Falwell comments spark rioting in Indian state

Church & State, Nov 2002

Thousands of Muslims in northern India rioted in the streets after word circulated that TV preacher Jerry Falwell had called the Prophet Muhammad a "terrorist" on American television.

Falwell made the comments about the founder of Islam during an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" for a piece about evangelical Christian support for Israel. During the segment, which aired Oct. 6, Falwell told correspondent Bob Simon, "I think Muhammad was a terrorist. He - I've read enough of the history of his life written by both Muslims and, and non-Muslims - that he was a, a violent man, a man of war."

The program did not air in the Indian state of Jammu-Kashmir, India's only political subdivision with a Muslim majority, but Falwell's remarks were reported in a local newspaper and began to circulate among the population. As word spread, thousands of protesters spilled into the streets, throwing rocks and screaming anti-American slogans. In Bombay, meanwhile, five people were killed and 47 injured during rioting.

Mohammad Omar Farooq, a prominent Muslim cleric, said Falwell had "no right to outrage the religious sentiments of the second largest religious group in the world. It reflects on his ignorance and bigotry."

At first, Falwell did not apologize for the comments. Days after the show aired, his website, www.falwell.com, contained no mention of his remarks - although it did contain a large section criticizing the beliefs of Islam and the life of Muhammad.

"I have never said in a sermon or a speech that Muhammad is a terrorist," Falwell told Religion News Service. "I simply answered a question by Bob Simon in the context of Jesus, Moses and Muhammad. It might have been a bad choice of words, but it is what historians say."

In Iran, a hard-line Muslim newspaper called Kayhan urged that Falwell be killed for his comments, along with Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham, two other evangelists who have made anti-- Islam statements recently.

"In accord with Islam, it is imperative to kill the three priests linked to the Zionists because they have insulted Islam and the prophet," said the paper. The publication added that it hoped that "Muslims oppressed by the powerful United States would have the honor to carry out this act."

Ayatollah Hossein Nuri-Hamedani, a top Shiite cleric in Iran, urged Muslims "not to stay silent" over the insult but stopped short of issuing a fatwa - or death decree - against Falwell.

On Oct. 12 Falwell finally issued an apology.

"I sincerely apologize that certain statements of mine made during an interview for the Sept. 30 edition of CBS's `60 Minutes' were hurtful to the feelings of many Muslims," he said. "I intended no disrespect to any sincere, law-abiding Muslim."

Falwell's latest venture into interfaith hostility has drawn criticism even from some fellow conservatives.

Washington Times columnist Tony Blankley called Falwell's comments "idiotic and repulsive" and insisted that they would undercut President George Bush's efforts to depict the fight against terrorism as not a fight against Islam.

Blankley said Falwell's claim that he "intended no disrespect" is incredible. "Of course he did," observed the columnist.