American Sniper Provokes Anti-Muslim Threats, Says Civil Rights Group; Asked Filmmakers To Pacify Audience

American Sniper is said to have sparked hostility among Muslims living in the US. As it continued to garner good reviews in the box office, the war movie has also stirred the propagation of violent and hateful messages against Muslims online, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) said.

Reports on BBC said that ADC president Samer Khalaf wrote in his letter addressed filmmaker Clint Eastwood and lead star Bradley Cooper prompting them to react and help pacify the brewing anti-Muslim atmosphere usually found in social media and 'to reduce the hateful rhetoric.'

"It is our opinion that you could play a significant role in assisting us in alleviating the danger we are facing. Your visibility, influence, and connection to the film would be a tremendous force in drawing attention to and lessening the serious dangers facing the respective communities," Khalaf wrote.

The Guardian said that the ADC has taken legal action this week and has collaborated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the local authorities regarding the 100 offensive messages that they received online.

Critics have particularly pointed that that though the film has glorified the sacrifice and heroism that Chris Kyle, a US Navy seal said to have the highest number of kills in the American war history, it also conveys the 'murderous desire' to kill the 'savages' who are Muslims in Iran.

The same news source also included a sample of hateful messages found on social media.

Great fucking movie and now I really want to kill some fucking ragheads, a post on Twitter said.

"American sniper makes me wanna go shoot some fuckin Arabs."

"Nice to see a movie where the Arabs are portrayed for who they really are - vermin scum intent on destroying us."

Hollywood personalities have also participated in the heated debate.

Independent UK has quoted an earlier statement released by Jack Horner, a spokesperson for Warner Bros, the studio releasing the film, in an interview with the Reuters.

"Hate and bigotry have no place in the important dialogue that this picture has generated about the veteran experience," Horner's statement goes.

Meanwhile, according to Rollingstones, producer-director Michael Moore has also shared his thoughts on a personal experience about an uncle who has killed in World War II.

"My uncle [was] killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot you in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders are worse."

Moore is said to have been attacked by Fox News and other netizens.