Iman Chairman condemns Killing of US Ambassador in Libya and insulting film

SANAA/CAIRO | Thu Sep 13, 2012 4:58pm BST

(Reuters) - Demonstrators attacked the U.S. embassies in Yemen and Egypt on Thursday in protest at a film they consider blasphemous to Islam, and American warships headed to Libya after the U.S. ambassador there died in related violence earlier this week.

The U.S. ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans died in the assaults, carried out with guns, mortars and grenades. Eight Libyans were injured.

President Barack Obama vowed to "bring to justice" those responsible for the attack, which U.S. officials said may have been planned in advance. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington had nothing to do with the video, which she called "disgusting and reprehensible".

FILM

The attackers were part of a mob blaming America for a film they said insulted the Prophet Mohammad. Clips of the "Innocence of Muslims," had been circulating on the Internet for weeks before the protests erupted.

For many Muslims, any depiction of the Prophet is blasphemous and caricatures or other characterisations have in the past provoked protests.

Clinton said Washington rejected the film's message absolutely. "It appears to have a deeply cynical purpose: to denigrate a great religion and provoke rage," she said.

Commenting on the killing, Ribal Al-Assad, Chairman of the Iman Foundation, said:

"I condemn this barbaric and senseless killing. The Islamist militants who perpetrated it must be brought to justice. I also condemn the film, which is highly provocative and clearly has the intention to insult and denigrate Islam. However violent protest and killing is not the solution and totally unacceptable. Peaceful protest is absolutely right.

"This situation highlights the fact that the international community needs to do more to tackle extremism on all sides and to promote greater dialogue between all cultures and religions, and to promote moderate voices to prevent extremists hijacking religions to create hatred. This will help to bring greater understanding and co-existence".