'Innocence of Muslims' Movie Raises Protests and Deaths in Pakistan

Pakistanis infuriated by the film "Innocence of Muslims" broke into protests and fights on Friday, Sept. 21, with some throwing rocks and setting fire to buildings, and police having to intervene with tear gases and live ammunition. 

The Los Angeles Times reported that the fighting occurred on Friday, a day that the Pakistani government declared a "holiday" so people can fill the streets and rally against the video. 

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"At least 55 people, including nine police officers, were injured in the nationwide unrest, according to police and hospital officials," the publication reported. They also noted that three were killed, though it was not clearly stated if that was a nationwide count or only the number for the city of Peshawar. 

In Peshawar, some people set fire to two cinemas and a driver from a Pakistani television station was killed when police bullets hit his car. In Karachi, armed protestors opened fire at police officers, killing one and wounding another, according to an officer who spoke to the publication. Protestors in the country's capital even tried to storm the U.S. embassy.

Islamabad was the first to experience violence, starting on Thursday.

In midst of this, the U.S has paid for commercials on Pakistani TV in which President Barack Obama condemns the "Innocence" film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It is said that the film "ridicules" the Prophet Muhammad and since its release, it has sparked violence in the U.S., British and German embassies, among other locations. 

Sentiments toward the film has been additionally angered by satirical and naked caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad published in a French magazine.