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Free Speech Alert: Hezbollah Demands International Law Making Insulting Islam A Crime


(nteb)  In a move that could escalate tensions around the Arab world, the leader of the Hezbollah militant group called for protests against the movie and said the U.S. must be held accountable for the film.

Emotions run high: Thousands of protesters shout slogans during a march in Lahore, Pakistan, against an anti-Islam film made in the U.S.

In a televised speech, Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah pushed for the creation of an international law that would ban insults of Islam and other religions, citing similar laws that exist to prevent anti-Semitism.

His outrage stems from the anti-Islam film produced by a mysterious convict based in California, that has since sparked protests outside American embassies in the Middle East and across the globe.
The protests were set off by a low-budget, crudely produced film called ‘Innocence of Muslims’, which portrays Muhammad as a fraud, a womanizer and a child molester.
‘Those who should be held accountable, punished, prosecuted and boycotted are those directly responsible for this film and those who stand behind them and those who support and protect them, primarily the United States of America,’ Mr Nasrallah said.


Arguing for action: Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah pushed for the creation of an international law that would ban insults of Islam in wake of the offensive film that prompted global protests

He called for protests on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, urging protesters to call on their leaders to express their anger too.

‘We should not only express our anger at an American embassy here or there.

We should tell our rulers in the Arab and Muslim world that it is “your responsibility in the first place” and since you officially represent the governments and states of the Muslim world you should impose on the United States, Europe and the whole world that our prophet, our Quran and our holy places and honor of our Prophet be respected,’ he said.

In Pakistan, police fired tear gas and water cannons at the protesters in Karachi after they broke through the barricade and reached the outer wall of the U.S. Consulate.

The protesters threw stones and bricks, prompting the police to beat back the crowd with their batons.

The police and private security guards outside the consulate also fired in the air to disperse the crowd.

One protester was killed during the clash, said Ali Ahmar, spokesman for the Shiite Muslim group that organized the rally