Media for Christ group got permit for movie believed to be 'Innocence of Muslims'
By Wendy Lee with Sharon McNary | September
14th, 2012, 1:37pm
 sinahi tenurche/YouTube
A screenshot from a trailer for controversial anti-Islam film, "Innocence
of Muslims."
The organization that received the film permit for a movie believed to be
the controversial “Innocence of Muslims” was Duarte, Calif.-based nonprofit
advocacy group Media for Christ.
Karen Herrera, deputy city manager for the City of Duarte, told KPCC that
Media for Christ received a permit last year for a movie called "Desert
Warriors" through Film LA, an organization that gives film permits for the
County of Los Angeles. Herrera said she was told that information from the Los
Angeles County Sheriff's department.
People involved in the film believe “Desert Warriors” later became
“Innocence of Muslims.”
Meanwhile, the website The Smoking Gun reported Friday that Nakoula
Basseley Nakoula, another man connected to the film, became a government
informant after his 2009 arrest for bank fraud.
Joseph Nassralla Abdelmasih is the president for Media for Christ, which
identifies itself as a non-denominational evangelical Christian organization
that provides spiritual aid and humanitarian assistance. Nassralla has been
introduced at speaking events as a Coptic Christian and human rights activist
from Egypt.
Last year, Nassralla participated in a demonstration asking for Sheriff Lee
Baca to resign over his praise of the Council on American Islamic Relations, an
Islamic civil liberties group.
“I fled to America with my family because of the violence directed against
me for my Christian faith,” Nasralla said in an announcement published on Jihadwatch.org.
“Sheriff Baca must be fired, and the County must apologize to all of us who have
suffered at the hands of the Muslim brotherhood.”
KPCC made efforts to reach Media for Christ on Friday. Calls to the
nonprofit’s office were not answered.
Permit confirmed
Paul Audley, president of Film LA, confirmed to KPCC on Friday that the
permit was issued on Aug. 18, 2011. He referred further questions to the County
of Los Angeles, which said it would not release the film permit due to safety
concerns.
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula has also emerged as another local man involved in
the film. Nakoula told the Associated Press that he was in charge of the film’s
logistics.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched
Friday to the Cerritos cul de sac where Nakoula lives to provide security.
Several media trucks staked out the Nakoula residence, but no one has entered or
exited the home.
Nakoula has a criminal past and was convicted for drugs and engaging in
identity theft, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Times also found an
actor who received a check from Nakoula’s address for participating in the film.
It is unclear how "Innocence of Muslims" was funded. Media for Christ had
revenues of more than $1 million last year, according to tax
records.
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