Harry L. Roque Jr.
MANILA, Philippines—Lawyer Harry Roque defied a ban by the University of the Philippines and pushed through with the screening of the “Innocence of Muslims” Friday night.
The constitutional law students saw the 14-minute trailer of the anti-Islam that has triggered violence across the globe. Student Gino Paje said it was important that their professor “stood his ground” to assert freedom of expression.
Roque, who teaches law at UP Diliman, earlier told INQUIRER.net that he would “proceed even if UP admin wants to stop me.”
“This is more important because today is September 21 (Martial law anniversary), we have to take a stand and honor those who gave their lives for our freedom,” he said in a phone interview. “Aside from freedom of expression, I have academic freedom.”
University of the Philippines Chancellor Cesar Saloma banned showing the film on campus until its “full value” was established.
The public showing and forum at the state university were part of a course discussing the Bill of Rights and freedom of expression.
“Aside from teaching the doctrines, I want to make sure that they [students] will be able to apply it to their daily lives,” said Roque, director of the Institute of International Legal Studies at the UP Law Center.
Former law dean Raul Pangalangan said Roque’s showing of the film was timely for the course on the Bill of Rights. The lesson covered the Philippine version and the US amendments on which it’s based.
Asked about the possible repercussions of his decision to defy the UP ban, Roque said: “No one can hold me responsible for exercising my academic freedom.”
The crudely produced film mocks the Prophet Muhammad as a fraud, philanderer and child molester. With Associated Press
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