Indian State Assembly seeks ban on anti-Islam US film

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Andhra Pradesh State assembly Tuesday requested the Central Government to ban the anti-Islam American film.

The request was made after Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi met the chief minister along with his party MLAs in this regard.

The house also adopted a resolution to this effect even as Speaker Nadendla Manohar made an appeal to all to maintain peace and communal harmony, pti reported quoting sources.

The issue was taken up on the request of the MIM, which sought a ban saying that the film hurt the "religious sentiments" of Muslims across the world.

Meanwhile, in Chennai, capital city of Tamil Nadu, police resorted to a mild lathicharge to disperse a large number of people belonging to more than 20 Muslim organisations, who gathered to protest against an American movie which allegedly denigrated Islam.

Tension mounted as protesters engaged in a scuffle with police on arterial Anna Salai and tried to march towards the US Consulate in the city. Some vehicles were also set on fire, police said.

About 2,000 protestors from 23 Muslim organizations gathered at Anna Salai to protest against the controversial film "Innocence of Muslims," deemed to be offensive to Muslims and tried to march towards the US consulate.

However, police stopped the protestors, resulting in a minor scuffle.

Meanwhile, the US consulate, whose visa section was closed for Monday and Tuesday, extended it to Wednesday also, citing a 'local holiday,' apparently referring to Vinayaka Chathurthi.

The US consulate also "encourages" its citizens travelling in and around Chennai to exercise caution and monitor local media for security updates, it said.

Last Friday, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam activists picketed the consulate and pelted stones damaging some windowpanes, prompting police to further beef up security to the heavily guarded installation on Anna Salai.

Another Muslim outfit staged a protest on Saturday while Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi activists held a demonstration in the city Sunday protesting the American film.

A 14-minute trailer for the video titled “Innocence of Muslims,” was uploaded on the internet depicting Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in a derogatory manner.

According to media reports, the video is a brain child of a 52-year old Israeli-American, Sam Bacile who had received a donation of $5 million from 100 Jewish donors to make a movie called “Islam is Cancer.”

The film had sparked fury among Muslims around the globe in which 10-12 people have lost their lives.

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