Imane KurdiThe events of the last few days have left me almost as frightened as in the wake of 9/11. Of course the murders of Chris Stevens and three of his colleagues in Benghazi and the growing anti-American protests across the Muslim world do not compare to the atrocity of the twin towers attacks, but there are common denominators and common consequences. But first, a word about the so-called film. Has anyone seen “The Innocence of Muslims"? All we have seen is a 13-minute trailer on you-tube which no-one had noticed until it was translated into Arabic. It is not a film, it is an incendiary device. It is a blasphemous caricature that has put verbal insults into pictures. It is the work of a small group of individuals, who exactly remains to be seen, but the initial statement that it was made by an Israeli-American named Sam Bacile, cost millions of dollars paid for by donations from Jews is clearly another incendiary device. Sam Bacile is most likely Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, an Egyptian American Coptic Christian, and the “film" did not cost millions but around a hundred thousand. Who funded it is still as mysterious as who exactly made the rag, but the likely suspects at this time are an alliance of militant Egyptian American Coptic Christians and right-wing US Christians. The actors thought they were making a film called “Desert Warriors" set in Egypt 2000 years ago. The dialogues they spoke bore no resemblance to the dialogue that was later dubbed over their voices. They had no idea they were making an incendiary device, they thought they were making a low-budget film. The licence for shooting the film, for recruiting actors for the film, the whole film-making process was done under the terms of “Desert Warriors". Only after the film was completed was it used to create the incendiary device we have now seen in action. I repeat: the insults were dubbed over the dialogue, the actor who is now seen to be portraying the Prophet (peace be upon him) was acting an altogether different role, that of “Master George", no-one — apart from the criminals who made the film — had any idea they were making an anti-Islamic propaganda tool. So why is the American government to blame? Why all this anti-American sentiment? A handful of criminals full of hatred for Islam wishing to create a spiral of hatred create 13 minutes of insults and post it on you-tube and we blame the whole American nation? Just because it was filmed on American soil? Did Chris Stevens really die for something he had absolutely no responsibility for? As it happens I do not believe that Chris Stevens and his three colleagues died at the hands of an angry mob. I doubt very much that it was a spontaneous attack but rather something well-planned and timed to coincide with 9/11. The anger against the film gave the terrorists the subterfuge they needed but the killers are most likely of the same ilk as those behind previous terrorist attacks. It still means they died as innocents just like all those who have died at the hands of terrorists. The American government and the American people bear no responsibility for the acts of a handful of criminals any more than we Muslims bear responsibility for the criminal acts of terrorists who claim to kill in our name. The only responsibility, if responsibility there is, comes in the form of a question. When does incitement to hatred over-ride the right to free speech? I am a great believer in free speech and admire nations that allow people to criticise the great and the good without the consequences that have been known to occur in places where the first amendment does not exist, but surely there are limits? My understanding — and I am saying this as an individual — is that the line is drawn between expressing an opinion, even an offensive opinion, and inciting hatred against others. The makers of this film are clearly in the business of hatred. The film aimed both to express their hatred of Muslims, incite others to hate Muslims, and most importantly incite Muslim anger. Surely there must be a law against this kind of thing? And they have succeeded, like a red rag to a bull, the film has released visceral, violent anger across the Muslim world. People don't even need to see the film, just the idea of it is enough. It somehow confirms the idea that “they" hate Muslims, whoever ‘they' may be. Which brings me back to my post 9/11 state of anxiety. It is that old clash of civilisations. Anger stoking anger. Anti-American versus Anti-Muslim. On one side all the anti-American feeling stirred up by decades of blind support for Israel — for that is always at the core regardless of the day's trigger — and on the other, growing misunderstanding of who Muslims are. The violent mob, the intolerant, the terrorists, those Muslims are visible but not representative, yet they occupy such a large part of Western consciousness. But what worries me most about this latest episode is the Coptic Christian dimension. Muslims and Coptic Christians have lived peacefully side by side for centuries, please let us not start another conflict.— Imane Kurdi is a Saudi writer on European affairs. She can be reached at [email protected]
