Malawi Muslims fury with anti-Islam film
The country’s influential Islamic body, the Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) has reacted angrily to an anti-Islam film Made in the United States of America that mocks Islam.
The film depicts the Prophet Muhammad as a womaniser and leader of a group of men who enjoy killing. Clips were distributed online with an Arabic voice-over.
The inflammatory anti-Islam film that has triggered rioting across the Muslim world was produced by a US religious group called Media for Christ and reportedly directed by a pornographer.
The Muslim Society for Human Rights and Justice, an organ operating under MAM, said it is at pains to understand the real motive behind producing of the video which it says is “blasphemous and provocative.”
Sheikh Aman Matiya, the society’s executive director, told Nyasa Times at the Mam headquarters in Blantyre that the film is latest in a series of attacks that Islamic religion has suffered over the years.
Peace
While condemning the violence that has sprung across the world, Matiya pointed out that his religion preaches peace as such it is reprehensible and insensitive for Muslims across the world to be demeaned in such a ‘coward’ manner.
“As Muslims we condemn the video, it is provocative, disturbing and hateful; I call upon the USA government to bring to justice whosoever made the film,” said Matiya.
“This is not the first time our Prophet (peace be upon him) has been ridiculed by our friends in the west. I recall there was the cartoon incident in Denmark and followed by publicly burning of Koran in USA, all the incidents have been aimed at instigating religious intolerance, that is why, as a peace loving religion, we are condemning this video in its strongest terms .”
“I call on the USA to ban it otherwise Muslims across the world are ready to defend and die for their religion,” warned Matiya.
‘Apology or face Malawi protests’
Meanwhile, according to Matiya, Malawian Muslims are waiting for official apology from the US government to all Muslim faithfusl worldwide failing which his organization would mobilize demonstrations outside the US embassy in capital Lilongwe.
The renowned Islamic cleric has since blamed the film on some political forces in Washington he said are out to discredit the Barack Obama led administration ahead of November elections.
“I personally believe that the release of the video was well planned to coincide with the commemoration of September 11 attacks. In US, as we all know, there are elections so the video has been released by some right-wing Christians to influence public opinion on Obama’s foreign policy,” added Matiya.
Sporadic riots
Violent protests erupted in Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Israel and the Palestinian territories after the film was poisted on YouTube.
American ambassador to Libya Chris Stephens and five others have also been killed in the protests.
Islam categorically forbids any depictions of Mohammed, and blasphemy is an incendiary taboo in Muslim world.
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