One of the most publicized news items of recent times is
that of the anti-Islam film “Innocence of Muslims”. This film has generated
conflict in many Muslim nations resulting in the lost of many lives worldwide.
The film was uploaded on youtube and came from obscurity on September 11, 2012,
the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. This film depicts
the Prophet Mohammed as a womanizer, child molester and murderer. Mohammed is
the most revered prophet in Islam, and when the prophet was insulted, Muslims
took to the streets in protest and incited violence against US embassies,
killing American citizens and other foreigners. By using the critical analysis
tool of Root Cause analysis, which
involves defining the problem, collecting data, identifying possible casual
factors , identifying root causes, recommending and implementing solutions,
ideas will be shared on the present conflict situation revolving around the
anti –islamic video.
The maker of the film Nakoula Basseley Nakoula,
an Egyptian –American who belongs to the Coptic Orthodox church, created this
amateurish video on a budget of US$ 80000 – 90000. His main purpose of creating
this film seemed to be promoting Islamophobia. How aware this film maker was on
the repercussions of this film is uncertain, but he had the right by law to
express his views in the democratic society of America. His film became
infamous when an Egyptian conservative station, the People ‘s Channel, showed clips of the video to its
audience to demonstrate how the West has disrespected Islam.
The infamous video incited violence in the Arab spring,
beginning in Egypt where they have recently had a revolution, their citizens
protested at US embassies, killing civilians. Protests took place at the US
embassy in Libya where four Americans were killed including an US Ambassador,
Chris Stevens who hoped for a better future for Libya. Protest have continue to spread over
the Arab world, including Afganistan where there has been a suicide bombing killing
many foreigners ( South Africans),
Pakistan, Bankok Thailand, Kashmir India and list continues.
This anti-islam video has sparked serious debates
about how free people should be to share
their views and how the West should respect the religion of Islam. Google
partner, Youtube has refused to remove the video , citing that the video is
within their guidelines and have only
restricted the video in 6
countries thus far Egypt, Libya, Indonesia,India, Malaysia and Saudia Arabia.
Concerns are growing in European nations such a Germany, who fears an out lash,
when the screening of the movie takes place in Berlin. The views of German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich
is
that people religious beliefs need to be more respected and that this video is clearly an abuse of the freedom of speech law and that he would
support anti- blasphemy laws.
The Arab world has had long standing grievances
against the West, especially against United States of America, who of recent
times had their incursion in Afghanistan to oust the Taliban and find the most
wanted terrorist Bin Laden. The Americans also sought the overthrow of Saddam
Hussein in Iraq based on suspicions of weapons of mass destruction and they
have continued to promote their pro-Israel views which are in conflict with the
middle-east. This video which was made by
an Egypt -American, has confirmed for some Muslims how the West view Islam and
their prophet Mohammed. This video has only added fuel to the fire during a
period where America has been making efforts to improve their relations with
the Middle – East.
The problem can only be solved
with persons on both sides taking the necessary steps to promote peace and
prevent the lost of innocent lives. That
is, the non- Muslim countries should respect Islam and people belief’s,
expressing their views in a diplomatic fashion while Muslim nations need to be
more tolerant as well and not use violence as the only approach to solve the
situation. Muslim nations whenever offended need to have peaceful protests, go
to the law to persecute those who insult Islam. These solutions may only be
achieved through discussions, debates and the implementation of universal
guidelines which support the respect for all religious beliefs and persecute those
who promote anti- blasphemy with anti-blasphemy laws.
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