Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Holds Open Forum on Anti-Islam Movie
In the wake of a video posted on Youtube, a local Muslim community held an open discussion on the film, the reaction by the Muslim world, and the line between free speech and harmful speech.
Photos
The local Ahmadiyya Muslim Community held an open forum Sunday on the anti-Islam film and the violent protests that it sparked across the Muslim world.
A trailer for the film was posted on Youtube by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula under the username "sam bacile" in July but did not garner widespread attention until a portion of it was translated into Arabic by an Egyptian TV station and broadcast on Sept. 8, according to BBC News.
In Islam, it is extremely offensive to depict Prophet Muhammad in any way, BBC explains. The film portrays Prophet Muhammad as promiscuous, violent and foolish.
The forum, which took place at the Baitul Hadi Mosque in Old Bridge, asked the audience whether they believed the desecration of a holy figure was protected by freedom of speech and how they believed the Muslim community should respond.
The discussion fell on determining the line between freedom of speech and harmful speech, and whether or not the film crossed that line.
Multiple members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community attending the forum noted that as Americans, they are grateful for the first amendment. However, they feel that the intent of the filmmaker was not only to harm Muslims but also to incite civil unrest in the Muslim world, therefore making it a form of harmful speech.
Others, however, felt that despite how offensive the film is to Muslims, it did not violate any American laws.
Abdul Nasir, a member of the Baitul Hadi Mosque in Old Bridge, said the local Ahmadiyya Muslim Community hopes to hold a second forum in the near future.
Tell us: Do you feel the film is protected by the first amendment or that it is a form of harmful speech?
PGrey
9:33 am on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Watch "Life of Brian". Did those filmmakers intend to incite civil unrest in the Christian World - and thus is that a form of harmful speech? Christ is portrayed as foolish by a major motion film studio. Were innocent people killed because of this film?
No because in a civilized world - no matter how offensive something is - we don't kill people over being offended - that would be wrong - no matter what your religion is.
I am surprised there were forums discussing how offensive the film was but no forums discussing how outrageous the response was to it. Killing an American Ambassador and his staff? What did he have to do with this film? Maybe the problem is with those other nations indoctrinate, police and patrol their people to the point that they react so violently over a low budget, ridiculous film. In fact I would venture to say that in the countries that were affected by civil unrest - it is far safer and easier to protest against America and a ridiculous film, than to protest against their own country's regime. Look at what is going on in Syria.....
Ghazanfar Ahmad
1:58 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
@pgrey..you have to think rationally and u will understand Muslims are more attached to their religion than any other religion who do not care about their Books or holy personalities. And another fact is that they are the most ignorant people in the whole world as ignorance can rightly be associated with Muslims and their ignorance has no Limits as they don't even know their Book says or what their Prophet said and practiced. But you should remember that ignorance and enlightenment can not be said as inheritance to any religion or people. Today Muslims are ignorant and it is a fact that they were not when in the dark age when whole of west was. Now in this situation it becomes a responsibility of one who is enlightened to not to act in a way that would indanger the life of mad person as if one know that if he would iterate an insane persone who will in retaliation would not do much but can break his know head by striking it against a wall. Now if he does it or let it happen it becomes a deliberate act to harm that insane person...
PGrey
8:01 am on Friday, October 12, 2012
The conclusions you are drawing about thinking rationally seem not to apply to the point you are trying to make.
My original point is that the people that were killed because of a ridiculous “movie” that suddenly got in the hands of an Egyptian network who decided to broadcast it, with subtitles as NEWS?!?!. In my opinion, that was the most deliberate act to endanger the lives of the “ignorant” people you speak of. All done around the anniversary of September 11th. How very convenient of them.
I think some of your remarks are offensive - does that mean I am ignorant and I have the right to cause you harm?
You can't have it both ways. Ignorant is not the same as insane.
I never claimed that any nation had inheritance to enlightenment but since you mentioned it -
PGrey
8:01 am on Friday, October 12, 2012
In Pakistan, 14 year old Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head and in the neck on a school bus by the Taliban all because she wants to go to school and has defied the orders that prohibit girls from attending. Apparently getting an education is a symbol of Westernization.
Is that ignorant or insane? And who is enlightened here? Malala? If so - it becomes her job - if we follow your school of thought - to "enlighten" her ignorant/insane assailants by not inciting them (that would be a deliberate act to harm them - since they are ignorant and insane) - perhaps she should stay home, not press charges and not act in a way that would endanger the life of the the mad person (in this case her attackers).
Or... perhaps the fact that she is standing up to this madness is the true meaning of enlightenment.
Comes a time when the finger pointing needs to stop and people take responsibility for their actions. No matter what your religion or ethnicity.
Umair
9:47 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Pgrey you can't use the malala case to support ur argument on the film case that is a big illogical fallacy. Notwithstanding the corruption of leaders in muslim countires and their imams who incite hatred for their own political means the movie itself is no less at fault. Why can u not accept that? Koran burning is also hateful. Im a muslim and had zero reaction to the film and was more disturbed by muslim reaction but surely if i wanted to express an opinion i wouldn't make a dumb film with no positive value about it.
Muashiru Abiola
12:33 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
I think its over react for those protester that take the life of innocent people, I muslim can leave those film maker for God to judge American people should have experience great disaster.but somebody has bear the sacrifice.
PGrey
10:05 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Umair - I am not using cases to support arguments - and I never said they were the same (but they are similar in the fact that they both address “ignorance”)... in fact I was showing how sweeping generalizations can be dangerous. I haven't seen the film, and don't intend on viewing it - because it benefits NO ONE - just like 90% of the tripe on youtube. It is certainly not representative of the American people - just like the violence that is being so heartily condemned isn't representative of your people.
Muashiru - I think it is hateful to suggest or even wish great disasters on anyone.
Innocent people should never have to bear any "sacrifice". I'll leave to the higher power to judge ALL people who are evil and inflict harm on others - verbal as well as physical.
As we speak... Malala is in a UK hospital because she is unsafe in her own country (imagine that!). I pray she survives the assassination attempt. I also hope there is a HUGE outcry in the Muslim community for what they have done to this girl and countless other girls for wanting a better life for themselves. It's outrageous, it's an attack on educational and intellectual freedom - the very basis on why people are "ignorant".