U.S. responsible for preventing blasphemy against Islam: Iran

TEHRAN,Sept.15(MNA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Wednesday that the U.S. government is responsible for preventing the promotion of cultural hatred and disrespect for sanctities of Muslims. Mehmanparast made the remarks in reference to the fact that a YouTube trailer of a film made by a California-based filmmaker, which insults Prophet Muhammad (S), sparked violent protests in Libya and Egypt. According to Sam Bacile, a 56-year-old California real estate developer who identifies himself as an Israeli Jew and who said he produced, directed, and wrote the two-hour film, “Innocence of Muslims,” the movie cost $5 million to make and was financed with the help of more than 100 Jewish donors. In Benghazi, Libya, protesters angered over the film fired gunshots and burned down the U.S. consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, killing the U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three other U.S. diplomats, AP reported. In Egypt, protesters scaled the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, and tore and replaced the U.S. flag with an Islamic banner. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman condemned the film, saying that the U.S. government’s systematic silence about such appalling anti-Islam actions is the main reason for their recurrence. In addition, Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani stated on Wednesday that the incident gave the lie to U.S. President Barack Obama’s claims of respect for Muslims. And Iranian MP Hossein Naqavi-Hosseini issued a statement on Thursday calling on Muslim countries to reconsider their relations with the United States. Demo held in Tehran to condemn blasphemous U.S. movie A number of students from universities across Tehran held a demonstration outside the Swiss Embassy on Thursday to condemn the sacrilegious act. Iran and the United States do not have diplomatic relations and the Swiss Embassy in Tehran hosts the U.S. Interests Section in Iran. Iranian worshippers held similar demonstrations across the country after Friday prayers to express their condemnation of the insult to Prophet Muhammad (S).