Nasrallah: Lebanon Can Pressure World Powers to Issue Int’l Laws that Incriminate Insulting Religions
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah slammed on Sunday the film that mocks Islam that sparked outrage throughout the Muslim world, announcing a series of rallies that will be held in various regions in Lebanon throughout the week.
He said during a televised speech: “Lebanon through its example of coexistence can pressure world powers to issue international laws that incriminate the insulting of religions.”
He accused the United States of being behind the film that it is seeking to create strife.
“We will not remain silent over this insult,” he declared.
The film, “Innocence of Muslims,” sparked angry protests in front of U.S. embassies in various Muslim countries.
Nasrallah also criticized the United States for keeping the film on internet, which is “encouraging websites that broadcast the movie to keep on showing it.”
“This development is more dangerous than the 1969 burning of the Aqsa Mosque,” he noted.
“The Ummah will not remain silent over the insult against the Prophet Mohammed,” he said.
The Hizbullah leader attributed the outrage against embassies to the manner in which spiritual leaders and politicians handled the backlash over the film.
The anger was directed against the U.S., not Christians, he stressed.
He emphasized the need to prevent the repetition of such an “aggression”, demanding that the U.S. remove the film from circulation.
“The U.S. government has however done nothing to that end,” he lamented.
“The Islamic world is demanding that the United States refrain from broadcasting the entire film and that it put on trial those who offended Muslims,” Nasrallah said.
“The U.S government has not and will not do anything. It is presenting an example of its double standards,” he remarked.
He noted that the U.S. holds accountable individuals, organizations, institutions, and officials simply for opposing Zionism or for questioning the Holocaust.
“Don’t Muslims, followers of a monotheistic religion, deserve such respect that would allow for a law that incriminates insults against it?” wondered Nasrallah.
On this note, he called for issuing an international resolution that incriminates insults against religions “or at least prophets, especially Abraham, Moussa, Jesus, and Mohammed.”
“The U.S. Congress can issue a similar law to the one that tackles anti-Semitism,” he explained.
Muslim communities in the U.S. have a great responsibility to pressure officials to take steps to that end, especially since the country is about to hold a presidential election, he continued.
Moreover, he called for the staging of an emergency Islamic meeting to address the insulting film.
He however criticized Muslim leaders’ inaction over the matter.
“None of you have lifted a finger, but had the film offended one of your kings or rulers, you would have taken action,” he lamented.
On Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Lebanon, the Hizbullah chief said: “The pontiff was a new witness to the coexistence between Christians and Muslims and the respect between them.”
He added that this demonstration of coexistence can bolster Lebanon’s position to push for an international resolution that incriminates offending religions.
“The Lebanese government must take a decisive position on the matter,” he declared.
Nasrallah demanded that the film not be shown, calling for rallies in protest against it.
“We should have held the demonstrations sooner, but Lebanon was passing through special circumstances,” he said.
He announced that a rally will be held in Beirut’s southern suburb, Dahiyeh, on Monday at 5:00 p.m.
Another rally will be held in Tyre on Wednesday, Baalbek on Friday, Bint Jbeil on Saturday, and al-Hermel on Sunday.
“Muslims in each of these cities must take to the streets in order to make governments understand that their interests in the Arab and Muslim world are linked to their respect of holy issues,” he stated.
“The world must realize that the prophet and his followers will not remain silent over this offense,” Nasrallah added.
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