AN INTER-faith group has urged the district’s Muslim population to ‘rise above’ an anti-Islamic video which caused violent protests across the Middle-East.

High Wycombe’s Council for Christian Muslim Relations has condemned the motives of the filmmakers behind The Innocence of Islam video and urged the district’s Muslims to ‘take the moral high ground’.

The amateur film, shot in America and posted on the internet on July 1, was deemed to be highly offensive and provocative to Muslims.

It sparked outrage and violent anti-American protests in Egypt and Libya – including the murder of the US’ Libyan ambassador J Christopher Stevens.

CCMR chairman and Wycombe Mayor Cllr Chauhdry Shafique said: “These motives are repudiated by Christians and Muslims alike and we both share the pain of Muslims at the denigration of The Prophet Mohammed.

“We urge our Muslim brothers and sisters to seek redress in accordance with the non-violent traditions of The Prophet in order to avoid getting the perpetrators of this infamy the satisfaction of the success of their evil intentions.

“The greatness of The Prophet is beyond the reach of malevolent attacks, even one as offensive as this. The CCMR stands united and we urge our brothers and sisters to rise above the incitement and take a higher moral stance.”