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While upholding the right of Muslims to voice outrage against a film deemed offensive to Islam, clerics and political leaders have been calling for the protests to steer clear of violence.
As protests continued Friday (September14th) against an amateur film that insulted the Prophet Muhammad, prominent Muslim leaders and scholars are calling on the faithful to practice restraint and not be goaded by provocations.
![A Bangladeshi man cries as he prays during a protest in Dhaka Friday (September 14th) over a controversial film that insults the Prophet Mohammad. Around 10,000 Muslims from half a dozen Islamist groups staged a noisy, but peaceful protest outside Baitul Mukarram, the national mosque in the capital. [Andrew Biraj/Reuters]](/shared/images/2012/09/15/120915-INHOUSE_PROTEST.jpg)
A Bangladeshi man cries as he prays during a protest in Dhaka Friday (September 14th) over a controversial film that insults the Prophet Mohammad. Around 10,000 Muslims from half a dozen Islamist groups staged a noisy, but peaceful protest outside Baitul Mukarram, the national mosque in the capital. [Andrew Biraj/Reuters]
"Muslims have the right to respond to anything that offends Islam," The Jakarta Post quoted a Muslim scholar in Indonesia, Komaruddin Hidayat, as saying. "However, I'd like to call on all Muslims in the country to avoid using violence in expressing their objections."
Such violence, he added, would only make Islam more vulnerable to attack.
In the internet era, content deemed insulting to Islam is bound to be produced and circulated, Komaruddin said, urging Muslims to "control themselves and avoid being provoked".
"This is not the first film to insult Islam. We have seen this before when the Danish cartoonist depicted the Prophet. The distribution of blasphemous material is inevitable due to the growth in communication technology," the Post quoted him as saying
Meanwhile, the head of the country's largest Islamic organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama, called on devotees to follow the peaceful example set by the Prophet himself.
"Prophet Muhammad chose to forgive the people of Thaif even after they threw stones at him. He prayed for those who misunderstood him. I ask all Muslims to stay calm," Masdar F. Masudi said, according to the Post.
Calls for restraint in India
In India, where demonstrations flared up Friday in Chennai and Kashmir, The Economic Times posted an editorial urging Muslims not to fall into the trap of violence, saying it would only hurt Islam.
"We condemn the killing of the US Ambassador in Libya and attacks on the US consulate in Yemen later," the paper wrote. "It is entirely legitimate to protest against puerile attempts to denigrate a religion but not to use violence to register the protest."
Imams in Kashmir, where Muslims constitute more than 90% of the population, delivered sermons at Friday prayers in which they called for demonstrations to remain peaceful, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
Protesters dispersed after the sermons, the report added, saying the situation in the Kashmir Valley has been largely without violent incident, except for an isolated case of stone-throwing.
Mohammed Yousef, a prominent Kashmir political leader, said there has been "enough bloodshed around the world.
"We must make an effort to promote peace and harmony. Such actions do not help in that direction," PTI quoted him as saying.
Muslim Brotherhood: US not responsible for video
In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood said Friday the United States was not responsible for the film which set off the protests. The Islamist movement, which won the country's elections in June, also called for demonstrations to remain peaceful.
"Despite our resentment of the continued appearance of productions like the anti-Muslim film ... we do not hold the American government or its citizens responsible for acts of the few," the Brotherhood's deputy leader, Khairat El-Shater, said in a letter to The New York Times.
He said although Muslims have the right to protest internet content which they found offensive, violent actions such as storming the US Embassy in Cairo were "illegal".
"In a new democratic Egypt, Egyptians earned the right to voice their anger over such issues, and they expect their government to uphold and protect their right to do so. However, they should do so peacefully and within the bounds of the law," El-Shater wrote.
He also expressed his condolences to the American people over the killing of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans in an assault on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya during similar protests.
![Bangladeshi rescue personnel carry stretchers with the remains of garment workers from the site of a collapsed building in Savar on May 9th. With a death toll of at least 1,127 workers, the April 24th collapse ranks as the world's worst industrial disaster in recent history. [AFP]](/shared/images/2013/05/14/130514_TASHFIN_BD_COLLAPSE-100_67.jpg)
![Here, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen (centre) and Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda (right) open the 2013 Jaffna International Trade Fair on January 18th, aiming to inject more energy into the economic revival taking place in the former war zone. [Photos by Nilupul Perera/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/02/26/130226_LK_ESSAY1-270_180.jpg)
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Reader Comments
Bhavya JoshiOctober 14, 2012 @ 09:10:23AM
ITS NOT GOOD TO INSULT ANY RELIGION .WE SHOULD RESPECT EVERY RELIGION BECAUSE HINDU,MUSLIM,SIKH,ISAI SAB AAPAS MEIN BHAI BHAI.
