Government Request for Video Removal Refused by Google
Amid widespread unrest, global internet titan Google has rebuffed a formal request from the United States government to eliminate a controversial film clip from its YouTube platform.
This clip, which disparages Prophet Muhammad (SM) and the Islamic faith, has incited significant outrage among Muslims internationally, leading to protests in several countries, including Bangladesh.
Following the eruption of these protests against the 13-minute video, the White House sought Google’s cooperation to restrict its visibility. Nonetheless, Google, adhering to its protocols, limited access to the contentious clip primarily in regions with substantial Muslim populations on Friday.
In a statement, YouTube affirmed its commitment to maintaining the video, asserting that it “clearly remains within our guidelines.” The maligned short film, titled “Innocence of Muslims,” has ignited violent anti-American demonstrations throughout the Middle East and beyond.
The film is partially linked to tragic events in Libya, where a violent attack resulted in the death of the U.S. ambassador and three others, although the precise motivations are the subject of ongoing inquiry. Similarly, the Taliban in Afghanistan cited the film as a justification for an assault on coalition forces.
In Bangladesh, although the protests did not escalate to severe violence, demonstrators vocally demanded that both the parliament and the government denounce the offensive film, with many burning U.S. flags in protest.
In response to escalating tensions, YouTube restricted access to the clip in various nations, including Libya, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Explaining its course of action, YouTube stated, “Access has been restricted in countries where it is deemed illegal, such as India and Indonesia, and in Libya and Egypt due to the sensitive circumstances in these locations.”
The platform reminded that “what’s acceptable in one nation can provoke deep offense in another,” a policy it has upheld since 2007.
In a forceful response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh condemned the film’s producer, urging the U.S. government to halt all distribution and screening of the derogatory video.
“No Muslim can tolerate such vile insults directed at Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM),” she asserted during the inauguration of the 2012 Hajj Programme in Dhaka.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) issued a statement condemning the film, asserting, “Inciting hatred cannot be justified as an exercise of freedom of expression.” The ministry described the video as both “offensive and reprehensible.”
The current parliamentary session is poised to issue a formal condemnation of the film to mitigate the feelings of a segment of the Muslim population. Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, MP, and chair of a parliamentary sub-committee, remarked, “It is likely that the condemnation will be adopted in an upcoming session, given that the majority of the Muslim populace in Bangladesh denounces such acts of blasphemy.”
In Islamic teachings, any portrayal of Prophet Muhammad (SM) through caricatures or dramatizations is regarded as highly blasphemous.
Such acts have historically incited violent reactions and have garnered denunciations from officials and leaders across diverse religious spectrums, including Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism.
Source link: Today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd.
