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TWO PROTESTERS died in Pakistan today as a violent backlash against a US film mocking Islam spread across the region and angry demonstrators clashed with police, hurling stones and shouting: “Death to America.”
Protests also took place in Afghanistan, Indonesia, the West Bank, the Philippines and Yemen in the latest eruptions of anger over the low-budget trailer aired on YouTube that has now led to the deaths of at least 19 people.
The movie entitled “Innocence of Muslims”, believed to have been produced by a small group of extremist Christians, has sparked a week of furious protests outside US embassies and other American symbols in at least 20 countries.
In Pakistan, thousands of students burned US flags and chanted anti-American slogans in the northwest city of Peshawar, where Osama bin Laden kept a home during the 1980s jihad against Soviet troops in adjacent Afghanistan.
In the nearby district of Upper Dir, next to to a former Taliban stronghold crushed in 2009, a protester was killed and two others wounded in a shootout with police.
The crowd of about 800 people set fire to a magistrate’s house and the local press club. In Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city, another demonstrator died after being shot in the head during clashes with police near the US consulate on Sunday.
In neighbouring Afghanistan, protests turned violent for the first time when more than 1,000 Afghans protested in Kabul, setting police cars and commercial storage containers ablaze, police told AFP.
Between 40 to 50 policemen were “very slightly wounded” by stone throwers and members of the crowd waving sticks, said Kabul police chief Mohammad Ayoub Salangi, who added that he had also been grazed by a stone.
A police official, who gave his name only as Hafiz, said protesters also threw stones at Camp Phoenix, a US-run military base in the capital, but were later driven back.
Google has barred access to the video in Egypt, India, Indonesia, Libya and Malaysia, while the government has restricted access to Google-owned YouTube in Afghanistan.
In Jakarta, protesters hurled petrol bombs and clashed with Indonesian police outside the US embassy shouting “America, America go to hell”, as demonstrations in the world’s most populous Muslim nation turned violent.
Police were seen kicking or dragging away some of the protesters, while one policeman was taken away in an ambulance with his face bleeding.
Many of the protesters were supporters of hardline Islamic groups and were dressed in identical white Muslim garb, an AFP reporter saw.
The capital’s police chief Untung Rajab said 11 policemen and a protester were injured and taken to hospital, and that four protesters were arrested.
The fresh violence came one day after the head of the Shiite Muslim movement, blacklisted in the United States as a terrorist group, called for a week of protests.
Hassan Nasrallah described the film as “the worst attack ever on Islam” — worse than “The Satanic Verses” by British author Salman Rushdie, who has been under an Iranian fatwa calling for his murder since 1989.
“The whole world needs to see your anger on your faces, in your fists and your shouts,” he said in a televised speech broadcast just hours after Pope Benedict XVI ended a historic three-day visit to Lebanon.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has also demanded violence against US diplomatic missions in the Middle East and Africa, and on US interests in the West.
The unrest began in Cairo, where protesters stormed the US embassy late Tuesday, replacing the Stars and Stripes with an Islamic banner.
Hours later, the US consulate in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi came under sustained attack, with four Americans killed, including ambassador Chris Stevens.
Mass demonstrations after the main weekly Muslim prayers on Friday saw 11 protesters killed as police battled to defend US missions from mobs in Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen.
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They are taking the focus off the film itself by going around shouting “death” and killing and injuring people who had nothing to do with the film. Serious own goal, it’s like they are setting out to prove islamaphobes right.
Good one David. I guess extremists (and there are many of them) dont do irony.
Make a thrashy movie that is blasphemous to some = NOT OK
Riots, destruction, murder, looting, pledges to kill = OK
Their greatest desire in life is to be with Allah in the next life. For gods sake would someone grant them their wishes. I really can’t get me head around these mad feckers.
What I can’t understand is the banner in the above photo, is it Sky One, Sky News, Sky Sports, Sky Movies or Sky Atlantic HD that they’re referring to? And i’m sure Rupert Murdoch would have something to say about it too
I think they are looking for a piece of the profits sky news are getting for having this story to report. They mis spelt prophet.
