The protests in Egypt and Libya linked with death of the American ambassador to Libya and three other Foreign Service personnel have now spread throughout other countries in the Middle East. Protesters attacked the U.S. embassy in Sana'a, Yemen, and other demonstrations were seen in Iraq, Iran and Pakistan.
The protests are a response to a blasphemous video made in the U.S. called "The Innocence of Muslims" that mocks Islam and the Prophet Mohammad. The sponsor of the video has gone into hiding, but he is reportedly a Coptic Christian who lives in California. The Coptic Church in Egypt, where that branch of Christianity has its traditional roots, condemned the video and denounced the filmmaker.
Religious leaders across Middle Eastern countries with Muslim majorities have called for the U.S. to apologize for the video, with some even demanding the closing of U.S. embassies.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton strongly condemned the message of the video, saying, "It appears to have a deeply cynical purpose, to denigrate a great religion and to provoke rage." However, she continued, "there is no justification, none at all, for responding to this video with violence."
Mohammad Morsi, the new President of Egypt, also came out with a statement disavowing the violence against the U.S. embassy in Cairo, but only after two days of silence on the matter. Morsi's previous condemnation of the offending video and not of the violent protests has worried officials in Washington, including President Obama.
Quotes
"I called [President Obama] in order to ask him to put an end to such behavior. (Referring to the film, "The Innocence of Muslims") And, of course, we assured President Obama that we will be keen and we will not permit any such event, any such occurrence in our country against the embassy or its territories in the future." - Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi.
"It appears to have a deeply cynical purpose, to denigrate a great religion and to provoke rage. But, as I said yesterday, there is no justification, none at all, for responding to this video with violence." - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Warm Up Questions
1. What recently happened in Libya?
2. What does "blasphemous" mean?
3. What do you know about the internet film "The Innocence of Muslims"?
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think the U.S. embassies were the targets for violent protest?
2. Why do you think many Muslims have reacted so strongly to the film?
3. Should the U.S. have the power to censor films like "The Innocence of Muslims"? Why or why not?
Additional Resources
Libya Holds First Free Elections in 60 Years
Four Americans Killed at U.S. Embassy in Libya
