Violent protests spread across the Arab World and other areas Friday over a private video produced in the United States. Crowds targeted American and western embassies as opposition to the film continued to grow. Three days earlier, armed militants killed the American ambassador to Libya and three other Americans in an attack in Benghazi, Libya.
The low budget film “The Innocence of Muslims” makes fun of Islam. It shows the Prophet Mohammed as a womanizer and a terrorist. The video reportedly was made in California.
It remains unclear who made the video. Some news organizations have linked the film to a fifty-five year old Egyptian Coptic Christian who lives in California. They say he recently served a prison sentence for illegal financial activities.
The suspected director of the film spoke with Radio Sawa. He said any claim of government involvement in the making of the movie is funny, and that America has nothing to do with the film. He also criticized the protesters. He said Arabs “have to learn to demonstrate peacefully against the issues on which we disagree.” He also said he was saddened by the deaths, but he did not regret making the film.
“The Innocence of Muslims” was publicized by American clergyman Terry Jones. In recent years, his actions against the Quran, Islam’s holy book, incited violence in Afghanistan.
The protests against the film began Tuesday on the eleventh anniversary of the Two Thousand One terror attacks on the United States. In Cairo, the demonstrations began peacefully, until a few protesters broke through the American embassy walls and replaced the American flag with a Muslim one. Later Tuesday, a crowd attacked the American consulate in Benghazi, killing the four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.
There were reports that the attack was well planned since it took place on September eleventh. The Obama administration has not commented on these reports. However, intelligence officials have investigated the possible involvement of al-Qaida in the film. But they say there is not much evidence to support this idea.
On Wednesday, President Obama condemned the attacks on the American embassies.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: “We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. But there is absolutely no justification to this type of senseless violence. None. The world must stand together to unequivocally reject these brutal acts.”
Chris Stevens had served as America’s ambassador to Libya since May. He had served as America’s representative to the country during the revolution against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. He recorded this message earlier this year.
CHRIS STEVENS: “A Salaam Alaikum, my name is Chris Stevens, and I’m the new US Ambassador to Libya. I had the honor to serve as the US envoy to the Libyan opposition during the revolution. And I was thrilled to watch the Libyan people stand up and demand their rights. Now, I’m excited to return to Libya to continue the great work we’ve started. Building a solid partnership between the United States and Libya, to help you, the Libyan people, achieve their goals…”
Ambassador Stevens was said to be popular in Libya. In the 1980s, he taught English in Morocco as a Peace Corps volunteer.
And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.
国内英语资讯:CPC education campaign to have first assessment
最能吸金的已故名人
体坛英语资讯:Arsenal capture Real Madrids Ceballos on a seasons loan
体坛英语资讯:Israels Hapoel Beer Sheva beat Kazakhstans Kairat Almaty 2-0 in Europa League
体坛英语资讯:Three world records set in swimming at FINA Worlds
舌尖上的世界,全球10大街头美食
印度议员大谈“女人不该用手机”
国际英语资讯:Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh need urgent investment in education: UNICEF
沉默是金:谈合约时不可忽视的“沉默规则”
体坛英语资讯:Bucks, forward Bender agree to two-year deal
写给女孩的一封信:关于美丽的事实和真相
女人28岁正式变老 你的青春还剩多少?
女性“完美的一天”:我们每天只想工作36分钟!
我们需要正能量:10种方法教你积极面对生活
国际英语资讯:Greece faces two times more wildfires this year: study
苹果发布迷你iPad,对中国消费者没啥大不了
尼泊尔奇幻旅程 Magic Tour to Nepal
国内英语资讯:Xi calls on Party members to progress along Long March of new era
学校里受欢迎的小孩长大后收入更高
2017年的万圣节:南瓜摊上的明星们