A U.S. federal judge has ordered the arrest and detention of the alleged filmmaker behind a crudely produced anti-Islam video that has sparked weeks of deadly protests across the Muslim world.
Chief Magistrate Judge Suzanne Segal ordered Nakoula Basseley Nakoula held without bail Thursday, for violating the terms of his probation on a 2010 bank fraud conviction.
In issuing her ruling, Segal said the court has a "lack of trust" in the defendant noting Nakoula was a flight risk.
Federal prosecutors say Nakoula, 55, made eight violations of the terms of his release including lying to probation officers and using aliases.
Nakoula - allegedly the real identity behind the pseudonym Sam Bacile, the director of "Innocence of Muslims" - was briefly taken into custody earlier this month for questioning by his probation officer.
The film depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a thuggish deviant offended many Muslims and sparked a wave of anti-American protests that have left several people dead and saw mobs burn U.S. missions, schools and businesses.
"Innocence of Muslims" Movie
Excerpts of the film were posted on YouTube in English and Arabic
The film depicts the Prophet Muhammad as a caricature
Reportedly financed by expatriate members of Egypt's Coptic Christian minority group
Promoted by Florida-based Christian Pastor Terry Jones, who burned a Quran in his church
Article by VOA News