The filmmaker of “Innocence of Muslims,” the anti-Mohammad video that sparked the recent protests and deaths around the world, has been arrested by federal authorities for allegedly violating the condition for his probation on a 2010 conviction for bank fraud — violations that could land him in jail for three years. Given the calls for his arrest and even execution by Muslim allies, the arrest raises obvious concerns that the Administration is again defending free speech while quietly moving to punish those who cause religious strife.
From my experience as a criminal defense attorney, the violations described in a case of his kind rarely warrant the 4-month term demanded for Nakoula Basseley Nakoula. In addition, the federal authorities insisted on his being jailed as a flight risk, though it is unclear why that is the case and why he could not be given an electronic bracelet.
Magistrate Judge Suzanne H. Segal found that Nakoula exhibited a “lengthy pattern of deception” and posed “some danger to the community.” I can see the basis for the first conclusion but not the evidence of a danger to the community. My concern is that the response to his film — which is a protected act of free speech — was weighed in the balance of such a decision. Nakoula is accused of eight charges of probation violation including making false statements to authorities about the film. He reportedly admitted that he wrote the film but authorities insist that he did not fully explain his role.
The U.S. Attorney suggested that he might charge Nakoula with making false statements about the film — charges that would seem an obvious act of retaliation by the Administration.
The distrust shown by many free speech advocates, including myself, is that the Administration has a checkered history of claiming to support free speech while supporting the creation of an international blasphemy standard. The federal agents quickly moved against the filmmaker after the controversy. Probation rules are written in a way that make it relatively easy to find violations. The immediate scrutiny left many with the impression that the Obama Administration wanted to show Arab allies that the filmmaker was under arrest while professing a commitment to free speech.
Source: LA Times
lotta,
Merci mon cher. Je suis originaire de France. Je joue le jeu de Scrabble sur Facebook. Vous devez joindre à nous.
“Shanda Lear, The Brightest Bulb in Trolldom”
LOL, that bears a ™. It’s a fabulous screen name.
***
Malisha, I’d demand proof along with numbers 🙂
Malisha 1, September 29, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Uh Oh, “People aren’t fundamentally stupid.”
They’re NOT? How MANY people are not fundamentally stupid, because inquiring minds want to know!
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Rabbits.
Uh Oh, “People aren’t fundamentally stupid.”
They’re NOT? How MANY people are not fundamentally stupid, because inquiring minds want to know!
Anyone up to a riot today at the USA consulate in Washington, or better the houses of the three usual suspects.
a bit of morning irony struck me when reading this twice above, once quoted:
““Also, what is happening now is a movement, or protest, that was in search of a pretext to begin.”
Would that we pursued our constitutional rights, an honorable course for our foreign policy, and a concern for our fellowmen—–as those movements which were pointed out previously.
No rant today. We emptied the shelves. But the standared accusations and examples can be had from your rote memory. Push the red button behind your right ear.
Let me ask you all: Why would president of the US, who is supposed to defend freedom of speech, would say in his UN speech that the future does not belong to ones who slander Islam. How dare he said that! Islam is a regressive religion , just ask Mukhtara Mai of Pakistan who was raped by multiple people and islamic law required her to produce four witnesses that actually saw penetration, or ask anyone who may have said anything negative in an islamic world, even if she had down’s syndrome, and this president wants to ban free speech on this violent religion? Give me a break!
The distrust shown by many free speech advocates, including myself, is that the Administration has a checkered history of claiming to support free speech while supporting the creation of an international blasphemy standard. The federal agents quickly moved against the filmmaker after the controversy. Probation rules are written in a way that make it relatively easy to find violations. The immediate scrutiny left many with the impression that the Obama Administration wanted to show Arab allies that the filmmaker was under arrest while professing a commitment to free speech.
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Screw the international blasphemy standard. Is there free speech or not? Is there freedom of religion or not? Do you want to go back to the Salem Witch trials?
People aren’t fundamentally stupid. Some of them just don’t know what to do.
Don’t try to piss on me from the balcony.
Lottakatz observed:
“He violated his probation and having done so renege on his end of the contract and that makes his arrest fair game. The only problem IMO is that he wasn’t arrested immediately upon breaking the rules for his probation.”
It’s very, very hard to argue against fact.
“Also, what is happening now is a movement, or protest, that was in search of a pretext to begin.”
100% correct.
” We have been making enemies with our excursions into various mid eastern countries for ten years and have destabilized and burdened several countries. What is happening in Afghanistan (attacks on Americans rising steadily since the ‘surge’) is a reflection of a widespread and majorly justified attitude against American actions.”
If only those in the war room would recognize the obvious, as stated here..
If I was some dog living under some alias like this Jehovah’s witness in sheeps clothing then I would hardly chimne in with a comment on this particluar case. But I must say that the suggestion by JT that somehow the President of the United States is responsible for yanking this guy’s probation chain is beyond the pale. Its beyond the Paletinate as well. But Jes Louise, dont lock him up for sporting an alias. Next you will be locking up Willard Romney for calling himself Mitt. Or Jimmy Carter whose real name is James. Or Tricky Dick Nixon whose real name was Richard.
Freedom of speech includes giving one aliases. If the judge knew who she was dealing with how is that an false statement worthy of revocation of parole and incarceration, how does that equate to a flight risk?
It is like implying you have ice cream, therefore you have milk. True it is a dairy product, but the form and substance has been altered. The US incarcerated this person to show that we are a strong nation and do not support terrorism in any format. Unless of and of course we are conducting the same.
People prove amazingly incredulous things everyday!
I think we should submit this movie producer to Sharia law…right folks? F@ck the Constitution, let’s stone the mofo.
lotta, I would throw up if I watch maddow, dont need that torture to watch her histrionics
Two comments: he violated his probation and having done so renege on his end of the contract and that makes his arrest fair game. The only problem IMO is that he wasn’t arrested immediately upon breaking the rules for his probation.
Also, what is happening now is a movement, or protest, that was in search of a pretext to begin. We have been making enemies with our excursions into various mid eastern countries for ten years and have destabilized and burdened several countries. What is happening in Afghanistan (attacks on Americans rising steadily since the ‘surge’) is a reflection of a widespread and majorly justified attitude against American actions.
Maddow segment 9-27 on Afghanistan as an election non-talking point- graphs start at 5:40:
http://leanforward.msnbc.com/_news/2012/09/27/14129778-romney-still-silent-on-afghanistan-as-military-report-gives-the-surge-an-f?lite
so to attribute murder of 4 Americans to a video not only energized the islamic world, it also was a lie? Then to arrest the movie maker tells the islamic world that we have heard their request ? Would not this give them reason to commit more violence as they may take it as a sign that their murders have worked?
It is wonderful when puppets out each other.
SwM,
We are now getting University sweatshirts from the grandkids … it’s a present they can afford and we are happy to wear them.
“September 27: Nakoula is arrested and held for eight counts of violating probation. At his bail hearing, Judge Suzanne Segal asks Nakoula for his real name. He first gives it as “Nakoula Basseley Nakoula,” and then, upon being asked a second time, as “Mark Basseley Yousseff.” Prosecutors successfully argue that he is a flight risk, and Judge Segal orders him held without bail.” The Atlantic
Thanks, Smom.