Rotterdam mayor relaxed about controversial Muslim film

Muslims should not take the controversial film Innocence of Muslims too seriously, Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told RTV Rijnmond on Monday evening.


The American-made film shows the profit Mohammed as a sexually predatory gangster and conman. It has caused a backlash across the Middle East and several countries with large Muslim populations have blocked YouTube where it can be viewed.
Two small demonstrations against the film held in Amsterdam at the weekend passed off peacefully.
Aboutaleb said demonstrations are fine as long as they do not get out of hand. ‘Muslims must keep a sense of proportion,’ he told RTV Rijnmond. ‘Try and see the funny side, stay calm and relaxed. You can always make your own film on YouTube as a response.’
The mayor said he sees no reason to block the film on YouTube. ‘Today it is this story, tomorrow it will be something else,’ he said.

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