Anti-Islam Film and Free-Speech Rights: You Decide

Innocence of Muslims movie trailer
sparks protests, murder, and Internet censorship

This anti-Islam film, uploaded to YouTube as a 14-minute trailer in July 2012 and gone viral worldwide in September, contains material offensive to Muslims, including depictions of the prophet Muhammad as a pedophile and supporter of violence in the name of Islam. (Merely representing the prophet’s image at all is offensive to many Muslims.) 

 Violent demonstrations and protests occurred in Egypt and Libya, then spread to other countries in the Middle East, Asia, and some Western nations, including Australia, and according to ABC News, as of September 24, more than 50 people had been killed in connection with these reactions to the film. One government official in Pakistan offered $100,000 to anyone who kills the filmmaker.

YouTube voluntarily blocked the video in certain countries, among them Egypt, Libya, and Pakistan, while nations as far-flung as Russia, Brazil, and Turkey themselves moved to block the video. Other countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, have gone further, blocking YouTube itself. One Iranian government official has pledged complete censorship of the video service, saying, “We absolutely do not want YouTube to be accessible.” 

Freedom of speech, one of the core principles
of American society, lies at the heart of the issue

First Amendment, United States Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (Wikipedia)

Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State: “Violence in response to speech is not acceptable…. I know it is hard for some people to understand why the United States cannot or does not just prevent these kinds of reprehensible videos from ever seeing the light of day… Our country does have a long tradition of free expression which is enshrined in our constitution and our law. And we do not stop individual citizens from expressing their views no matter how distasteful they may be.” (Fox News)

Salman Rushdie, author: “The film is clearly a malevolent piece of garbage… [Yet it would not be right] to hold America responsible for everything that happens in its borders… [T]o respond with physical attacks and believe it's OK to attack people because you're upset at this thing, that's an improper reaction. The Muslim world needs to get out of that mindset.” (The Guardian) Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses prompted in 1989 a call by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini for Rushdie’s death. The author spent well over a decade in hiding.

What do you think?

VOTE NOW in the library as to whether or not you think this controversial film should be allowed. Visit the display and voting box near the Bogo Room. There is space on the voting slips to tell us why you voted Yes, No, or Not Sure--please take a moment to jot down your thoughts. All voting is anonymous, and we plan to share the results in about a week's time.