Jolted by violent demonstrations by Muslim outfits over the last few days, the US consulate general here denied reports popping up all through Wednesday that the American government was contemplating closing down the mission as the eruptions against the offensive video happened only in Chennai.
“There is no substance to that rumour. That’s not true”, a USCG spokesman told DC. He sought to draw the attention of Chennaiites to the statement made by secretary of state Hillary Clinton condemning the anti-Prophet video and making clear that the American government had nothing to do with it.
Addressing the US-Morocco strategic dialogue in Washington last Thursday, Ms Clinton said the US government had “absolutely nothing” to do with this video. “We absolutely reject its content and message… To us, to me personally, this video is disgusting and reprehensible. It appears to have a deeply cynical purpose: to denigrate a great religion and to provoke rage…but there is no justification, none at all, for responding to this video with violence”, she said.
Condemning the violence against US missions, she said it was “especially wrong” for violence to be directed against the missions. “These are places whose purpose is peaceful: to promote better understanding across countries. All governments have a responsibility to protect those spaces, because to attack an embassy is to attack the idea that we can work together to build understanding and a better future”, Ms Hillary said.
She pleaded it would not be possible to concede the protesters’ demand to ban the video. That would be impossible “in today’s world with today’s technologies” and besides, the US Constitution guaranteed free expression. We do not stop citizens from expressing their views no matter how distasteful they may be”.