E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
A. Majeed / AFP - Getty Images
Pakistani police charge at demonstrators during a protest against an anti-Islam film in Peshawar on Sept. 21. At least 12 people died and nearly 200 were wounded in Pakistan during violent protests condemning a US-made film insulting Islam, defying a government call for only peaceful demonstrations, officials said.
Bilawal Arbab / EPA
A general view shows policemen facing protesters during a protest against the anti-Islam movie entitled 'Innocence of Muslims' made in the US, in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Sept. 21.
A. Majeed / AFP - Getty Images
A Pakistani Muslim demonstrator carries material inside a burning cinema during a protest against an anti-Islam film in Peshawar on Sept. 21.
Rehan Khan / EPA
Smoke rises from a building which was set on fire by a mob during a protest against the anti-Islam movie entitled 'Innocence of Muslims' made in the US, in Karachi, Pakistan, on Sept. 21.
NBC News staff and wire reports -- ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Protests by tens of thousands of Pakistanis infuriated by an anti-Islam film descended into deadly violence on Friday, with police firing tear gas and live ammunition in an attempt to subdue rioters who hurled rocks and set fire to buildings in some cities.
NBC News reported that 12 people died in Karachi with another three deaths in Peshawar during the protests. More than 100 people were injured.
Friday had been declared a national holiday by Pakistan's government so people could rally against the video.
There were also protests in at least half a dozen other countries, with American flags and effigies of President Barack Obama burned.
Related links:
- Protesters torch KFC, Hardee's in Lebanon's Tripoli
- Slideshow -- Pakistan: A nation in turmoil
- Protesters clash with cops near US Embassy in Cairo
- Angry crowd attacks US Embassy in Yemen
- Aftermath of a deadly day at US consulate in Libya
Muhammed Muheisen / AP
A Pakistani riot police officer reacts to tear gas fired by other officers during clashes with protestors after they tried to approach the U.S. embassy, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Sept. 21. Pakistani police opened fire on rioters who were torching a cinema during a protest against an anti-Islam film Friday, and security forces clashed with demonstrators in several other cities in Pakistan on a holiday declared by the government so people could rally against the video. Thousands of people protested in several other countries, some of them burning American flags and effigies of President Barack Obama.
Fareed Khan / AP
A protester carries a representation of a U.S. flag as police vehicles burn in Karachi, Pakistan on Sept 21.
Muhammed Muheisen / AP
A wounded Pakistani protester is helped by others during clashes with riot police that erupted as protestors tried to approach the U.S. embassy, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Sept. 21.
Arif Ali / AFP - Getty Images
Pakistani Muslim demonstrators topple a freight container, placed by police to block a street during a protest against an anti-Islam film in Lahore on Sept. 21. At least 13 people died and nearly 200 were wounded in Pakistan during violent protests on Friday condemning a US-made film insulting Islam, defying a government call for only peaceful demonstrations, officials said.
Protests ignited by a controversial film that ridicules Islam's Prophet Muhammad spread throughout Muslim world.
Leave a Comment:
These pictures are horrific and I think this entire debacle comes down to the question of freedom of speech vs hate speech and what should and should not be allowed. There will always be a fine line between those that twist their rights to freedom of speech in order to attack and provoke others. I don't think that responding with violence is the correct response and I also don't believe that these protests are an indications of the mood of Muslims throughout the world. The US government shouldn't have to bear the brunt of what one of their citizens has done and I think that even extremists should be reasonable enough to see that. But the question has to be asked given reactions like this...Should ridiculing Islam or other religions something that should be made illegal? Or at least closely monitored. I just voted on this debate over at eQuibbly.com
what I think is funny, not in a ha,ha way is that I am looking at these pictures and i see those faces an Oh boy they hate America & Americans...but you look at there clothes and they are wearing T-Shirts with our symbols on them.NIKE, HARLEY DAVIDSON, ADIDAS, maybe tehy got them as you DONATED THEM so theycan have something to wear in there civil war that gives them NOTHING!!! If they hate us so much burn our clothes, while you are still wearing them please!!!
OwenC, are you a Muslim? By reading your comment, I found out that your opinion kind of tilted more towards banning Free Speech and obviously, I got the feeling that you are from the Moslem community. I might be wrong but I must mention here that we have earned our freedom and the freedom of expression after a long struggle and big sacrifices and for God's sake, do not talk about a ban on FREE SPEECH. Just talk more about leashing those animals securely period. If an evil cult can't take or tolerate criticisms then, it is their problem – not ours and they should get lost from the face of this earth. They are real savages and behave like animals. Muslims will kill and destroy for anything and everything be it movies or cartoons, hijab or burkhas, shia or sunnis and I can name millions of more issues. You mention anything about their phony cult or evil prophet, they will kill and destroy for that like blood thirsty hyenas. The conclusion is Islam is pure evil, it has no place in civilized societies and Islam must go. Shame! Nothing personal and wish you well.
I don't know, but I'm really getting tired of seeing these stone age Muslim sh!theads burning and stomping on the American flag!
I have long believed that many Muslims have crossed over that line which divides worship from respect. By such severe, hysterical reactions to anything which they perceive insults their prophet, they are corrupting their own faith. Allah alone, God of Abraham, God of Christ is God. And, He alone should be worshiped. But, in Islam, some adherents have elevated Mohammad to the Godhead. Mohammad, himself, in the Hadith, warned against just such a practice, but like fanatics everywhere they do not heed him and go merrily along their way.
We need to just love each other and our differences and embrace it. Life is too short and we are making it shorter with hate.
My heart breaks for those that are in bondage to this ideology of hatred. The crazy thing is that while they are protesting hatred towards America , I notice they are all wearing Nike sneakers. Nike is owned by Americans. I pray that they will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
My Lord and My Savior
Jesus The Christ
Ya know what yea the movie is wrong,but ITS JUST A FREAKIN MOVIE!!! these people are acting like savages. Would their "prophet" approve of all the REAL LIFE killing and distruction? This is insane. There is nothing that justifies these actions. Act like human beings for cryin out loud.
That's what I've been thinking since these protests started - there is no WAY Mohammad would approve of this behavior.
I also find myself wondering how many of these demonstrations did start out peaceful until a smaller number of people started acting up and mob mentality set in. That kind of mob mentality risk will always keep me away from this sort of protest.
Don't worry , Obama will send them 2 or 3 hunderd million dollars to rebuild what they burned down and buy more American clothes . --WHAT FOOLS WE ARE !! --
Why don't they burn the american style clothing they have on.
pull off ur american style clothes and burn them too!! These people are being LED by others for their own reasons and it has nothing to do with religion. The majority needs to wake up and realize they are being used.
It scares me to think Pakistan has nuclear weapons. These demonstrators are animals.
(don't mean to insult real animals)