I won't apologise for Raya video with dogs - Chetz Yusof
Astro Awani
Julai 31, 2013 14:49 MYT
Julai 31, 2013 14:49 MYT
I did not insult Islam and I won't apologise for something that I did not do wrong.
This is stand of the director and maker of the controversial YouTube video titled ‘Video Menghina Islam 1 Hari di Hari Raya’, which allegedly insulted Islam.
Maznah Mohd Yusof, better known as Chetz Yusof, said she is not willing to apologise because it is not her fault or responsibility if people misunderstood the reposted video.
“If I apologise for it, it would only mean I agree that I did something against the Islamic teachings. The video was not about insulting Islam. Making accusations that I wanted to insult Islam is an act of defaming me,” the engineer told Astro Awani.
The 1 minute 44 seconds video depicts Chetz and three dogs strolling near a mosque with the ‘Takbir Raya’ playing in the background.
The scene then changes showing Chetz in a black Baju Melayu performing ablution and also cleaning the paws of one of the three dogs before wiping the dog's face with a piece of cloth.
She later takes out several Raya cookies from a jar before serving it to her dogs.
It also broadcasted the words “Raikanlah Aidilfitri bersama-sama, tanpa mengira spesis, warna, asal usul” (Celebrate Aidilfitri together regardless of species, colour, origin) while featuring a shot of the dogs.
Chetz said she was the original maker of the three-year-old video and was reposted without her permission.
She said the title of the video was rewritten to depict that she wanted to insult Islam.
“Is it ‘non-Islamic’ to own a dog? I question who is actually insulting Islam? I make sure they (my dogs) are clean. I take good care of them. What is the problem?
“My care for the dogs are in accordance to Islamic teachings and the Quran. The people who reposted the video are misinterpreting the whole thing and are too emotional.
“I was just shooting a Hari Raya wish. I wanted to show in my video that I walk my dog in the morning. So whats the issue? I don't understand.
“Washing my dogs? Is it wrong to wash my dogs? I clean their whole body.
“My message was that we celebrate Hari Raya not just with humans but all species including animals,” she said.
Chetz said she fears for her life, her family and her dogs as she has received death threats via text messages.
“I have already lodged a police report yesterday about the people who reposted, defamed and accused me of insulting Islam. Today I will be lodging another police report regarding the death threats,” said the 38-year-old.
The video went viral in the social media and many netizens expressed their respective opinions about it.