US Muslims Told to Ignore Hate Film
"We're doing what the promoters hate most, which is to ignore it and urge other people to ignore it as well," Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told The Huffington Post.
"All these kinds of inflammatory materials are just designed to gain cheap publicity for the producers, and we're not buying into their game," Hooper added.
The ruling, issued earlier this week, overruled an earlier order to remove the trailer of a film entitled “Innocence of Muslims” from the video sharing website.
The provocative film, which spread angry protests from Muslims worldwide, desecrates the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
It was promoted by US pastor Terry Jones, who angered Muslims in 2010 with plans to burn the Noble Quran.
The film triggered protests in several countries around the world.
Imam Zia Sheikh, who heads the Islamic Center of Irving in Texas, has also asked Muslims to ignore the film.
"We are just being baited, and we shouldn't fall for it," he said.
A similar reaction came from Riham Osman, communications coordinator for the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
"Hate speech is constitutionally protected, but with free speech comes civic and social responsibility to overcome bigotry. Islamic teachings ... uphold the importance of the freedom to express one's own thoughts, even when they may be seen as disrespectful by others," she said in a statement.
"We cannot stop anti-Muslim bigotry and hate speech, but we can take leadership by educating others."
Hooper said he had not watched the film or its trailer, and encouraged others not to watch it either.
"[Bigotry is] not going to go away," he said.
"The best thing to do is just promote a positive message of your own and marginalize the extremists."
