Blamed for Benghazi: Filmmaker Jailed after Attack Now Lives in Poverty, Fear

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US Filmmakers Banned from Britain over Anti-Mohammed Video
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Two filmmakers behind the controversial video "Innocence of Muslims", which denigrates the Prophet Mohammed, have been banned from setting foot in Britain over fears they could incite violence.

The Daily Telegraph can also reveal that a Pakistani cabinet minister who offered a reward for anyone killing the producers of the amateurish video has also been told by British officials that he is not welcome.

A trailer for the film posted on YouTube provoked angry demonstrations throughout the Muslim world.

The amateurish clip, produced on a tiny budget by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a 55-year-old Egyptian Coptic Christian resident in the United States, depicts the Prophet Mohammed as a fool and sexual deviant.

As a result of the controversy, Nakoula was arrested for violating probation terms for a pre-existing fraud offence which barred him from using the internet.

The worst of the protests were in Pakistan, where 20 people died in clashes between anti-film protesters and police during a day of protests last month. » | Rob Crilly, Islamabad | Friday, October 12, 2012

California Man Behind Anti-Islam Film Jailed for Probation Violation
FOX NEWS: LOS ANGELES – The surrounding mystery of the man behind the crudely produced anti-Islamic video that sparked violence in the Middle East took a strange turn after he appeared in court and gave yet another name in a string of aliases.

Arrested on Thursday after authorities said he violated his probation from a 2010 check fraud conviction, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula told a judge his real name was Mark Basseley Youseff. He said he'd been using that name since 2002, even though he went by Nakoula in his fraud case.

The full story about Nakoula and the video "Innocence of Muslims" still isn't known more than two weeks after violence erupted in Egypt and Libya, where Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others were killed in Benghazi. Violence related to the film has since spread, killing dozens more. » | Associated Press | Friday, September 28, 2012

VOICE OF AMERICA: Moscow Threatens YouTube Over Anti-Islam Video: MOSCOW — Russia's communications minister is threatening to ban YouTube in the country if the popular Internet site doesn't remove a video mocking Islam. » | Jessica Golloher | Thursday, September 27, 2012

Anti-Islam film-maker arrested in California

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The convicted fraudster behind the anti-Islamic video that caused violent protests in the Middle East has been arrested on suspicion of breaching his probation.

Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, was taken into custody in Los Angeles, where he was due to apear at a closed court hearing.

Nakoula, a Coptic Christian originally from Egypt, was behind "Innocence of Muslims." A 14-minute trailer for the film was posted on the internet and caused days of rioting.

In June 2010 Nakoula was convicted of a bank fraud which involved obtaining credit cards in the names of other people.

He was sentenced to 21 months in prison and ordered to pay $794,700.57 in restitution. » | Nick Allen, Los Angeles | Friday, September 28, 2012

Family of Anti-Islam Filmmaker Joins Him in Hiding
ABC NEWS: Family members of the California man who wrote and produced the controversial anti-Islam film "Innocence of Muslims" fled their home early Monday morning to join the filmmaker in hiding.

Nakoula Basseley Nakoula has not returned to his Cerritos, California home since being interviewed late Friday night by federal probation officers about his role in the creation of the film, excerpts of which have ignited violent anti-American protests across the Muslim world.

Shortly before 4 a.m. Monday, officers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department escorted members of Nakoula's family, who had their faces covered, out of the house and into police vehicles so they could rejoin Nakoula at an undisclosed location.

"They decided they would be safer where they could move about and live a normal life," said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Department. "All we did was pick them up and reunite them with Mr. Nakoula."

Whitmore said the family's current whereabouts are unknown to him, and it was his understanding that they won't ever return to their Cerritos house, though that decision was "entirely up to the family." (+ video) » | Frank Elaridi and Randy Kreider | Monday, September 17, 2012

Feds Interview California Filmmaker, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, Linked to Anti-Islam Movie: LA Sheriff

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: The 55-year-old was interviewed but not arrested or detained, according to authorities. Nakoula has previously been convicted of financial crimes.

LOS ANGELES — A Southern California filmmaker linked to an anti-Islamic movie inflaming protests across the Middle East was interviewed by federal probation officers at a Los Angeles sheriff’s station but was not arrested or detained, authorities said early Saturday.

Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, was interviewed at the station in his hometown of Cerritos, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Don Walker said.

Federal officials have said they were investigating the activities of Nakoula, who has been convicted of financial crimes. If the probation department determines Nakoula violated terms of his release, a judge could send him back to prison.

Walker said Nakoula traveled voluntarily in a squad car with deputies.

“He went to the Cerritos station to talk with probation officers. He’s not under any arrest,” Walker said. Read on and comment » | The Associated Press | Saturday, September 15, 2012