Bill Maher Video Replaces Top Iraqi Ayatollah's Website In Hacking Stunt (VIDEO)

Crooks and Liars reports:

Can you say "fatwa?" The Grand Ayatollah of Iraqi Shiites, Sayyid Ali Husaini al-Sistani, has had his website hacked by system crackers identifying themselves as "Group XP" and replaced by a video clip of US comedian Bill Maher making fun of said website.

Watch the video in question below:

Comments

[d00derman]

I love liberals everywhere. That was sweet.

But I am sure that Al-Sistani will pull a republican and tell them "You think the jew has a point? Who are you with? With us or with great Satan?"

[Dave24]

Bill is a national treasure. Any threats that may arise as a result of this hack should be felt by all of us. There aren't many voices speaking out against the irrationality that poisons this and other countries, nor are there voices who speak with razor-sharp comedy, like Bill.

Sullivan used the argument of "charity work" to support the good that religion provides. This is absurd, because regardless of the consequences of belief (like performing good acts), the question is: Is it *true*? Are the stories actually true? That's the point Bill was making last night, and instead Sullivan resorted to calling Bill a "bigot."

Religious lunatics continue to grow, and our rational voices are constantly under threat. Those who are against religion in general also support the First Amendment, which ensures the right of all people to believe in whatever version of God that they want.

But in order to have that freedom, one cannot impose their particular morality upon the rest of us. That's the catch here in a secular government. Believe what you want, but keep it to yourself (not in argument, only in imposition).

[Ofactor]

Hey I live in Florida and I just got a DVD in the mail re: what the terrorist are trying to do to us. It says that this is something that you should watch to find out the truth about what the Islamic terrorist really want to do to america. I was so mad when I got this video because like I said I live in Florida where their are a lot of senior citizens. The DVD is obviousley sent out to promote fear for the republican party.

I have to admit that I am so repulsed by the fact that the republicans will stop at nothing to try to make people afraid and that is really sad. I wrote on the outside of the DVD "RETURN TO SENDER, I AM A DEMOCRAR VOTING FOR OBAMA, AND WILL NOT BE MADE TO BE AFRAID... I HAVE NO FEAR

has anyone else received this DVD in the mail?

[Hollywoodaholic]

I got it in the Orlando Sentinel, and emailed a complaint to the newspaper for accepting hate advertising. I see today there have been some published letters condemning it, so hopefully, those seniors also READ the paper.

[majormoderate]

my grandmother is one of those senior citizens... dont worry she can't work the dvd player.

[BadgersBite]

If you put up a website there is a chance that it's going to get hacked - too funny they choose to put up a Bill Maher video making fun of the website - nice bit of irony don't you think?

[Zeinobia]

As an Arab and Muslim I heard the news in BBC Arabic as Breaking news
XP hacking group is from the UAE , they did not hack Al Sistani website only this weekend ,they hacked about 300 Shiite Websites
They are Wahabi who hate the Shiites , this is the whole story

[afghanwarvet]

We have American service members and diplomats in Iraq's Shia south -- and in Najaf in particular -- risking their lives in an effort to rebuild Iraqi infrastructure and society. This hack of Ayatollah Sistani's website endangers these peoples' lives. This may not have been the intention of the hackers, but it does not stretch the imagination to foresee a backlash by Sistani's followers against the nearest convenient targets.

Take the hack down and find another way to express your views. This isn't a First Amendment issue. This is the malicious hacking of an organization's website, with the easily foreseeable result of a backlash against American forces in southern Iraq. Whatever your views of the propriety of the Iraq War (and many of us serving in Iraq were against the invasion) -- it is simply unconscionable to knowingly place American lives at risk with this thoughtless and reckless stunt.

[robizio]

Is it entirely inconceivable that it was NOT someone in this country? What, we have the only computer experts? Perhaps it was someone, in fact, whose goal was to foment tensions toward America.

Also, you've missed the larger picture. This STUNT doesn't place lives (no, American lives are not more special than others) in danger. Violent policies on the part of extremists place lives in danger. Invading other countries for profit or power, occupying them without understanding the situation, stirring up fear and hatred of "the others" and inciting people to violence against them in order to maintain power, puts lives in danger.

