Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran Supreme Leader, Anti-Islam Film Comments Urge West To Take Action

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's top leader urged the West on Monday to show it respects Muslims by blocking a film that mocks the Prophet Muhammad and has touched off rage across the Islamic world.

State TV quoted Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as saying Western leaders must prove they are not "accomplices" in a "big crime."

Such an appeal falls into the major cultural divide over the film. U.S. officials say they cannot limit free speech and Google Inc. refuses to do a blanket ban on the YouTube video clip. This leaves individual countries putting up their own blocks.

Khamenei noted that some nations place restrictions on expression deemed hate speech, such as banning Nazi-related sites, or legislating protections for gays or lesbians.

"How there is no room for freedom of expression in these cases, but insulting Islam and its sanctities is free?" Khamenei was quoted as saying.

Separately, Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said Iran will send a protest letter on the film to the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Iranians have staged several demonstrations against the film, but none have been violent. Crowds gathered last week in front of the Swiss Embassy, which looks after American diplomatic interests in Iran.

A semi-official religious foundation also increased a reward it had offered for the killing of British author Salman Rushdie to $3.3 million from $2.8 million over his book "The Satanic Verses," which was considered blasphemous by Iranian leaders.

A 1989 fatwa, or religious edict, was issued against Rushdie by Iran's late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, but Iranian authorities have since distanced themselves from the order.

Comments

[Baghooli]

07:53 PM on 09/18/2012

What's freedom of speech when my posts are being deleted by Hasbara brigade and their supporters!

[JenniQ]

10:52 AM on 09/18/2012

I thought that free speech was "the government sucks" and not "fire!" in a crowded theater. I believe that after the events of the past weeks (including American deaths) that this is EXACTLY the time that the government needs to step in. Clearly this is not rolling off the backs of those millions it is aimed at but igniting a passionate and dangerous response. How about blocking it outside of the US? We have enough zealots here who agree with this atrocious garbage, we don't need to create zealots in unstable countries.
Leaving it out there is morally irresponsible and I say shame on Google.

[Elijah Hathaway]

08:36 AM on 09/21/2012

Should we ban parodies of any religion or just Islam? What you're suggesting just encourages them to think that murder & violence is an acceptable response to achieve what they want.

[JenniQ]

11:57 AM on 09/21/2012

I don't think I said that. I think that what I said was that proper enforcement of laws and rational, reasonable behavior should prevail.
I don't believe I mentioned anything about banning all parodies of anything- just this single video. Unlike what a lot of people think, these types of things must be handled on a case-by-case basis. In this case, the right thing to do is to take the video down. Additionally, WE have freedom of speech but that is a totally alien idea in a lot (most) other countries. WE have individual right and liberties. In several of these countries, the internet is controlled by the government from start to end. That is what they know. In their minds, because of their experience, this is a post that was authorized by the US Government.
Its an ethnocentric thing and we are just as guilty of it, if not more so, than they are. We, at least, learn what ethnocentrism is and we can choose to embrace it or not. These societies are not like that- the way of the culture is that their way is right and anything else is wrong.

[lucille92]

10:40 AM on 09/18/2012

I want the movie The Life Of Brian blocked. It is blasphemous and offends me. I am designing a placard now and intend to march next Saturday. If you care to join me I'll be at the library steps at ten. Bring ant other offensive Python material you may have.

[mlaurel58]

10:35 AM on 09/18/2012

About 1980 someone in our nation made & sold toilet paper rolls with the image the current ayatollah on each sheet....maybe someone will do the same favor for this ayatollah.

[aaronshomeinspe]

10:16 AM on 09/18/2012

Considering the movie was part of the planned attacks on 9/11/2012 and after I don't understand why he is so mad. And if anyone in power in Iran is mad I'm happy. Can't wait until the US has a leader who will deal directly with Muslim extremists in ALL countries including our own. I for one can't understand why we let these dogs into our country when we know they hate us.

[BG-back]

10:47 AM on 09/18/2012

""Can't wait until the US has a leader who will deal directly with Muslim extremists in ALL countries including our own""

True... coz occupying and dropping bombs on folks in countries that had nothing to do with 9// just doesn't cut it.

[Mar Cali]

10:07 AM on 09/18/2012

BiBi is printing all sorts of propaganda in Israel newspapers
Cut them off

[amerigoedison]

09:55 AM on 09/18/2012

"Khamenei noted that some nations place restrictions on expression deemed hate speech, such as banning Nazi-related sites"

I cannot find the text of his speech anywhere...but, if he stated that some countries ban Nazi related sites as it relates to these guys wanting to the US to ban the movie and ANYTHING they label as being blasphemous to their prophet..then these Islamic leaders are actually closer to being Nazi's than the Nazi's victims they are making themselves out to be.