…the entire debacle seen as a ploy by those intent on splattering Iran to have the world on their side when they do”. Sort of “false flag set up …similar in spirit to 9/11….Release the film ensure it is well publicised…in the certainty that mayhem and carnage will follow inciting the hatred as witnessed from “Journal” posters….it remains to be seen what is to follow!?
And in other news, there has been a spike in the sale of tin-foil hats
“Our prophets honour comes from the sky….no one can take it away” says their banner. If they truly believed that then they wouldn’t have to defend him as I’m sure he could defend himself.
This film is an excuse for extremists to use violence.
Bingo.
Pakistan is one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to human rights and terrorism. The US needs to stop giving Pakistan billions of dollars; it just goes into terrorists hands. Segments of the Pakistani Army are allied with the Taliban and Al Qaeda; Pakistan knew Osama Bin Laden was there. The Pakistani who helped the US find Osama Bin Laden was jailed for 30 years; Pakistan is no friend to the West. Why does no one condemn what they do to minorities? A Pakistani Governor was assassinated a week after he said Pakistan should get rid of the Blasphemy Laws. Not to mention all the stories coming out of there every week like an 11-year-old disabled girl thrown in jail for blasphemy. If it hadn’t been found out she was framed by an Imam (who wanted to spark riots and have Pakistani Muslims exterminate Pakistani Christians) she would have been executed.
Spot on Kevin..
Thanks Bilbo and Stephen! People should watch the links rather than thumb me down and stop defend ing terror/hatred/persecution. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtQMUkTe6uk
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=christians+in+pakistan&page=2
Guess who converted half of the Pakistani Christians? Irish missionaries. The Irish should be siding with us of all people not the oppressors; they did bring Christianity into Pakistan after all. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Pakistan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_law_in_Pakistan
The video with the religious part in the beginning isn’t me endorsing it, or saying it is the correct belief, or anything; my point is the video.
Wonder how much money they spend maintaining their nuclear arsenal? That occurred to me after I donated money when they had that big earthquake.
@Gearóid – Of course what you did shows someone of character/decency. But I can assure you that the money did not help many people. The remaining money that did help people was only towards a certain type of people, it definitely didn’t go to any non-Muslims.
Blah blah blah Kevin same shit different article and your bringing the Irish into it now . I think u mean catholic church there champ
Um, yeah? What do you call Catholics? Buddhists? Pakistani Christians are Catholic and Protestant it’s 50/50. There were also Anglican missionaries from Ireland/England; so I don’t need to get over-specific with every denomination. Thank you, for your valuable/intelligent comment.
These guys need to chill – I bet they don’t even realise the new iPhone was announced a few days ago
Haha. That made me laugh. Good one. Thumbs up!
Bunch of silly buffoons…..grow up or go out and actually invent or produce something instead of getting worked up about your invisible friend and that bloody troublesome book
Conflicts are big business for those who start them, riling up tensions, keeping the world on edge, spreading fear, is big bucks time. I condemn it, outright !
” Men never commit evil so fully and joyfully as when they do it for religious convictions”
Blaise Pascal
‘A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush’
J. Capgrave
The film is shocking on so many levels. As an atheist even I was offended by it.
I didn’t see how it was offensive. It was just really really stupid. Even if it was offensive to some, it is no excuse for the behaviour that has been seen around the world. These “protesters” are only validating the films existence and actually boosting the number of people who want to see it (i.e.The Streisand effect)
Its highly offensive. Even the actors involved have disowned it. Of course your other points about violent protests and Streisland effect are true. I would imagine it was the intention of the creator to provoke such a reaction.
I haven’t seen the film and I’m sure its offensive, but the reaction is beyond offensive its barbaric. Their reaction has done more damage to the view of Muslims world wide than any idiot ever could on YouTube. look at the irony of Muslims in London standing with signs saying Americans out of Muslim lands. Did noone question how that would be seen by anyone but themselves..
