In Egypt, an Anti-Islamic Film as a Political Tool

Protests at U.S. embassies are spreading rapidly throughout the Middle East as Muslims continue to show outrage over a film criticizing Islam. The protests began in Cairo on Sept. 11, leading many to speculate that the demonstrations were meant to coincide with the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

However, the film was released June 1, more than three months before the protest in Cairo. In fact, Egyptians were unaware that the video even existed until a talk show host named Sheikh Khalid Abdullah devoted his two-hour program to the film Sept. 8. As a Muslim sheikh, Abdullah undoubtedly was offended by the video's contents. But as a Salafist, whose beliefs run counter to those of the ruling Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, Abdullah may have screened the film to incite chaos and complicate Egypt's newly elected president's attempts to consolidate power.