Letter: False narrative
On Nov. 9 the Fox roundtable show The Five reported on the sentencing of Mark Bassely Youssef, creator of the inflammatory film Innocence of Muslims. The film incited violent protests in more than 20 countries as it depicted Mohammad as a religious fraud, pedophile and womanizer.
Among the actions attributed to this film were: an estimated 45 deaths; planned terrorism by a group in Jakarta which was spoiled when the police arrested 11 individuals and confiscated a number of bombs; protesters in Faluja demanding expulsion of the U.S. ambassador from Iraq. U.S. military bases and embassies were targeted by rock-throwing crowds, which battled with police and left burning cars in their wake.
Notwithstanding these facts, The Five misrepresented information about the situation simply to demean the Obama administration. They stated that the only reason Youssef was in jail was because Hillary Clinton had him arrested. They also insinuated that there was not any real violence instigated by the film.
Greg Gutfield led off reporting the Obama administration was “pushing the ludicrous premise that this unseen movie somehow caused atrocities.” Gutfield further stated: “There was no spontaneous reaction to the film “and that Youssef is in jail because the “president wrongly blamed him,” Youssef is the “first citizen to be jailed for art” and finally “it is now time to free the poor sap.” Dana Perino responded “That was brilliant.”
It is shameful that the right media perpetuates such false narratives.
BILL COHEN
Bow
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