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“The Innocence of Muslims”

A Briefing Note on Early Research Findings

by

Dr Arshad Isakjee

Dr Chris Allen

October 2012

Institute of Applied Social Studies, School of Social Policy

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Introduction

On July 1st 2012 a video titled ‘The Innocence of Muslims’ was posted on the YouTube website. The

video clip purported to be a trailer for a full length film which had been allegedly shown to a near

empty cinema two weeks earlier in the Vine Theatre in Los Angeles1. For some months after this, the

YouTube video remained largely unnoticed. However, by early September 2012 the video had been

dubbed into Arabic and parts of it were broadcast on Arab television. Around the same period, the

Pastor Terry Jones – better known for his plans to burn 200 Qur’ans on the tenth anniversary of 9/11

– announced that he planned to screen the film at his Church again, on the anniversary of 9/11.

Various protests against the video took place around the world. From a preliminary survey of British

newspapers, it would appear that around 75 people died as a result of the protests with a further

650 or so being injured. Internationally the most significant protests took place in Egypt, leading to a

scaling of the wall of the US diplomatic mission in Cairo. Whilst in Libya, protests coincided with an

attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi which led to the death of the American ambassador. This

matter has though been largely seen as a separate incident.

In the UK, whilst protests were relatively muted, Anjem Choudary - the former leader of a number of

proscribed Islamist groups - led a demonstration outside the US embassy in London which involved

the burning of American and Israeli flags. A smaller protest took place on 21 September 2012 in

Birmingham along with another in Cardiff. Larger Muslim campaigns in the following week which

garnered less media coverage involved an initiative to spread conciliatory messages of ‘love’ to

shoppers and commuters in London as well as in Birmingham city centre.

1 There are various conflicting stories as to whether this did or did not take place as indeed thereare about

whether an actual ‘feature film’ exists.

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This briefing note cites early findings from an ongoing research project which is seeking to gather

the views of British Muslims who have engaged with government in a representative or expert

capacity. The aims of the research are:

1. To evaluate Muslim responses to the video in the UK

2. To gather the views of Muslim groups regarding the representation of Muslims in the media

following the affair

3. To asses Muslim views on the reaction of government to the crisis

4. To ask Muslim representatives about how they believe negative stereotypes of Muslims can

be countered in the light of the affair

General Implications for Media Representation of Muslims

From preliminary findings, the unfolding situation related to the ‘Innocence of Muslims’ video would

seem to support understanding about Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate in two ways:

First, the video clip represents the type of Islamophobic and anti-Muslim propaganda which

is relatively easily spread online, utilising social media and online networking tools for

dissemination

Second, the media coverage of the response to the video gives an indication of how Muslim

voices are being aired and portrayed to wider audiences

Other findings beginning to emerge include:

Muslim representatives found themselves disenchanted with the furore surrounding the

‘Innocence of Muslims’ video, and felt resigned to the fact that the story, which

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understandably provoked news headlines, would see Muslim sentiments as being portrayed

as necessarily antithetical to liberal notions of freedom of expression

Representatives were unanimous in their condemnation of the exaggerated and violent

protests that were held by Muslims, principally outside the UK

Despite distancing themselves from those more extreme reactions, the representatives

interviewed at times communicated a sense of powerlessness in being able to shape British

Muslim responses as being distinct from the more publicised responses of Muslims

elsewhere in the world

Evolving Responses from Evolving Muslim Groups

Part of the research process is also looking at the ‘Innocence of Muslims’ video in the context of

1989’s Satanic Verses affair and more recently, the protests following the publication of ‘Prophet

Muhammad cartoons’ in Denmark in 2005. From these enquiries, the research has begun to

highlight that:

Muslim representatives generally agreed that Muslim communities have come a long way in

changing their approach to publications critical or indeed abusive to the Islamic faith

especially since the Rushdie affair in 1989

However, there remains a concern that despite the moderated responses of Muslim groups,

it was easy for small numbers of ‘Islamists’ - such as the followers of Anjem Choudary - to

construct a media narrative of more extreme reactions to the YouTube publication

More broadly, those engaged felt that a wider range of different Muslims were being asked

to speak on behalf of British Muslims. However there was disagreement as to whether or

not this diversity is helpful or hindering attempts by the media to seek genuine

‘representative’ voices

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Some respondents believe that communities as diverse as Britain’s multiple Muslim

communities should reflect that diversity in having separate representative organisations

allied to different causes or sub-communities

Alternatively however, the lack of a ‘unified voice’ was also seen to be problematic by some

respondents who felt that without an accepted umbrella group, the space exists for non-

representative individuals - including extremist groups - to be heard instead of more

moderate and mainstream voices

A Space for Government Intervention?

Opinion appears to be divided as to whether the government response to the ‘Innocence of Muslims’

video was adequate or indeed whether any governmental intervention is possible in tackling similar

issues in the future. Some indicative responses are set out below:

The government responded correctly in condemning the killings of the Libyan ambassador

A statement from the Department of Communities & Local Government condemning both

the video and the extreme reactions towards it would have been appropriate and within the

purview of the department

Some responses indicated they did not believe it was possible for government to control

online content

Others believed that a protocol should be in place with major social networking sites to liaise

with government if similar difficulties arise in future

Additional Reflection

The research project is still underway yet one of the issues, flagged up by data so far is the seemingly

unpredictable nature of the application of criminal prosecutions against internet-based abuse.

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Although in the case of ‘Innocence of Muslims’, any would-be offense was carried out in the US,

respondents described a seeming inconsistency between recent high-profile prosecutions for

offences committed in posting offensive commentary online and the plethora of abusive language

that exists elsewhere on the internet, directed at Muslims as well as many other groups. However,

this is recognised as a politically sensitive issue that transcends debates around Islamophobia and

the media.

A full report along with other relevant publications is expected to be available from early

December 2012.