Russian Court Bans Anti-Islam Film
A Russian judge on October 1 banned the controversial film "Innocence of Muslims" that has flamed tensions and sparked protests over its portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad.
Judge Yevgeny Komissarov read a ruling in which he said the court classified the 'Innocence of Muslims' movie as an extremist and banned its showing on Russian television or the Internet.
The ruling follows a similar decision taken last week by a court in Grozny, the provincial capital of Russia's Muslim-dominated province of Chechnya.
Russia's communications minister had warned that authorities would bar access to video sharing website YouTube if its owner, Google Inc., failed to abide by a court order to block access to the U.S.-produced film, which mocks Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad.
Google in Russia has said it could restrict access to the video, if it received a court order outlawing it, but the company declined to discuss that issue with The Associated Press on Monday evening.
Outrage at the film has spiraled into violent protests across several countries across the Muslim world.
Some two dozen demonstrators have been killed in protests that attacked symbols of U.S. and the West, including diplomatic compounds.
By Sadroddin Musawi
Other links:
Muslim Leaders Urge Intl. Action to Stop Religious Insults
Protests against Anti-Islam Film Continue in Pakistan
Nigeria President Condemns Blasphemous Movie
India’s Massive Protest against Film Insulting Islam
