Imam: You Tube video responsible for deaths

The Muslim spiritual leader in Malta holds the producers of an amateur film mocking Islam as also being responsible for the ensuing violence that spread across the Middle East.

We – Muslims of Malta – strongly condemn those satanic offences

Protests over the short You Tube clips about Islam’s prophet Muhammad have claimed the lives of the US Ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens and several others as clashes erupted all over the Middle East.

Expressing solidarity with the Americans over what he referred to as “satanic offences”, the imam said those behind the production of “the disgusting film” were “really responsible” for the violence against US embassies and the killing of innocent Americans and Arabs.

“They are a few extremists who aim to provoke Muslim sentiments by mocking Prophet Muhammad (peace be unto him) and depict him as a child of unknown parentage, buffoon, womaniser, homosexual, child molester, madman and blood-thirsty thug that forced people to become Muslims,” Imam Mohamed El Sadi said, adding the film-makers knew they would provoke such a violent reaction.

“They wanted to damage the good relationship between the Western and the Islamic world.

“They want to send a destructive message to the Western world: ‘Beware; Muslims hate you. They want to slay you. Do not trust them. Do not help them. Kill them before they kill you’.”

In a statement issued yesterday, Imam El Sadi said extremists on both sides were trying to provoke a clash of civilisations that should not be allowed because it could endanger world peace.

He said the film was an insult to all prophets and all religious symbols. It was also insulting for Muslims because they were depicted as ignorant people following a mad and vicious man.

While respecting the Western value of freedom of expression, the Islamic culture did not accept insults of any prophet, including Jesus and Moses, he said.

Imam El Sadi called for respect of all religious symbols to help prevent hatred and violence that could endanger peaceful coexistence.

But he still expressed “sadness, concern and embarrassment” at the “deplorable attacks”.

“Certainly, it is a criminal irresponsible act that goes against the Islamic values that teach about safeguarding the sanctity of the human life and the prohibition of the violation of the immunity of foreign countries’ representatives.

“It is an act of ingratitude towards a country that played a vital role in helping Arab Spring people get rid of their dictatorial, corrupt, tyrant rulers.

“We – Muslims of Malta – strongly condemn those satanic offences, which are the work of few ignorant extremists that hijack Islam and do not represent Muslims or the Islamic faith.” He added the perpetrators should be brought to justice.