U.S. Copts, Muslims decry film
Coptic Christian leaders in the United States distanced themselves from an anti-Muslim film that has sparked protests in more than 20 countries and denounced the Copts who reportedly produced and promoted the film.
“We reject any allegation that the Coptic Orthodox community has contributed to the production of this film,” the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of America said in a mid-September statement. “Indeed, the producers of this film have taken these unwise and offensive actions independently and should be held responsible for their own actions.”
Joseph Nassralla Abdelmasih, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula and Morris Sadek—Coptic Christians who live in the U.S.—have emerged as the producers and promoters of the anti-Muslim movie. Called The Innocence of Muslims, the crude film depicts Islam’s Prophet Muhammad as a bumbling sexual pervert. The movie’s trailer, posted on YouTube, sparked deadly demonstrations in Pakistan’s major cities as late as September 21.
