The enemy of convenience
Earlier today, I saw the short-clip posted online of ‘Innocence of Muslims’. All 14 minutes of it. It was not hard to locate. As the Interior Ministry, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Jamaat-e-Islami have yet to grasp, the internet is nebulous. In my case, I found it within two minutes of a torrent search on the infamous thepiratebay.se. The banning of YouTube therefore, is far more likely to inconvenience teenagers searching for music videos and those trying to troubleshoot their iPhones, rather than to deter any curious Pakistanis seeking the bizarrely titled video referred to above. In this case at least, the reactionary forces (to which the Interior Ministry has fallen prey) are nothing more than the enemy of convenience.
As for the video itself, upon watching it I was indeed highly offended, as an armchair critic of television and cinema. The production is so very amateurish that to even term it a home-video would be a disservice to camcorder owners. According to a quote attributed to the film-maker by the New York Times, the budget for the film was five million dollars. I find this preposterous and unbelievable. Including a dozen fake beards and one (rented) donkey, I doubt the entire budget could have exceeded five thousand dollars.
Even the actors involved in the production have revealed that they were kept in the dark regarding the actual plot of the film. Offensive dialogue was dubbed in (in a crude and obvious manner) to tailor the scenes for their intended purpose. CNN has attributed the following quotation to one actor: “They brought the actors in in post [production] and had them say specific words. Like ‘Mohammed,’ for example. It was isolated. It wasn’t in context… They’d say ‘Say Mohammed,’ and they’d [the actors would] say ‘Say Mohammed’ why?” What this says about the standard of acting one might expect, is self-evident.
Which brings me to my next point: the question of why I was not offended as a Muslim. It is for the simple reason that the film itself was so very ridiculous. There was no thought put into the production whatsoever (at one juncture, a character posits the following equation: Man + X = Islamic Terrorist; Islamic Terrorist – X = Man; Solve for ‘X’; when his daughter asks him what ‘X’ is, he responds: “this is for you to discover” or something like that).
It is plainly obvious that the film is not ‘propaganda’, as commonly understood. There is no nation or group in the world that would deign to produce such trash for the furtherance of their cause. The work is in fact a liability, since I cannot imagine any actual bigots who would not be embarrassed to be associated with it. I found it absurd when media outlets trotted out a quote by Salman Rushdie to rubbish the production. The literal parallels may be obvious but there is in fact no real comparison: The Satanic Verses was a work of art which made a controversial assertion; this is merely the ravings of a mad man.
Yet I do think that an offence is made out under s.153-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which criminalises the incitement through words, written or spoken, of enmity or hatred on the basis of religious grounds. The offence is made out not against the makers of the film (who, for God’s sake, have never even been to Pakistan) but against the opportunistic demagogues who are fanning the flames of hatred on the basis of this non-event. The very same flames which engulfed one life, left several injured and caused massive public property damage during riots against the US Embassy in Karachi.
As a friend poignantly noted yesterday, what does it say about our society when a former convict with a camcorder can shake the foundations of our nation’s stability. Does such an event merit mass protests in Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Lahore? Does it merit the banning of YouTube.com, a popular website which, in the second half of 2011, attracted 24 per cent of the global bandwidth? By way of comparison, in the obverse situation (where an isolated Pakistani misanthrope were to make a hate film targeting Essa) would Mississippi (noted to be a highly religious US city) come to a shuddering halt? Would they ban video streams of Pakistan Television? Clearly, there is something deeply wrong with this picture.
The writer is a lawyer practicing in Karachi.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
what is God?the infinite the omni present , the absolute.What is disrespect?an action or word on other side of the point of view not acceptable to the other side.What are the either side?the relative side of the absolute..If you really believe in absolute then logic dictates that you do not believe in either side of the absolute.Like Krisha said in Geeta-the best of men and the worst of gambles is no body but me in my several manifestations.Please ignore the disrespect to your God-God is beyond respect and disrespect and to chain him down to human limitations is belittle his stature and utterly absurd.No body can disrespect any thing truly great
I don’t agree with the ban on youtube but i do agree with showing a firm reaction on how we feel on an issue that pains us. Of course our reaction should not hurt innocents. Consumer boycott is one good civil way to register a protest.
