Last week, angry mobs attacked the American consulate in Libya, killing four Americans. This outbreak of violence began in outrage over a new movie produced in the west, which rudely depicted the prophet Mohammed. But what is this movie, exactly? Where did it come from, and who produced it? And why?
At first, some people thought that the movie didn't exist at all, that it was a plant or conspiracy, a thinly veiled excuse to attack American institutions in Libya. But it turns out that the truth is stranger still.
"Innocence of Muslims" is a low-budget film described as "amateurish." It depicts the prophet Mohammed - which is in itself a grave offense to Islam. Worse still, Mohammed is depicted "as a womanizer, buffoon, ruthless killer and child molester." The violence began when clips of this movie were played by an outraged local news station.