Well as the saying goes, there is no such thing as bad publicity. His film certainly has more attention now than it originally would have gotten, although I imagine whoever made this film will have to live the rest of his life in constant fear. A bit like Rushdie after the Satanic verses.
Admittedly I haven’t watched the whole thing, I skipped through it to the worst parts. It is almost like something the guys who write scripts for South Park would write. Except this movie takes itself seriously which I guess is the most offensive part.
You would never find an atheist in a Fox hole
@John, that is just a rubbish statement best kept for discussion among those that believe that creation happened in 6 days 6,000 yrs ago.
Yeah, Alan you go post that statement on the Atheism or Atheist Republic FB pages and see how many people will agree and not get pissed off. There will be a big social media backlash on those pages and it won’t be because of Radical-Muslims.
Out of muslim lands lol If they love there home lands so much with no freedoms etc THEN GO BACK! U must respect the law of land u live in, if u don’t agree to the laws, then leave
Succès de scandale
Cannot effin’ wait to see it now!!
Spot on there Kevin you have hit the nail on the head.
If you think your religion is worth dying for .
Start with yourself !
Couldn’t agree more there Jeff, what these folks need to do is relax, chill out and start to get a sense of humor. Their problem is reading the same book all the time, their minds are addled. One minute the want the Americans bombing their enemies, the next they want them out of their lands. It’d confuse anyone.
Now, what they need to do is make a nice cup of tea, maybe a ham sandwich… or not, anyway read another book which will introduce them to humor. I suggest this one from my youth;
After this they might like to put their feet up and relax, maybe watch a funny video. I’d suggest they start with this Scottish chappie called Billy Connolly as discusses some religious topics.
Pakistan is one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to human rights and terrorism. The US needs to stop giving Pakistan billions of dollars; it just goes into terrorists hands. Segments of the Pakistani Army are allied with the Taliban and Al Qaeda; Pakistan knew Osama Bin Laden was there. The Pakistani who helped the US find Osama Bin Laden was jailed for 30 years; Pakistan is no friend to the West. Why does no one condemn what they do to minorities? A Pakistani Governor was assassinated a week after he said Pakistan should get rid of the Blasphemy Laws. Not to mention all the stories coming out of there every week like an 11-year-old disabled girl thrown in jail for blasphemy. If it hadn’t been found out she was framed by an Imam (who wanted to spark riots and have Pakistani Muslims exterminate Pakistani Christians) she would have been executed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_law_in_Pakistan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Pakistan.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pakistani+christians&oq=pakistani+chr&gs_l=youtube.1.1.0l10.3855.6236.0.8112.13.8.0.5.5.0.145.909.1j7.8.0…0.0…1ac.1.lyYcarSwmww
…
This is just getting ridiculous now, such a hateful angry religion. The Western Press should stop reporting and giving them a platform
Is anyone else sick of being caught in the crossfire of Christians and Muslims? The ironic thing is, when faced with an atheist they suddenly become the best of friends. Burn each others churches and mosques but leave the rest of us out of your petty conflict. We have the 21st century to attend to.
What? I’m Atheist, I couldn’t disagree anymore. How many Christians are doing what the Radical-Muslims do in the Middle East or the world? Muslims get along with Atheists? The most agressive religious people that come on the Atheist FB pages are Muslims and they frequently send threatening private messages to people. The Christians are irritating but it rarely gets to the point of threats/cursing; Christian Fundamentalists usually end by saying something like “I’ll pray for you.” or “Jesus is the only way.” That isn’t really something to be worried about, in my opinion. I’m more worried about hijacked planes, bombings, beheadings, being stoned to death, etc. happening in the world. There is no “war” between Muslims and Christians; that was like 1000 years ago and is over. There is a war declared by Islamic Jihad/Islamism/Radical-Islam on all non-believers. That includes Atheists, Agnostics, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, etc. all who are presently being targeted by one group Radical-Muslims. I’m pretty sure burning Churches and Mosques would make us barbarians, as well. All the other religions have civilized and do have extremists but never to the point of worldwide terror. There is a difference. Democracies only exist in Christian/Western countries none exist in Middle Eastern/Islamic countries; that should say something.