Call the stunt stupid and unnecessary, but get your head on straight. Jokes do not CAUSE violence. People who choose to do violence cause violence.

[JodyMcg]

Ditto!

[walk0nwalls]

I hear Anonymous knocking at your door.

[jinjinpinti]

Hey, Bill. Haven't missed a show this year. The new format featuring one really obnoxious, discussion-monopolizing, rightwing pundit and two silly, ineffectual liberals is wearing thin, though, and you know we really are having trouble paying that HBO cable bill. So how about doing a switcheroo and giving us a really obnoxious, show monopolizing liberal and two silly, ineffectual rightwing pundits again soon, since most of your fans fall into the L category? Love ya.

[KeysDan]

Agreed, this week's show had Andrew Sullivan in that obnoxious, discussion-monopolizing, role, with the addition of "eye-rolling" when in disagreement. Sullivan's support of Senator Obama was odd--if he doesn't make this time around, he will eventually. Lose him, Bill.

[BardEric]

I agree! Andrew is beyond obnoxious! I kept waiting for Bill to go off on him everytime he gave him the "shut-up" look, and Andrew just kept talking. I wanted to (metaphorically )strangle him! I love Bill and Real Time; but over the past couple of years he has gotten soft, and he lets his panel run away with him. I wish he would regain some controll of the discussion, after all it is HIS show and people really tune in to see HIM. Hope you go to hbo.com ( as I have done also) and let Bill and Real Time know that some of his viewers could live quite happilly with never seeing Andrew on the show again.

[julianna]

My thoughts exacly.

[dadw5boys]

How to make friends and influence people !

Well Americans are so good at this.

[AmandaBC]

Hey Bill,

Salman Rushdie just called. He wants to give you a bit of advice... ;)

[Counterglow]

Gotta love it. Sistani is a Shi'ite-head.

[Cuulmann]

Folks, remember this is Shiites... not Sunni. In Sunni Sharia Law anal sex is strictly forbidden with NO exceptions at all!

In fact, it's mentioned in the Koran.... "... only perform intercourse where it is permissible (vagina)"

And Prophet Mohammed said when asked about anal sex with one's spouse, "it is strictly forbidden!"

But this Sistani, a shiite, apparently has "personal" issues with anal with his wife and that's why he's making it OK, if his wife is agreeable!

[2grainsofsalt]

The prophet Hamfistula was also perfectly clear on the issue: it is strictly forbidden to warm up a large banana and insert it into any of your neighbor's wife's orifices. Taboo. Explicitly حرم.

[BertrandRussell]

Where the world is heading is tossing all these silly superstitions on the dung heap of history. The God hypothesis fails the test of reason and the world will be a far better and more moral place once there are no Christians, no Jews, no Muslims, no Scientologists, no more God of the Gaps, etc. Think critically and breath deeply in the freedom from faith.

[Manni]

XP? Its probably Bill Gates!

[lechatnoir]

Looks like Group XP is a little siht stirrer. Now who is it again that's trying to pick a fight with Sistani??

[nastyvirus]

This is a GOP operation to get Bill Maher in trouble.

[yngcelt]

Kind of like the democrat party's operation to hack Sarah Palin's e-mails and post them on the internet?

[ibsteve2u]

Now how can you say it is a "democratic party operation"?

It could have been ANYBODY - a Republican, a Democrat, a Green, a Libertarian, anybody.

Anybody, that is, who is believes that the Governors, like Presidents, also should obey the law, and should be exposed when they do not.

In other words, Palin should never have let it be known that she and her staff BROKE THE LAW and used private email accounts to conduct state business.

[nastyvirus]

Yes, exactly like that. Except that while we Democrats may steal Palin's emails, Republicans will simply make them up and say they stole them.

But I salute your astute observation, you mindless hack you.

[UpstateNYMom]

I miss Rep. Tubbs Jones too- she was good person and loyal friend- I actually called her office during the primary to thanked her for her continued support of Hillary (Hillary still is the best person for this job). RIP

[gifu]

...and somewhere a dead horse is being whipped.

[BertrandRussell]

rolls eyes

Never gonna happen. Never. Thank goodness!