The Innocence of Muslims
By Mustafaen Kamal
London School of Economics
UK
L ibya. Sudan. Egypt. India. Britain. All these countries have witnessed the rapidly escalating reaction of the Muslim world to an offensive film about the Prophet Mohammed. The video was directed by a California-based Coptic Christian whose intent is made very clear by the script and cinematography of the piece. As awareness of the film spread through the Middle East, violence became sporadic and even resulted in the death of the US ambassador to Libya. As I type, effigies of Obama, Netanyahu and other leaders of the “free world” are being burned.
For a religion which is followed by a fifth of the globe’s population, has a rich history of culture, and has pioneered breakthroughs in science and maths, Islam’s following has an overtly puerile dimension. The director of this controversial film was well aware of what he was doing, and although he certainly will not win an Academy Award, he has achieved his purpose. If anyone dares to view this YouTube phenomenon they will be shocked, not by the evident religious insult but, by the outstandingly abysmal screen play. The use of the green screen is at best comical, and the actors’ performance leads to a sudden urge to self-harm. This begs the question: How has this appalling clip managed to incite so much anger in the Arab world? The answer is simple, the childishness of certain sections of Islam. The leader of Hezbollah has called upon his followers to fight, and has said the “Prophet has followers which will not be silent in the face of humiliation”. He, like so many others calling for violence, does not understand that the greatest humiliation is not caused by this film. Humiliation comes from the futile aggression of the Muslims on the streets of Benghazi, Cairo, London and all over the world. Brutality and bloodshed have never solved the World’s problems and it’s about time that someone explained this to the fundamentalist sects of Islam.
A clear lack of worldly education in the countries of the Middle East has led to a severe moral decay which is troubling for the West, as well as the states themselves. Academic stagnancy and the prohibition of ideas have led to a threatening environment of intolerance in Muslim nations across the world. The fanatical bigotry of some Muslims can be explained by an extremely narrow minded outlook on life. On my visit to Jeddah a few years ago it became evident that multiculturalism was just a word in a dictionary in Saudi Arabia. They only knew one way to live, and any challenges to this way of life are to be crushed. In many Islamic states the ignorant became easy prey to those who wish to convince them of a violent path to heaven. It is fair to say that a lack of education is often accompanied by poverty, and together they have provided a perfect opportunity for malevolent forces to manipulate and persuade. The Egyptian man who created this film wanted to provoke and to aggravate; he has achieved this on a scale perhaps even unexpected by himself.
The acts of the rioters are intolerable and wrong. However, while it is mistaken to condone the violence of these Muslims, the West must show a degree of empathy with the cause of the protests. It is impractical to fully place the blame on the childish rage of the Muslims for three foremost reasons. The first is the most simple. The violent protestors simply do not know any better, they have lived in the “bubble” of Islamic law their whole life and any external threat appears magnified in their eyes. Moreover, many reporters have likened the protesters to football hooligans in their early twenties. They are out to cause trouble, and perhaps the naivety of their actions is not solely owing to ignorance, but age. Secondly, the film is a clear affront. The protestors are not enraged by an asset to the literary world (which some argue Salman Rushdie’s novel was), the protestors are angered by a clear and direct insult to their way of life. Hillary Clinton has described this film as “disgusting” , and the director had made it deliberately provocative to gain the largest audience that otherwise would not have been afforded to such a poorly made film. The third reason is the most important. In the wake of the Arab Spring nations are in upheaval, although the risings last year had a common enemy they did not have a common goal. The fabric of these countries is being torn from all corners, as parties and populations jostle to define their new country. This is the main reason why the West must be careful. Although, the US had a hand in deposing the dictators of the Middle East, they are now faced with more disobliging leaders, the Muslim Brotherhood being a key example in Egypt. Violence is not the answer.
Lt. Col Ralph Peters argues that if four Americans are killed, 400 Egyptians should be killed in response, this is ludicrous and similar rhetoric adds fuel to the flames of rioters. America must realize that there is no nationwide hatred towards them in any of these countries; Zakaria says that pro-America Libyans out number anti-Americans 2 to 1. The problem isn’t of the silent majority but of the uneducated and vocal minority, and to tackle this will require skilled diplomacy not mass intervention.
On an intellectual level one could try and explain to the rioters that freedom of speech is fundamental to a functioning democracy, or that they have no right to impose their religion onto others. However, it would be a better use of time to help them achieve their goal. This seems counter intuitive, but it is clear the only way such an insult will disappear is if the Islamic world disregards it. This end is acceptable to both sides. However, the immaturity and the enthusiasm for bloodshed in certain areas of the Middle East and the subcontinent need to be eradicated.
Facts and figures seem to indicate that radical Islam is on the rise, this inclination towards violence is propped up by a lack of education, poverty and desperation. It is clear that the minds of Muslims need to be opened, ideas need to be freed, a broader education more widely available and above all there needs to be a reaffirmation of fundamental human values which cross boundaries and make human life the most valuable commodity of all.
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