The film in question was made by Christians in an act of aggression against Islam. There have been plenty of outrages committed by Christians recently but they’re always brushed aside as the work of a few lunatics. Look at Breivik and Page. When a Muslim commits an atrocity though we’re always told it’s representative of Islam as a whole. Both religions are as bad as each other.
Brevik was really motivated by racism, nativism, and white supremacy; he wasn’t as religious as people say. He didn’t yell Jesus when killing people or in the court room. Brevik and Page are isolated incidents, that’s why they get so much media attention. There are thousands of Brevik’s in the Middle East/Islamic countries. As for both being bad? If we are talking about atrocities committed by both religions? Of course, that is undeniable. But Christianity and other religions have civilized; let’s not be stuck in the crusades. That is the problem, Islam is still in the crusades; we need to focus on the present not the Salem Witch Trials. Everybody from that era is dead, no point in harping over that. The majority of Christians/Europeans overwhelmingly condemned Brevik. You don’t get that in the Middle East/Islamic Countries. I don’t think you can compare the film’s act of “aggression” with the response that it got. There are many YouTube films and images mocking other religions, they don’t seem too bothered by it; they dismiss it or just complain.
“One of the participants of the rally, Abdullah Ismail, passed away after he was taken to Mayo Hospital. Witnesses said he had complained of feeling unwell from the smoke from US flags burnt at the rally.”
http://tribune.com.pk/story/437772/ultimatum-to-us-criminalise-blasphemy-or-lose-consulate/
@kevin niazi
feel sad for you boy.you have to pay a big price for carrying a pakistani/ pushtun surname.so you sit here and bark all day about pakistan and muslims to make it up for that.hope your mighty yanks will own you by now for all what you have done for their agenda.get a life.AND SHAME ON YOU
Actually oh wise one Wasir. Peope ask me if I am German, when they see my last name. Since they think my last name “N-I-A-Z-I” is some how linked to Nazi; that offends me not my heritage lol. I am a proud non-Muslim Pashtun/Punjabi; why should I be ashamed of my heritage?!!! It makes me who I am today. Islam is not my heritage, its an ideology/belief; and does not represent or define me as a person. Coming from a diverse background helps me see different mentalities, cultures, and beliefs; it broadens my understanding of different people. I am sorry that your mad that I don’t defend Islamic terrorism/extremism like you. The people in the videos are ethnic Pakistanis and they are my people; I will defend them against Islamic extremism to the end. My Pakistani side of the family must be really ashamed of their heritage because they associated with Pakistani Christians and married Europeans. Maybe they are just not extremely racist/close-minded psychos.
…is it worth considering….this film debacle is yet another episode set up to get the “world”on “their” side before” they” invade Iran…the frothing at the mouth frenzy apparent in the postings to this and similar sites…being instrumental in persuading the gullible to look the other way or preferably aplaude when the bombing carnage begins….!?
?
Yeah and all those thousands of protesters are just film extras
….use yer grey matter waffles…the protests clearly fer real incited by those with the splatter Iran agenda …we all know it’s coming ..but the sick souls who perpetrated 9/11 need some face…Iraq wmd’s millions of pointless deaths misery of totally pointless military deaths ..and we won’t even talk about the filthy lucre…
..silly man …of course the protesters are genuine….those who set it up knew full well the outcome….grief man Iraq wmd’s ….the sickos that perpetrated. 9/11 in their twisted depravity seeking “face “…..before they commit further atrocities
..silly man …of course the protesters are genuine….those who set it up knew full well the outcome….grief man Iraq wmd’s ….the sickos that perpetrated. 9/11 in their twisted depravity seeking “face “..before they commit further atrocities
Waffles..what do you have between yer ears…!?
So you think 9/11 was a conspiracy too? Enough said
Down with that sort of thing
Careful now
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