Huge crowd at US embassy to condemn blasphemous film

Thousands of people gathered outside the United States embassy in Kuala Lumpur today to urge action against the culprits behind the US-made film which has insulted the Prophet of Islam and sparked worldwide protests in the last two weeks.

The rally, called by PAS Youth, began as Muslims streamed out of nearby mosques following Friday prayers. Participants, estimated at more than 5000, comprised of office workers, students and other members of the public.

Leading the crowd were PAS vice president Salahuddin Ayub, information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Youth leader Nasrudin Hassan and his deputy Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Aziz. Also at the gathering were PAS research head Dzulkefly Ahmad, PKR vice presidents Tian Chua, Nurul Izzah Anwar, Sivarasa Rasiah and N Surendran, among many other Pakatan Rakyat leaders who took turns to address the huge crowd.

The crowd chanted slogans and carried banners condemning the US government, which has been targetted by Muslim protesters worldwide angered by its continued tolerance towards Islamophobic materials and anti-Islam activists.

Members of PAS's welfare brigade, the Unit Amal, were on hand to control traffic, alongside some 200 policemen stationed in front of the embassy complex.

"Muslims respect other religions. We respect Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism and others.

"Do not insult our Prophet, for it will only bring greater calamities. We love our Prophet and our religion. We shall defend it by all means necessary," Salahuddin said in his speech.

Tian Chua meanwhile said he regretted the attacks against Islam, and stressed that the issue not only concerned Muslims but also all of humanity.

"These attacks and insults must be stopped and America must take immediate action. We do not want religious strife," he added.

Later, PAS's Nasrudin Hasan was seen entering embassy premises to hand over the protest memorandum.

Meanwhile, UMNO Youth and the party's right-wing offshoot Perkasa took part in a separate protest after Friday prayer at the Kampung Baru mosque, led by UMNO Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin and Perkasa's Ibrahim Ali.

Rallies worldwide

Similar rallies are being held across the world today, but nowhere is the emotion felt stronger than in Pakistan, where the government has declared a public holiday today, calling it a special day to express love for the Prophet (Yaum-i-Ishq-i-Rasool).

Pakistani Muslim groups and sects have come together to condemn the film, produced in California by a group of anti-Islam activists. The anger against US comes amid a series of US drone attacks which have killed scores of civilians within Pakistan, purportedly to target Al-Qa'ida fighters. The latest development has prompted Washington to take up advertisements on Pakistani television channels showing President Barack Obama condemning the film.

Protests are also planned after Friday prayers in other Muslim capitals. In Indonesia, the US government closed its embassy in Jakarta and consulate offices in Surabaya, Medan and Bali, where water cannons were deployed and spools of razor wire rolled out.

Earlier this week, protesters hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails at the embassy in Jakarta.

-Harakahdaily