MHA RESTRICTS ACCESS TO CONTROVERSIAL ANTI-ISLAMIC FILM

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has made a request to Google Inc (Google) to block YouTube users in Singapore from viewing clips of an anti-Islamic film.

Clips of the low-budget “Innocence of Muslims” film were shared on the Google-owned video-sharing website until access were denied to users in Singapore, Muslim-majority neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia.

Attempts to access the clips on YouTube from within Singapore returned “This content is not available in your country due to a government removal request”.

Responding to email queries from AFP, a Google spokesperson confirmed the block:

Where we have launched YouTube locally and we are notified that a video is illegal in that country, we will restrict access to it after a thorough review.

In a statement issued by MHA on Thursday, the ministry cited “security concerns” as the reason for the request to Google.

The film ‘Innocence of Muslims’ has sparked off violent protests and riots that resulted in deaths and injuries in many parts of the world, including several countries in our region.

The continued circulation of this film is likely to cause disharmony or feelings of ill-will between different groups in Singapore.

The US-produced film has angered Muslims worldwide for mocking the Prophet Mohammed and portraying Muslims as immoral and gratuitously violent.

In cities across the Islamic world, protesters have vented their fury at the amateur film by targeting symbols of US influence ranging from embassies and schools to fast food chains, leaving several dead.

US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other US diplomatic staff were killed on 11th September during a violent attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi (Libya).