Pakistani Christians and Muslims condemn blasphemous film about Muhammad
Faisalabad (AsiaNews) - The wave of protests against
the blasphemous film about Muhammad, which has inflamed many Muslim majority countries
has 'arrived in Pakistan Over
the past few days protests have been held in several cities. Hundreds
of people chanted slogans condemning the film "Innocence of Muslims"
and the Christian community has sympathized with the Muslim majority condemning
a work of little artistic value and offensive to Islam. The
Diocesan Commission for Interreligious Dialogue in Faisalabad, on the evening of September 15, called
a press conference in the curia, which was attended by at least 50 prominent
figures, Christian and Muslim. They
expressed, together the strongest condemnation of the film, branded its authors
as "agents of Satan" who deserve exemplary punishment.
The
participants appealed to the U.S.
government to ban the film, and they also call for the arrest of Pastor Terry
Jones, Sam Becile, the director, and other persons who participated in the
production. They
also specifically ask the Islamabad executive to
demand an official apology from the U.S. embassy in Pakistan. The
United Nations, say the Muslim-Christian leaders, must also be considered:
these groups should be treated the same way as terrorists because they affect
the feelings of the faithful and "demolish peace in the world."
Fr Bonnie
Mendes, a priest and former Secretary of the National Commission for Justice
and Peace, says it's terrible "to offend the sensibilities of Muslim for sinister
and evil interests." The
Muslim religious leader Muhammad Ibrahim requested the extradition to Pakistan
of Pastor Jones and the author of the film, so they may be " tried by the Shariah
courts." He
speaks of a "conspiracy" of the Jewish and the U.S lobby. against
Islam and thanks "minorities" for their "strong condemnation" of the film.
For
the director of the Diocesan Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, Fr. Aftab
James Paul, freedom of thought "should never mean hurting the feelings of
others." The
priest announces a letter to the U.S.
consulate in Pakistan
and will raise the issue with UN officials in the country. Finally, Fr. Khalid
Yousaf calls for "respect" for religion, and the end of these "blasphemous
acts."
To
"avenge" the broadcast of the film that offends
the figure of Muhammad, on 11 September, an armed group attacked the U.S. consulate in Benghazi
(Libya).
In
the attack, Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three of his co-workers lost
their lives. The
protest against the film has since spread
to other Muslim countries in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as India and Indonesia, the most populous Muslim
country in the world.
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