Chennai Protest of Innocence of Muslims: Difference between revisions

==Chennai, India==

Chennai is the capital city of the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]] and is the largest industrial and commercial centre in South India and is a cultural, economic and educational hub. As the sixth [[List of most populous metropolitan areas in India|most populous city in India]], has a greater population of approximately 8.9 million people, making it the 31st largest urban area in the world. [[Tamil language|Tamil]] is the primary language spoken in Chennai and English is sometimes mixed with Tamil by the white-collar workers.<ref>Siddique, Zahra (2008). [https://books.google.com/books?id=kqRLGSCgfLUC&pg=PA30 Ethnicity, Race and Gender in the Labor Market]. ProQuest. p. 30. {{ISBN|978-0-549-50781-9}}</ref> Hindus make up about 81.3% of the city’s population with 9.4% Muslims, 7.6% Christians, and 1.1% Jains as the other major religious groups.<ref>"[http://www.chennai.tn.nic.in/shb-pdf/SHB001%20-%20AREA%20POPULATION.pdf Area and Population] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830215520/http://www.chennai.tn.nic.in/shb-pdf/SHB001%20-%20AREA%20POPULATION.pdf# |date=2013-08-30 }}" (PDF). Government of Tamil Nadu. pp. 1–3. Retrieved 26 March 2014.</ref>

 

==Depiction of Muhammad==

[[Depictions of Muhammad]] have long been an issue of concern in the Muslim religion, and many consider it to be [[Blasphemy in Islam|blasphemous]]. While written and oral descriptions are universally accepted by Islam, the [[Hadith]] (a supplemental teaching of the Quran) prohibits Muslims from creating any visual representation Muhammed.<ref>[[T. W. Arnold]] (June 1919). "An Indian Picture of Muhammad and His Companions". The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs, Vol. 34, No. 195. pp. 249–252. Retrieved 28 March 2014.</ref>  The biggest concern in this tradition is that an image could promote [[idolatry]].<ref>Eaton, Charles Le Gai (1985). Islam and the destiny of man. State University of New York Press. p. 207. {{ISBN|978-0-88706-161-5}}</ref>  This tradition has been long lasting and the few depictions that do exist throughout Islamic history, Muhammad is veiled or he is represented by symbols such as a flame.<ref>Brendan January (1 February 2009). The Arab Conquests of the Middle East. Twenty-First Century Books. p. 34. {{ISBN|978-0-8225-8744-6}}. Retrieved 15 April 2014.</ref>

The original script was written about life in Egypt 2,000 years ago but with the overdubbing and heavy use of the phrase “Muhammad,” The New York Times stated: “the trailer opens with scenes of Egyptian security forces standing idle as Muslims pillage and burn the homes of Egyptian Christians. Then it cuts to cartoonish scenes depicting Muhammad as a child of uncertain parentage, a buffoon, a womanizer, a homosexual, a child molester and a greedy, bloodthirsty thug.”<ref>David D. Kirkpatrick (September 12, 2012). "[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/world/middleeast/anger-over-film-fuels-anti-american-attacks-in-libya-and-egypt.html?_r=1& Anger Over a Film Fuels Anti-American Attacks in Libya and Egypt]". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 April 2014.</ref>

YouTube eventually blocked the video in Egypt and Libya, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore and India and Turkey, Brazil and Russia soon followed.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/15/world/middleeast/google-wont-rethink-anti-islam-videos-status.html Google Has No Plans to Rethink Video Status], The New York Times, September 14, 2012.</ref> In September 2012, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sudan and the Pakistani governments blocked YouTube completely in response to it not taking down the video.<ref>Rory Mulholland, Fresh protests as prophet cartoons fuel Muslim fury, AFP.</ref>

Security was heightened at the US embassy in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.<ref>George, Daniel P (September 14, 2012). "[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/US-consulate-targeted-in-Chennai-over-anti-Prophet-Muhammad-film/articleshow/16397437.cms?referral=PM US consulate targeted in Chennai over anti-Prophet Muhammad film]". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 April 2014.</ref> Furthermore, the Indian government was quick to discuss the banning of the video and the home ministry forwarded a formal request of the Jammu and Kashmir government to block all webpages where the film is accessible to the director general of Computer Emergency Response Team India for immediate attention.<ref>George, Daniel P (September 14, 2012). "[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/US-consulate-targeted-in-Chennai-over-anti-Prophet-Muhammad-film/articleshow/16397437.cms?referral=PM US consulate targeted in Chennai over anti-Prophet Muhammad film]". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 April 2014.</ref>

[[Category:Cultural depictions of Muhammad]]