Global Cultural Awareness Committee

Keith Saddler, Justin Oriente, Natasha Saleh, Christopher Johnson

Perceptions• Your perception of the Muslim religion or• America’s perception of the Muslim religion

Tony Auth, Philadelphia Inquirer

Background Info• Islam is one of the fastest growing religions

in the world. • 1 out of every 5 people follow Islamic Faith• Largest population of Muslims are of Indonesian Descent

• "Ash-shadu anna Laa elaha illa lah. Ash-shadu anna Muhammadar Rasoolulah."(I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger).

Common Misconceptions• Arabic ≠ Muslims• Arabic refers to being born in an Arab country, speaking Arabic• Does not pertain to your religious beliefs

• Muslims ≠ Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, other Radical figures• Peaceful religion

Background Info (Cont’d)• Prophet Muhammad: refer to him as "the Messenger of

God and His slave". Muhammad was chosen to be God's final messenger --- to communicate the message not only in words but to be a living example of the message.

• Muslims love and respect him because he was of the highest moral character and he brought the Truth from God - which is the Pure Monotheism of Islam.

• "There is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God, and Muhammad is the Messenger and Servant of God".

Innocence Of Muslims• Innocence Of Muslims

Reactions• The anti-Muslim video sparked outrage in eastern

Libya, where a mob stormed the U.S. Consulate and killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans on Sept. 11, 2012

Middle East Reactions• Egypt- Protests held in Cairo outside

of US embassy• Iran- Will boycot the 2013 Oscars

because of the film• Iraq- Burned American flags, wanted

American diplomats out of Iraq. Boycott of American goods• Israel- Protests in front of US

Embassy,

European Reactions• France- 100 arrested for protest outside

US embassy• Russia- Plans to block access to YouTube

if film is not removed• England- 200 people demonstration

outside US embassy, Terror organizations organized some protests• Turkey- Organized non violent protests

Other Notable Countries’ Reactions• Lebannon- Angry protestors burned

down a KFC restaurant• Canada- Protests in Toronto

Freedom Of Speech• Do you think that this media is a form of

freedom of speech• To what extent is it acceptable to voice

your perception/opinion?• We are the future, what consequences will

follow your actions?

How it relates to us• “President Barack Obama has stated that while the video

is reprehensible it is not possible to ban…” (Deadline Hollywood)• "Like me, the majority of Americans are Christian, and yet we do not

ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs,”- Barack Obama• Hafiz Saeed, one of Pakistan’s most feared Islamists. He has been

accused by India in the masterminding of the 2008 attacks on the financial capital in Mumbai.• “Obama’s statements have caused a religious war,” (Saeed)• “This is a very sensitive issue . This is not going to be resolved

soon. Obama’s statement has started a cultural war.” (Saeed)• The United States as well as the Indian Government want

Saeed to be detained due to his previous involvement in such terroristic plots.

Continued• Bounties of $10 Million dollars have been placed

for information leading to the capture of Saeed.• Saeed held a press conference at a hotel 40 minutes from

the US Embassy in Islamabad, where he called the bounty “laughable”