The Innocence of Muslims filmmaker – Nakoula Basseley Nakoula – has been arrested. We encourage people not to view this as an attack on Nakoula’s free speech rights because he insulted Islam. That is not what this is about. This is about a criminal who should be behind bars for committing crimes and violating his parole.
Besides, as Walid reported, Nakoula admitted in Arabic that he is neither Christian nor Jew. After being asked – in Arabic – about his position on the Jewish and Christian faiths, Nakoula responded:
I have no calling for these religions.
Now, the details about his arrest, via the Smoking Gun:
The producer of the controversial anti-Islam film “Innocence of Muslims” has been arrested for violating terms of his probation and is set for an appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, is scheduled for an initial appearance before Judge Christina Snyder, who sentenced him in June 2010 following a bank fraud conviction.
Investigators have not yet provided details about how Nakoula allegedly violated probation, but it seems clear that his involvement in the “Innocence of Muslim” production is central to the government’s new charge.
Nakoula (seen above) was sentenced to 21 months in prison to be followed by six months in a halfway house. Upon completion of the custodial term, he was placed on probation for five years.
Included in his probation terms were prohibitions on his use of the Internet, unless he secured prior approval from his probation officer. Additionally, he was not to “use, for any purpose or in any manner, any name other than his/her true legal name or names without the prior written approval of the Probation Officer.”
While producing “Innocence of Muslims,” Nakoula repeatedly used the alias “Sam Bacile” (and other variants) in communications, online postings, and dealings with cast and crew working on the film.
The fact remains that the news of Nakoula’s arrest is likely to please the Muslim world. In their view, it will likely mean that the rioting worked. Criticism of Islam was ultimately met with arrest. Conservatives in the West may be inclined to defend Nakoula.
We urge and encourage conservatives to defend his arrest, not his honor. Nakoula has lived a life of deception and has been a partner in crime for several years with Walid’s cousin, a noted Muslim fundamentalist who hates Christians and Jews.
The bottom line here is that Nakoula Basseley Nakoula is a criminal who was rightfully arrested.
Today was a day in which the good guys won a battle.
Next stop? Perhaps Mr. Nakoula can provide some information on a one Eiad Salameh…
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Be sure to read Walid’s article and extensive report on the background Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the man behind Innocence of Muslims.