Filmmaker Who Shot Video that Sparked Violence in Libya and Egypt Remains Defiant

Sam Bacile, now in hiding, calls Islam a cancer

A FILMMAKER based in California has gone into hiding after a YouTube trailer of his movie attacking Islam's prophet Muhammad sparked angry assaults by ultra-conservative Muslims on US missions in Egypt and Libya. The US ambassador to Libya and three American members of his staff were killed.

Speaking by phone on Tuesday from an undisclosed location, writer and director Sam Bacile remained defiant, saying Islam is a cancer and that the 56-year-old intended his film to be a provocative political statement condemning the religion.