The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged protesters to disregard a controversial film which appears to have sparked violent protests in Middle Eastern countries.
The video appeal in Arabic by CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad , which was released Saturday, cited verses from the Quran in stating that ordinary Americans and the U.S. government should not be blamed for the sentiments expressed in the film. Awad called on Muslims to refocus their energies on more pressing issues, specifically citing the ongoing uprising in Syria and the conflict between Israel and Palestine as being more worthy of attention.
A trailer for the low-budget film, called "The Innocence of Muslims," has been blamed for riots across the Arab world, including one which resulted in the deaths of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three others earlier this week in Benghazi. CAIR had previously condemned the killings as "disgraceful."
On Friday, the organization also issued a statement asking local, state, and federal authorities to investigate vandalism at a mosque in Harrisonburg, Va. as a possible hate crime.
The Islamic Center of the Shenandoah Valley was apparently vandalized Thursday night, with spray-painted graffiti that included vulgar references to Iraqis and racial slurs against African-Americans. A picture of the vandalism can be seen on CAIR's Facebook page. Please note that it contains words and depictions that may be offensive.
