Spike Lee believes his film Malcolm X may have inspired John Walker Lindh to become a Muslim, but it did not turn him into the American Taliban.
While receiving an award at the San Francisco Film Festival last week, Lee briefly reflected on the impact the 1992 film about the slain US black Muslim leader had on Lindh, a former San Francisco Bay Area resident.
He was inspired to become a Muslim by the film, not to become a terrorist, Lee told Reuters at a black-tie dinner honoring Lee, filmmaker George Lucas and actor Robin Williams.
At the same dinner, Lindh s lawyer James Brosnahan confirmed that his client was inspired by a scene in the film showing that all Muslims are equal under religion.
The lawyer took exception to Lee s description of Lindh as a terrorist, however, saying he never fought against Americans.
Lindh, 26, was captured in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks prompted a US-led invasion and was jailed for 20 years under a plea deal.
Brosnahan, who said he had visited Lindh this week, is leading an effort to win a presidential pardon to reduce his long sentence.
When Lee, who has directed films examining US race relations such as Do the Right Thing, learned that the attorney was present, he declined an opportunity to meet him.
