US Court Lifts YouTube Ban on Controversial ‘Anti-Islam’ Film

Overturning a previous ruling, US court has allowed broadcasting of the controversial ‘anti-muslim’ film on YouTube.

Cindy Lee Garcia (L), an actress in the “Innocence of Muslims”, an ‘anti-Islam’ film that has spawned violent protests across the Muslim world. (Photo: Reuters)

An alleged ‘anti-Muslim’ film that triggered widespread protests in 2012, is back in the news. Now, a federal US Appeals Court has lifted an injunction prohibiting Google from broadcasting the film. YouTube can now host the film ‘Innocence of Muslims’ that apparently has a controversial depiction of the Prophet.

The film, featuring a crude production, depicts the Prophet Mohammed as, among other things, a murderer, pedophile, and homosexual.
- Court ruling

An 11-judge panel in San Francisco said that YouTube was wrongly forced into remove the trailer of the film. The ban came into force after Cindy Lee Garcia, an actress, complained that she was duped into performing in the film. The case raised questions on copyright of actors on their individual performances. The court has rejected Garcia’s copyright claims and overturned the ban.

Earlier, a three-judge panel had instructed Google to remove the controversial film which triggered “anti-American sentiment among Muslims in 2012”. Four Americans had reportedly died after protests over the film.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Facebook and Twitter had supported Google’s lawsuit.

Watch the YouTube trailer here.