Armm guv, MILF condemn ‘anti-Islam film’ but appeals for calm

MANILA (Updated) -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (Armm) leadership appealed to Muslims in the country to be “more sensible instead of being sensitive” amid reports of indignation rallies staged worldwide against a viral “anti-Islamic film.”

Armm OIC Governor Mujiv Hataman said the showing of the film “The Innocence of Muslims” on YouTube could be a ploy to stir conflict that can push individuals to wrong-doing, which can generally be attributed to Muslims and destroy the image of Islam.

The film, whose original title is “Fitna,” meaning intrigue, exuded what its producers believe was exploitation of young women which it directly attributes to Prophet Muhammad. It has drawn series of violent protests in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in Libya, where US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other American citizens were killed.

International terrorist organizations also called for retaliation by attacking American citizens.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the Philippines, however, assured Western countries and Americans in the country that although it condemned the movie, it will not heed calls by terrorist groups for retaliation.

On its website, the MILF urged countries and international organizations, especially in the Western hemisphere to criminalize anti-religious acts against any recognized world religion and acts ridiculing all prophets and messengers.

Sheikh Mohammad Muntassir, head of the MILF Da'wah Committee, said Muslims all over the world should stay calm and not to surrender to anger.

The MILF is engaged in peace talks with the government.

As of Monday, police authorities reported that there is no imminent threat in the Philippines against the film. But Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman, said they have intensified the security in the country to protect foreign diplomats.

A radio report on Monday morning said police have stepped up security measures in the United States Embassy in Manila by assigning more mobile police patrol cars in the area.

The Philippine National Police also said that it is coordinating with other government agencies and the Muslim community to prevent in the country the escalation of similar violent protests against the movie.

Protests have occurred in Libya, Lebanon, Egypt and across the Arab World, and demonstrators are largely blaming the American-made film that they say ridiculed the Islam religion.

But Muntassir said that condemning the movie and those behind it should be in accordance with the Holy Quran.

He also stressed that “collective rights are more important than individual rights,” adding that individual freedom does not warrant or justify the invasion of others’ freedom even in the name of freedom of speech.

Governor Hataman said that while Muslims may condemn parts of the film, they should not resort to violent acts against innocent targets.

He said Muslim individuals should also be aware that it is not easy to destroy the image of Islam, by any form of media, unless Muslims themselves do wrong.

Hataman said Muslims and non-Muslims should understand that some attacks on religions through the works of art had been prompted by the growing size of their flocks or following, in different times.

Islam is said to be the fastest-growing religion in the world, with Muslims constituting about one-fifth of the world’s population. The four-fifth is divided among Christian sects, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, atheists and agnostics.

For his part, Sulu Representative Tupay Loong, chairperson of the House committee on Muslim affairs, said that while he condemns the "blasphemous" film, he also appealed to his Muslim brothers and sisters not to add to the violent mass demonstrations happening in other countries.

"As a Muslim and a duly elected representative of a Muslim community in Sulu, I strongly condemn in the strongest term the showing of such blasphemous film, which has brought nothing but turmoil and violence to the already chaotic and turbulent world, as it only aroused the anger and bitterness of the Muslim throughout the world towards the American government," Loong said in a statement.

Loong appealed to the Philippine government to show its support to its Muslim constituents by condemning the showing of the anti-Islam film.

While Google has decided to block access to the video in Libya and Egypt, Malacañang said it would not request the same and restrict access to the video in the Philippines.

"The Philippine government must also appeal to the US government to hasten the resolution of this issue to end the Muslim protest ad international crisis brought about by the issue," Loong said.

But President Benigno Aquino III is leaving the decision to block the showing of the anti-Islamic film to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Aquino said it is beyond the power of the Executive to ban the showing of a particular movie and reminded the public about the freedom of expression.

"Let us not forget that under the Constitution is freedom of expression and laws against limiting freedom of speech is prohibited," he said.

"I don't think I can do it just by executive action," he added.

He noted that evaluating the film is more under the jurisdiction of the MTRCB rather than his office.

"The MTRCB under their charter can rate and put an 'X' classification on those offensive or those that are probably injurious or pose an imminent danger to the public. That's the function of MTRCB rather than Office of the President," the Chief Executive said.

Representative Loong earlier urged the President to ban the film, saying that allowing the movie to be shown might also anger Filipino Muslims.

Loong said an attack against the Prophet Mohammad is an attack on all Muslims around the world. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Jill Beltran/Kathrina Alvarez/PNA/Sunnex)