INDIA: Petition filed at the Bombay High Court calling on Indian authorities to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against the makers and broadcasters of an anti-Islam film.

Record ID: 1372004

  • Title: INDIA: Petition filed at the Bombay High Court calling on Indian authorities to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against the makers and broadcasters of an anti-Islam film.
  • Date: 25th September 2012
  • Summary: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 24, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) AN ADVOCATE, EJAZ NAQVI SITTING IN HIS OFFICE NAQVI HOLDING A BOOK (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) AN ADVOCATE, EJAZ NAQVI, SAYING: "A FIR (First Information Report) should be lodged against the financer of the controversial film against Islam and people who have hurt the Muslim faith. A FIR should also be lodged against owners of the company 'Youtube' who let the film be broadcasted. We request the government to take action against them and remove the film off 'Youtube' and other websites." NAQVI READING A BOOK (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) AN ADVOCATE, EJAZ NAQVI, SAYING: "The film has hurt the sentiments of Muslims and also put things in a negative perspective. It has tried to derogate Prophet Mohammad and portray his personality in a different way. Playing with religious sentiments is an ugly thing to do. We also want that police to investigate as to what is the intention behind making this film and present facts before the court." RECENT (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) PROTESTERS RIDING MOTORCYCLES OVER THE NATIONAL FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PROTESTERS BURNING NATIONAL FLAG OF USA THE BURNING FLAG PROTESTERS SHOUTING SLOGANS PROTESTERS STANDING BESIDE THE BURNING FLAG
  • Embargoed: 9th October 2012 22:29
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Communications,Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Film,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4J3CE99V8R8X6C0N1TIAB5HT9
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: A petition was filed at the Bombay High Court on Monday (September 24) calling on Indian authorities to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against the makers and broadcasters of an anti-Islam film.
    The registering of an FIR could prompt a police investigation into the offence caused by the film.
    An advocate speaking on behalf of the petitioner, Amin Idris, said the action should be taken against the producers of the amateurish video "The Innocence of Muslims" and YouTube, the social media website that broadcast it.
    The 13-minute English-language short film, which was filmed in California, portrays the Prophet Mohammad engaged in crude and offensive behaviour.
    "A FIR (First Information Report) should be lodged against the financer of the controversial film against Islam and people who have hurt the Muslim faith. A FIR should also be lodged against owners of the company 'Youtube' who let the film be broadcasted. We request the government to take action against them and remove the film off Youtube and other websites," said advocate Ejaz Naqvi.
    The anti-Islam film, posted on YouTube, has provoked protests in several Muslim countries. Related violence has included the storming of U.S. and other Western embassies, the killing of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and a suicide bombing in Afghanistan.
    Many Muslims regard any depiction of the Prophet Mohammad as blasphemous, let alone one which denigrates the Prophet.
    "The film has hurt the sentiments of Muslims and also put things in a negative perspective. It has tried to derogate Prophet Mohammad and portray his personality in a different way. Playing with religious sentiments is an ugly thing to do. We also want the police to investigate as to what is the intention behind making this film and present facts before the court," said Naqvi.
    Muslims protested in Nigeria, Iran, Greece and Turkey on Sunday (September 23) to show anti-Western anger against the film and cartoons insulting Islam had not dissipated.
    As delegates from around the world gathered in New York for a U.N. General Assembly where the clash between free speech and blasphemy is bound to be raised, U.S. flags were once again burning in parts of the Muslim world.
    In Pakistan, where fifteen people were killed in protests on Friday, a government minister has offered $100,000 to anyone who kills the maker of the video. Calls have increased for a U.N. measure outlawing insults to Islam and blasphemy in general.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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