Harish PurohitOctober 12, 2012 @ 04:10:24AM
The outrage in Mulsim country itself is major concern for each and every country to start respecting others religious belief.May it be Hindu,Muslim or Christian every human is made of blood and bones.No one superior to other.Every religion is strong enough to fight for its belief the way they fight is different but ultimately the Love for other plays best role.I being Indian have respect for my fellow countrymen to be respected first respect yourself.
jpereraOctober 4, 2012 @ 03:10:11AM
In sri lanka it is natural to find humor about jesus christ and lord buddha . Nobody cares and it becomes only a humor. something to laugh abt. finish...kaput
alamin ahmmedOctober 4, 2012 @ 01:10:58AM
i am not be happy to read the passage because Kristan never support the Muslims rules and they also support a wrong religion.i suggest them Allah is all mighty. no man can,t born in the earth frequently,Islam also welcome all the religion in the earth. all Muslim believed that Islam mens peace.
kanimajhiOctober 2, 2012 @ 04:10:39AM
about her who went to jail
dashrath singhOctober 2, 2012 @ 02:10:46AM
bangladesh is good supoter of india.
shreedevi brOctober 1, 2012 @ 02:10:31AM
its very usefull .......
bizworldusa1October 1, 2012 @ 12:10:18AM
This is with reference to the controversial film, Innocence of Muslims by some filmmaker from California, USA. In today’s world of enlightenment how can a film made and released which is derogatory and biased towards Islam-the religion followed by a large number of humans throughout the globe? The film had weakened the already fragile unity amongst people of different faiths and led to violent protests from many muslims. Regards, Bizworldusa
Suhail khanSeptember 28, 2012 @ 03:09:40AM
But instead there is a onslaught of criticism and counter criticism of Islam and muslims in the electronic media the internet in particular which is dividing more and more people on the basis
A.RehmanSeptember 27, 2012 @ 03:09:35AM
I am not at all surprised to read varios anti Muslim comments which are result of prejudices mind and lack of proper knowlwdge about Islam. All muslims have to follow the fundamental teachings of Islam and in that respect they are fundamentalists. But islam has never tolerated FANATICISM which is no doubt found in a very few followers. There is no need to indulge in violent protests and even peaceful protests are going to fall on deaf ears and blinded eyes. As prophet Muhammed and his followers observed utmost restraint and patience in the face of tortures in his 13 years life in Mecca while preaching onness of Allah, we have also to bear with patience. Governments allow freedom of expressio in selected cases like this one but when it relates to their faith they are revengeful.. That is the rule of this perishabla world. We hae to wait and only pray for punushment for such people from Allah the almighty in this very life or otherwise the day of judgement is not far. So have patience. Keep on strictly following teachings of islam specially the sunnah of Prophet. Ehen we practice then only critics will see us practicing ab know us as true muslims
salim talukdarSeptember 25, 2012 @ 07:09:29AM
This is with reference to the controversial film, Innocence of Muslims by some filmmaker from California, USA. In today’s world of enlightenment how can a film made and released which is derogatory and biased towards Islam-the religion followed by a large number of humans throughout the globe? The film had weakened the already fragile unity amongst people of different faiths and led to violent protests from many muslims. The unfortunate killing of US Ambassador in Libya is a result of hate reaction stirred by said ill motivated and biased film broadcasted in you tube videos. Today when various regions of the world are facing threat of uncertainty and large scale violence it is but need of the hour to foster unity amongst people of different faiths and try to reign in an era of peace and tranquility in the world. Assessing the current world scenario it is most probable that even a minor spark can ignite the whole world towards a bloody world war. And allowing broadcasting of such objectionable film like, “innocence of Muslims”, by various governments is nothing but non-concerned attitude towards world peace and unity. The American law agencies can easily detect and interrogate the entire film team and find out the real culprit behind making of this film and try him in the court of law. But instead there is a onslaught of criticism and counter criticism of Islam and muslims in the electronic media the internet in particular which is dividing more and more people on the basis
mrk rajuSeptember 25, 2012 @ 03:09:30AM
Every Humanbeing should practice the art of promoting peace and harmony in society by respecting each others
michaelmunaweraSeptember 22, 2012 @ 08:09:44PM
:Lord Buddha and Lord Jesus arein oral jokes in Sri Lanka.Who is Mohammed ? muslims are blindly adament.
T. Raghuram.September 21, 2012 @ 01:09:28AM
Every body has their belief in relegian .Today science has developed.You must pray god, not to follow violence.
pbnaiduSeptember 18, 2012 @ 04:09:32AM
this is what is expected of a muslim !restraint and tollerance and understanding!