Some of the media reported that one of the producers of the "Innocence of Muslims" film, discrediting Prophet Muhammad, is an expatriate Copt living in California, U.S. called Ilīyā Basīlī. Some also mentioned that he is an owner of some companies in Egypt. Since these companies concern me and one of my sons is called Iīlīyā I had to explain things:

First, the above-mentioned Ilīyā Basīlī, living in California, has nothing to do with Ilīyā Tharwat Basīlī, there names might be similar, it happens, but they are two different people.

Second, it is impossible for me or my son to even consider hurting our Muslim brothers that we were raised with.

I am taking this opportunity to stress my great refusal for such offense to Islam and Prophet Muhammad as hard as I refuse offenses to Christianity.

[Reviewer's Note: A report of the same content came in al-Watan, p. 9, September 14 and al-Ahrām, p. 3, September 15] Both articles have no link online

The article has no link online.