View source for Chennai Protest of Innocence of Muslims

{{news release|1=article|date=May 2014}}
On September 14, 2012, the [[Consulate General of the United States, Chennai|U.S. consulate]] in [[Chennai]], India was attacked in response to a [[YouTube]] trailer for [[Innocence of Muslims]] as Muslim protesters threw stones and footwear at the building. This event was part of a series of attacks that carried on from September 11, 2012 through September 29, 2014, throughout worldwide Muslim communities. Windowpanes and walls were damaged and 25 people suffered minor injuries.<ref>George, Daniel P (September 14, 2012). "[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/US-consulate-targeted-in-Chennai-over-anti-Prophet-Muhammad-film/articleshow/16397437.cms?referral=PM US consulate targeted in Chennai over anti-Prophet Muhammad film]". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 March 2014.</ref>

==Background==
===Depiction of Muhammad===
[[Depictions of Muhammad]] have long been an issue of concern in Islam which many Muslims consider to be [[Blasphemy in Islam|blasphemous]]. While written and oral descriptions are universally accepted by Islam, the [[Hadith]] (supplemental teaching of the Quran) prohibits Muslims from creating any visual representation of Muhammed.<ref>[[T. W. Arnold]] (June 1919). "An Indian Picture of Muhammad and His Companions". The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs, Vol. 34, No. 195. pp. 249–252. Retrieved 28 March 2014.</ref>  The biggest concern in this tradition is that an image could promote [[idolatry]].<ref>Eaton, Charles Le Gai (1985). Islam and the destiny of man. State University of New York Press. p. 207. {{ISBN|978-0-88706-161-5}}</ref>  This tradition has been long-lasting and the few depictions that do exist throughout Islamic history, Muhammad is veiled or he is represented by symbols such as a flame.<ref>Brendan January (1 February 2009). The Arab Conquests of the Middle East. Twenty-First Century Books. p. 34. {{ISBN|978-0-8225-8744-6}}. Retrieved 15 April 2014.</ref>

==Innocence of Muslims==
The anti-Islamic film that was written and produced by [[Nakoula Basseley Nakoula|Nakoula Bassely Nakoula]], was uploaded in two versions to YouTube in July 2012 under the titles The Real Life of Muhammad and The Muhammad Movie Trailer.<ref>Zachary Zahos (September 19, 2012). "[http://cornellsun.com The Art of Defamation]". The Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved 15 April 2014.</ref> The videos were dubbed in the Arabic language and anti-Islamic content was added in post-production without the consent of the actors who starred in the film.<ref>Dan Murphy (September 12, 2012). "[http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/Backchannels/2012/0912/There-may-be-no-anti-Islamic-movie-at-all There-may-be-no-anti-Islamic-movie-at-all]". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 15 April 2014.</ref>

The original script was written about life in Egypt 2,000 years ago but with the overdubbing and heavy use of the phrase “Muhammad,” The New York Times stated: “the trailer opens with scenes of Egyptian security forces standing idle as Muslims pillage and burn the homes of Egyptian Christians. Then it cuts to cartoonish scenes depicting Muhammad as a child of uncertain parentage, a buffoon, a womanizer, a homosexual, a child molester, and a greedy, bloodthirsty thug.”<ref>David D. Kirkpatrick (September 12, 2012). "[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/world/middleeast/anger-over-film-fuels-anti-american-attacks-in-libya-and-egypt.html?_r=1& Anger Over a Film Fuels Anti-American Attacks in Libya and Egypt]". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 April 2014.</ref>

YouTube eventually blocked the video in Egypt and Libya, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore and India, Turkey, Brazil, and Russia soon followed.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/15/world/middleeast/google-wont-rethink-anti-islam-videos-status.html Google Has No Plans to Rethink Video Status], The New York Times, September 14, 2012.</ref> In September 2012, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sudan, and the Pakistani governments blocked YouTube completely in response to it not taking down the video.<ref>Rory Mulholland, Fresh protests as prophet cartoons fuel Muslim fury, AFP.</ref>

==State Reaction==
Security was heightened at the American consulates in [[Consulate General of the United States, Chennai|Chennai]], [[Consulate General of the United States, Mumbai|Mumbai]], [[Consulate General of the United States, Kolkata|Kolkata]], and [[Consulate General of the United States, Hyderabad|Hyderabad]].<ref>George, Daniel P (September 14, 2012). "[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/US-consulate-targeted-in-Chennai-over-anti-Prophet-Muhammad-film/articleshow/16397437.cms?referral=PM US consulate targeted in Chennai over anti-Prophet Muhammad film]". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 April 2014.</ref> Furthermore, the Indian government was quick to discuss the banning of the video and the home ministry forwarded a formal request of the Jammu and Kashmir government to block all webpages where the film is accessible to the director-general of Computer Emergency Response Team India for immediate attention.<ref>George, Daniel P (September 14, 2012). "[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/US-consulate-targeted-in-Chennai-over-anti-Prophet-Muhammad-film/articleshow/16397437.cms?referral=PM US consulate targeted in Chennai over anti-Prophet Muhammad film]". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 April 2014.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Reactions to Innocence of Muslims]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Depictions of Muhammad}}
{{India–United States relations}}

[[Category:2012 in India]]
[[Category:Protests in India]]
[[Category:India–United States relations]]