U.S., Zionism main culprits in blasphemy against Islam: Supreme Leader

TEHRAN,Sept.15(MNA) – Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said that the United States and global Zionism are main culprits behind a blasphemous anti-Islam U.S. movie, which has sparked widespread protests in the Middle East and North Africa. The film, which insults the Prophet Muhammad (S), is made by Israeli-American real-estate developer Sam Bacile, who said he financed it with $5 million from 100 Jewish donors. Following is the text of the Leader’s message: In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful The Mighty and Wise Allah said, “Their intention is to extinguish Allah’s Light with their mouths: But Allah will complete His Light, even though the unbelievers may detest (it).” (The Holy Quran, 61: 8) Honorable people of Iran, great Islamic Ummah: The wicked enemies of Islam have once again revealed their deep malice by insulting the Holy Prophet (God’s greetings be upon him and his household) and in an idiotic and disgusting move, they showed that evil Zionist groups are furious at the increasing brilliance of Islam and the Holy Quran in the world today. The fact that they have made the holiest person in all of creation the target of their disgusting nonsense is enough to disgrace those who have committed this great crime and sin. What lies behind this wicked move is the hostile policies of Zionism, America and other leaders of the arrogant powers, who are vainly trying to make young generations in the Islamic world lose respect for what is held sacred and to extinguish their religious sentiments. If they had refused to support the previous links in this evil chain - namely, Salman Rushdie, the Danish cartoonist and Quran-burning American priests - and if they had not ordered tens of anti-Islam films from the companies affiliated with Zionist capitalists, today this great and unforgivable sin would not have been committed. The number one culprit in this crime is Zionism and the American government. If American politicians are sincere that they are not involved, they should duly punish the perpetrators and the financial backers of this hideous crime, who have filled the hearts of Muslim people with pain. And our Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the world should know that these futile and desperate moves by the enemies against the Islamic Awakening are a sign of the greatness and importance of this uprising and a sign of its increasing growth. “And Allah has full power and control over His affairs.” (The Holy Quran, 12: 21) Widespread protests The anti-Islam film was promoted by U.S. pastor Terry Jones, the man who inflamed Muslims around the world in 2010 by threatening to burn a Quran. In Libya protesters angered over the film fired gunshots and burned down the U.S. consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Tuesday, killing the U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three other U.S. diplomats. 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. Security forces in Yemen fired warning shots and used water cannons against hundreds of protesters near the U.S. embassy in Sanaa on Friday, a day after demonstrators stormed the fortified compound. Early on Friday, military police and the Yemeni army had blocked off all streets leading to the U.S. embassy, but demonstrators still gathered, brandishing placards and shouting slogans against the film, Reuters reported. “Today is your last day, ambassador!”, and “America is the devil”, some placards read. U.S. responsible for preventing blasphemy against Islam 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. 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. Iranians denounce sacrilegious act 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). In their statement, demonstrators condemned the U.S. government for supporting sacrilegious acts against Islam and said that Washington must make an official apology to Muslims and punish main people behind the production of the anti-Islam movie.