑ Staff and crew of film that ridiculed Muslims say they were 'grossly misled'
- ↑ No Country for Women: God’s soldiers! 15 September 2012
- ↑ http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2012/09/gay-porn-actor-tim-dax-talks-to-us.html
- ↑ Weigel: Who is Sam Bacile? 12 September 2012
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Inside Movies: 'Innocence of Muslims' mystery: Who is Sam Bacile? September 12 2012
- ↑ Does 'Innocence of Muslims' Actually Exist?
- ↑ Is Anti-Muslim Film a Hoax?
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Innocence of Muslims Filmmaker Nakoula Basseley Nakoula Sentenced to Year in Jail
- ↑ US identifies anti-Muslim filmmaker
- ↑ Steve Klein & 'Innocence Of Muslims': Film Promoter Remains Outspoken On Islam
- ↑ CNN, Actor: Anti-Islam filmmaker 'was playing us all along'. 17 Sept. 2012
- ↑ An Actress From ‘The Innocence Of Muslims’ Is Suing Google For A Cool $124 Million
- ↑ NBC News: Questions swirl around anti-Islam film blamed for Egypt protest, attack in Libya 12 September 2012
- ↑ Middle East Response to “Innocence of Islam” Film Why Are US Embassies Under Attack
- ↑ New York Times: Obscure Film Mocking Muslim Prophet Sparks Anti-U.S. Protests in Egypt and Libya 11 September 2012
- ↑ AP: Protestors Storm US Embassy in Yemen.
- ↑ BBC News: US embassies attacked as anti-Islam film protests escalate 14 September 2012
- ↑ Protests over anti-Islam film: As it happened
- ↑ Anti-Islam film: Thousands protest around Muslim world
- ↑ The 'Innocence of Muslims' Riots
- ↑ 'Innocence of Muslims' Protesters Torch Theaters as Riots Escalate in Pakistan
- ↑ Pakistan film protests: 15 die in Karachi and Peshawar
- ↑ Anti-Islam film: Pakistan minister offers bounty
- ↑ Anti-Islam film: Pakistan minister's bounty condemned
- ↑ Obama's UN General Assembly speech condemns extremism
- ↑ CNN: Egyptian court orders death sentences over anti-Islam film
- ↑ Film protests: What explains the anger?
- ↑ Nothing, however vile, justifies censorshipThis is from the "Free Comment" section of The Guardian and does not necessarily represent the official Guardian viewpoint.
- ↑ On the Freedom to Offend an Imaginary God
- ↑ Appeasing thugs by trampling our rights
- ↑ Does 'Innocence of Muslims' meet the free-speech test?