Nazi's did not allow free speech and curtailed anything deemed detrimental to the state, even making people disappear (killing them). Islam's leaders want to curtail anything deemed blasphemous to their prophet even putting out rewards and calling for the death of those who so much as SPEAK against their religion. Hmmm.....I dont think Khamenei is making a very valid comparison here.

[BG-back]

10:48 AM on 09/18/2012

|$rae|'s control over debate regarding it's conflict is far more restricted and controlled within the U$..... Food for thought.

[Daryush Iranparast]

11:04 AM on 09/18/2012

If your argument was reversed here and this was about Israel, you would most definately be called anti semite. agree? The reason you feel "free" to say what you want against those who media promotes that anger, is similar for you being in Vietnam and talk dirty about "Evil Americans" [as they call it]. But is that freedom or just freedom to say what your government allows? Are there any red lines drawn for you? Durin US-Iraq war, the idea of patriotism became a religion that no media could argue against and if they did, the host or the person in charge would lose her license. Why? Isn't that against free speech? So you may want to be naive but every place in different times forces some sort of limits to control and keep the population on their side.

[amerigoedison]

12:12 PM on 09/18/2012

I deplore screams of Anti-semitism for any rational criticism of Israel, Israeli Policy or of the Hebrew culture. Yes...there is some Hebrew control over the media and certainly Hollywood where any quotes even discussing the Hebrew domination of Hollywood is swiftly met with denouncing the person as Anti-Semetic (Even though it's simply a factual statement). I draw red lines if Israel or Jewish leaders were to announce a bounty on Mel Gibson's head for him making "Anti-Semetic" remarks or for portraying Jews in a negative light in a movie). I draw a red line when innocent people are killed (if the ambassador was killed as a result of an act of war or in response to some muslims being killed then just say so,,,don't blame it on a movie). The fact is that muslims are making a concerted International effort to make it a crime to commit blasphemy against the prophet Mohammed or the religion of Islam. It is one thing to protect a country or a race from annihilation it is another to "protect" a religion from criticism. Islam is in no fear of annihilation as a religion. Libya has not been threatened by other countries to push it into the sea. PS...Your response was not blocked....there should be a constant fight and battle to protect us from censorship...to protect us a free press....to protect freedom of speech......

[jeffmo333]

09:14 AM on 09/18/2012

Just another attempt to manipulate and coerse using mysticism, The goodness of thier beliefs. These people never change. Never buy anything they have to sell. The flavor will kill you. Or someone else.

[Cliff Rothband]

09:05 AM on 09/18/2012

We all want someone to look up to. We want leaders, someone to define what we are and need. Often times we would rather send someone else's kid off to war than our own. Theology might fill a need for less educated, poorer people. Why oh why do so many follow ignorant religious interpretations. Based not on scientific proof, but rather on a subjective assumption, opinion or outdated writings. That these "Holymen" are grasping for power that they inevitably will lose. We ask Iran to shut down or clarify there nuclear ambitions. Instead they try to change the subject by dictating there wants to the rest of US. Hey Ayatollah, faith is based on truth.

[cocosdad]

08:56 AM on 09/18/2012

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/09/18/protester-dies-after-inhaling-fumes-from-burning-american-flag/

[notforthesetimes]

08:52 AM on 09/18/2012

Scr*w the Ayatollah and, while you're at it,
Scr*w the U.N.!

[constitutional 1]

10:36 AM on 09/18/2012

fanned!

[bobknot131]

08:46 AM on 09/18/2012

now iran gets involved. not about the film any more even though it might be or might not be offensive. iran jump off the boat follower.

[seanidraconis]

08:03 AM on 09/18/2012

Up yours.

[cathyc13211]

07:33 AM on 09/18/2012

The USA doesn't have to prove anything to this Jerk. One thing is for certain it appears these radical Muslims have a BIG weakness. They fall apart when Muhammed or Alah are called what they are Murderers and War mungers. We should use that to prove what usless people they are. Even their leaders go out of their way to drive their people into killing themselves and others evey opportunity they get. We need to stop appeasing these people and their worthless religion. We do not have to follow their ways nor do we have to promote their cause.

[bobknot131]

08:47 AM on 09/18/2012

its not about the filmit was all planned out to protest during 9/11. the film was made about 6 months ago. which in my opinion should have been brought up then not now.

[cathyc13211]

07:32 AM on 09/19/2012

I agree with that! It is not about a film. This was all planned to coincide with 9/11. The Obama administration wants to focus in on the Film so we don't see he has been out of touch with his advisers concerning the Middle East. He doesn't even read his daily reports. He is too focused on the election. Well guess what...one of his ambassadors lost his life because of it. Obama doesn't what the American people to see that fact.

[TJJ1030]

07:27 AM on 09/18/2012

Looks like were dealing with "FATAWA R-US".