“United 93” is a Hollywood film currently being shown in cinemas across the United States. The film possesses an unusual ability to whip up fresh waves of hate crimes and acts of Islamophobia, not only in the US but on the other side of the Atlantic as well. The film has led to a sense of insecurity and fear in the minds of Muslims, whether American, Arab or of whatever nationality.
The film, as the name suggests, is the cinematic representation of the story of the ill-fated United Airlines Flight No. 93 that crashed into one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001.
The story opens with two hijackers devoutly reciting verses from the Holy Qur’an and chanting “La Ilaha Illallah” (There is no God but Allah). As the story develops, viewers see that Islamic symbols and chants are cleverly used alongside the horrible events. The ostensible aim seems to be to drive deep into the minds of viewers the idea that the terrorist savageries were somehow carried out as a form of worshipping Allah and in obedience to the commands of Islam’s holiest book.
In other words, the deeply moving sufferings of thousands of innocent people were caused by an outflow of monstrous cruelty and deep hatred which somehow equate to Islam. The villainy that caused the tragedy has been dexterously associated with holy Islamic symbols with such craftsmanship that viewers leave the cinema with a strong feeling of revulsion toward Islam and its followers. Viewers are led inescapably to conclude that Islam is an evil religion encouraging violence, terror, mass killing and destruction.
It must be remembered that the vast majority of all Muslims strongly condemned the Sept. 11 attacks and expressed their sympathy for the people of the United States. The Muslims hoped in return that the Americans and the rest of the world would understand that the perpetrators of the attacks did not represent Islam or express the sentiments of Muslims. Neither the Holy Qur’an nor any Muslim teaching advocates violence, bloodshed or the killing of innocents.
A friend’s son studying at present in San Diego, California, called me to tell that a few days ago, he and his wife were terrified by the intensity of hatred produced by the film in the minds of viewers there. According to him, the faces of viewers as they left the theater were hot with anger as they cursed Arabs and abused Muslims.
Films such as “United 93” do not help build a bridge of mutual understanding among various people in the world. Societies, which lead the world and promote the cause of human rights and freedom, should discourage films that so blatantly promote hatred.
