ON the 11th anniversary of the tragic 9/11 events, American extremists insist on burdening Islam as the religion responsible for the terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre of New York. To force their vision onto the world – which has brought nothing but death of millions of people in the wars launched against Afghanistan and Iraq along with terrible economic crisis that hit the world and continue affect condition in the US – they produced a film defaming image of Prophet Mohammed. The film was produced by a group of expatriate Copts in co-operation with the extremist pastor of Florida Terry Jones who does not conceal his enmity towards Islam and Muslims. Jones has burned copies of the Holy Qur'an twice in front of his church in Florida while the American authorities were satisfied by merely fining him and pleading with him not to repeat the act. Unfortunately, the American authorities have no procedures to prevent the screening of such an offensive film against the Prophet Mohammed that clearly desecrates the Islamic religion,. The matter is expected to trigger anger of all world Muslims, especially in Egypt, because of the involvement of some Coptic expatriates in the shameful act. Despite the clear and loud condemnation of Orthodox and Anglican churches of the production of such a film that violates Christ's teachings of love and respect to other's religion, there is still fear that such irresponsible act of a group of Egyptian expatriates could end in sectarian sedition in Egypt. Many Islamists movements announced that they are preparing for huge demonstrations in opposition to such a shameful act. Though not directly blaming all Christian citizens for this offensive film, these demonstrations could develop into clashes and even violence if not directed with some wisdom for the welfare of the nation's unity. The Mufti of the Republic as well as the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar have strongly condemned the production of such film against Islam's Prophet of Allah (PBUH). "Freedom of speech does not mean desecrating sanctities," Mufti Ali Gomaa said in a statement on Sunday. He called on human rights activists and organisations to stand against desecrating all religions. Hopefully, the Egyptians would not let those extremist elements set the country on fire on such a sensitive issue and prevent any cause of raising needless sectarian sedition between the Egyptian Muslims and Christians.
