Sanaa , Yemen ( CNN ) -- Many Yemenis , like Egyptians , Libyans and others , have been provoked by media reports about a film called `` Innocence of Muslims '' that maligns the Prophet Mohammed . Last week , hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the U.S. Embassy in the capital , Sanaa , and broke in . Clashes between security forces and demonstrators left at least four protesters dead and more than 30 people injured , according to Yemeni officials . Yemenis have many problems and difficulties in their daily lives . Nearly half of them live below the poverty line , almost seven million of them have no secure access to food , and they struggle to send their children to schools . Such desperate situations are worsened by the ghost of separation in the south , the Houthis militants in the north and threats from al Qaeda , which at times launch suicide attacks . In spite of these conditions , Yemenis feel hurt by the film mocking the prophet . It is difficult for many outside the country to understand why the film is inflammatory to Muslims : This , however , can not be explained unless considered within its context . The Prophet Mohammed is regarded as the highest authority in Islam . Through him the teachings of Islam and principles are revealed and conveyed : therefore to depict him as `` womanizer '' or `` pedophile '' is to claim wickedness at the foundation of the faith . Besides , the content of the film is hostile , grossly inaccurate and prejudiced . It revealed the producer 's attitude toward the prophet rather than the prophet 's character . As such , Muslims felt insulted by such depiction of their prophet . But there is disagreement among Yemenis as to how they should react to the film . By talking to ordinary people , listening to preachers in the mosques and following posts and comments on Facebook , it seems that the mood of Yemenis can be divided into three . One group believes that the film is insulting and that it is their religious duty to protest against it . They encouraged people to protest : It was members of this group who gathered in front of the U.S. Embassy . The second group , despite being angry , reject violence as a means of protest . They view the embassy incident in Sanaa as an immoral act and believe there are ways to express anger without destroying property and plundering equipment . Such acts , they say , contradict the teachings and principles of Islam -- the religion of peace and tolerance . Members of this group are , in fact , plenty in number . The third group believe it was a kind of stupidity to show any reaction to the film and that it gives its producers the publicity they are looking for . They likened its production to terrorist attacks , through which publicity is intended more than destruction and casualties . Thus , the best way to ensure the film will fail is to completely ignore it . Yet still the film has triggered plenty of political disputes and arguments in Yemen , as well as the other countries of the Arab Spring . The remnants of deposed regimes have used it as a political tool to accuse revolutionary forces of being more concerned to preserve their alliance with the U.S. than to defend the prophet , and also allege that the Arab revolutions were planned and plotted by the U.S. through its allies in the area . As such , they say , the region 's new governments , including that of Yemen , are no more than puppets of the U.S. administration . On the other hand , most of the revolutionaries believe the U.S. is not to blame for the film . During Friday prayers , one preacher in the mosque stated the film was intended to irritate Muslims and drive their anger against U.S. interests in the area . He encouraged Muslims to be rational than emotional . It is an exploitation of resources , he said , for a nation to confront an individual who wants to make a hero of himself on account of Muslims ' resentment and anger . Yemenis generally do not consider such an attack on the prophet as demonstrating freedom of speech , the essence of democracy . Democracy , for them , does not justify the vilification of other beliefs , but to show respect for them . The Arab Spring showed that when Yemenis protest , they want justice and dignity , which are the core of democratic principles . The Arab Spring improved this situation because the U.S. demonstrated its support for the revolutionary movement in Yemen and other Arab countries . But Yemenis reject `` democracy '' such as this video , which allows the maligning of other faiths and beliefs . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Murad Alazzany .
Yemen has witnessed protests amid anger at the ' ` ` Innocence of the Child '' Academic : Many Yemenis are offended by the video yet differ in how they should respond . Religious : A preacher says the video was used to express anger against U.S. interests . Academic : Remnants of deposed regimes in region have used video as a political tool .