However to all the liberals who are harping about why Muslims only react this way… please understand that mobs all over the world act irrationally especially in places where government writ is weak… and that has nothing to do with religion. There have been cases in the west where fans of football teams have attacked each other in post game riots and people have died. Racial abuses have resulted in riots too. Remember what happend in London just last year. I’m sure you understand the love/respect that a Muslim has for the Prophet is far more than the love a football fan has for his team or a person for his race. Also note that there has been no violent protest in Saudi, Gulf, Malaysia, Turkey etc… not because people love the Prophet any less there but because govt writ is strong.
This is the cheapest and easiest way to destroy the Islamic world. Make the most feeble film ever made, draw a couple of cartoons and watch them destroy themselves. Muppets
i can’t disagree with the tolerance and ignoring the prankster part. but banning youtube.com serves a great deal in removing the access of this controversial provocative content to most pple likely to proceed to violence after watching this clip, who are (“you knw why”) NOT very apt with internet. they are restricted to title wise search on google or youtube but not used to searching for torrents. pple like us, me you and most of the readers even if they see such absurd provocation, they’ll ignore it… so ban’s justified as long as youtube does not act in favor of demands from this particular territory.
It is utterly useless and immature response to ban the Youtube due to a silly movie that is of no consequence to Islam, its Prophet or Muslims. This movie can be viewed either as blasphemous or just nonsense. In both cases the response to the matter shall be in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Prophet about whom this movie is a about. In the first case it shall be just ignored and no reaction whatsoever be displayed just as he did in his time when subjected to taunts and verbal atrocities by the Meccans. In the second case it shall just be ignored according to his teachings, where he advised his followers to gracefully ignore the situations and stay out of the fray. We should remember that reason for the creation of such material is to instigate the Muslims. If they play along this script, they have just helped their enemies accomplish what they wanted to achieve. The protests, processions, shootings, killings and suicides will just encourage the enemies of Islam to produce more of such material. It is the cheapest method for them to destroy what is left of the Islamic Fabric.
This movie is an utter disgrace made by some raving lunatic to say the least. I would urge my fellow Muslims not to waste time and give so much attention to absolute rubbish, rather mind our own business by following the path of Rasool Allah (S.A.W).
Muslims should not demean themselves by wasting their time over this trash. Ignore and carry on.
Yes, you must ignore and carry on and continue to suffer. Great suggestion, brother. The country owes you a great favor for coming up with such a gem.
peace can be achieved only when u show the other, after getting beaten on one cheek. Not when people have an eye for eye attitude.
I watched the movie. It is pathetic. I’m not sure what you muslims are getting excited about. I would ignore it and get on with my life.
a senseless movie and the actions of an 11 year old girl can create havoc in only a country like Pakistan.What a shame.
Without all of the protests, most people would never have heard of this movie, let alone watched it. I watched it today just to see what all the fuss was about
This movie was one man’s attempt at satirical humour.Similarly the old Monty Python movie, The Life of Brian was a satire on Christianity, yet the Christians did not create such an uproar. Banning the media that delivers undesirable content is not the answer. You don’t ban TV just because of a few bad shows, you don’t ban newspapers because some articles are offensive, you don’t eliminate books, because some do not agree with your ideas. There are many offensive video clips on You Tube. The simple answer is not to watch them – unpopular video clips do not last long and will soon die a natural death
Video is still there, noone is pulling it down. Muslims need to make them strong first before demanding other to do this or that. USA not going to ask youTube to pull down the video. 52 Muslims countries even if join together can not do anything to USA., and USA knows that very well.
I feel sick of reading the so called “Liberal” thoughts over the subject… one way or the other most of them are found saying that it was bad piece of art, ugly film making and blah blah…. come on, give it a break, its about the content, the message, the depiction. So you want someone to put in his/her best efforts to produce such a blasphemous film .. if i hire a street joker and ask him to depict so n so’s father in a jokingly way,. i wonder how many would tolerate it and how many would ignore it saying oh , he is a street joker , why bother about him,
One can give hours of lecture about lets be self righteous first, lets build our character first, lets advance in the scientific field first,,, ok, yeah we should do this all but there are certain instances where emotions and sentiments dominate and they should.. it lies within the very soul of muslims, and one needs to look at things in retrospect , not by quoting only those Saying of prophet (PBUH) and quranic verses which talks about peace and harmony, there are so many other incidents, quranic verses and Sayings of holy prophet(PBUH) which clearly states the concept of punishment, concept of revenge and all that… for once one must knock the door within him/self and ask what sort of relationship we possess with Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and what that relationship exacts from us… an honest answer suffice and sums up everything,
When you talk about revenge and that emotions SHOULD dominate, i wonder if you really imagine your relationship with the Prophet SAW a father-son one. It isn’t. Ans yes if a street joker did what you wrote any sane person would ignore it. The problem is not about individual emotions. its about losing your senses as a nation. The problem is anyone who advocates peace is believed to be a lower-level muslim than the “righteous’ idiots who burn and kill their own people during these mass protests. Or maybe we are just donkeys with no sense of our own and will walk whichever way the whip swings.
Saw the clip last night. The director is a retard. Avoid the being affected & get on with life.
Agree but not everyone knows how to download a movies via any torrents site.
This is good to block You tube as the whole world even white house at self has requested them to remove the move or block the contents to alteast muslim countries.
We should not use you tube and google anymore .there are more search engins which can be used as alternate option .
I am requesting all muslims not to use any American product untill it is very much required.
Regards
Ali
‘I am requesting all muslims not to use any American product untill it is very much required.’
dear o dear…. that surely is the joke of the day… until its very much required !!!
Pls turn off your electricity, laptop, iPod/pad. And then, pls do not eat any processed food, fly, drive and store your food.
The technology that you are using to ask others not to use:
computers, cars, airplanes, refrigerators were invented by the west (Mostly US)
Then in that case, boycotting US products will not work because Pakistan will not be able to defend itself, factories will stop, trains will stop, planes will stop, there won’t be much grains and food to eat. The only thing that is completely secure is the atmi hatyar, but it is not gonna be used for any purpose.
It sure is. Don’t fly or ride car, no medication, to medical investigation, no suit and tie, no gillette, no make up cosmetics, no cameras, no tv, no watches, no rifles, ammunition etc., and the list goes on.
Isn’t the computer you are using invented in the US, the TV, car, phone, internet, fridge, bulb, all of these american or western inventions? Respect others, be kind, be grateful for what they have give us. Look into your soul for answers. Don’t get carried away by religious fanaticism.
ur blogs n features r not working. go n check the poll results on ur home page, even liberal muslims can not tolerate this. u ppl can not die for Prophet but can die for youtube.
the great man Muhammad(PBUH) said there will come a time when ignorant will become rule or have authority (may Allah forgive me if i made any mistake this just rough meaning ) this article just goes to prove that
Why is one always called IGNORANT, if he thinks differently? Curiosity and critical thinking has led human beings to major inventions. Blocked minds breed ignorance.
I support the blocking of youtube despite whatever the blogger says.
Very good article. I believe there are a few people who have proclaimed the Youtube ban to be rightful. My question to these “enlightened” individuals is as follows:
Do you really understand the true value of Youtube? I can assure you it has more educational value to it than any form of entertainment value. Some people such as UA actually suggested that it is “pure entertainment”. Well, if that is what you search for on the website, then yes, you will get entertainment. But for individuals like myself who actually use this website as a source of information and education, Youtube is a commendable tool and I am pretty sure there are millions like myself who use this service for what it is worth.
Secondly, Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. What is happening right now on the streets of Pakistan shows otherwise. Basically, we are proving to the West that we will fire up at anything and everything that undermines our values. Do not forget the Prophet (S.A.W) himself when he was insulted and hurt by the Quraish. The people of Taif pelted him with stones. In response, the Prophet (S.A.W) did not start chanting slogans like “Death to the Quraish” or “Death to Taif”. He prayed for their forgiveness and he forgave them himself. Instead of following his example, we have taken our own path of protest and violence. Burning flags, breaking shop windows and killing ambassadors are the deplorable acts that have showcased a side of us Muslims that the Prophet (S.A.W) never wanted us to have.
The best way to deal with any sort of hatred toward Islam is to let it slide. If we are so sure of our Muslim identity and our values, we should not let these provocations hurt us in the slightest! That is the best response we can give to those who attempt to undermine us. Just be tolerant folks!
wow, if only we had more people thinking like you. Totally agree with you.
This Ghazi guy is my hero in the whole wide world. I hope all Pakistanis think like him. Bravo, Ghazi!
I totally agree and appreciate this ban on YouTube.