Cinemas must stand firm against mob
It was slap in the face for freedom of speech battle
If there’s one thing that’s going to make you watch a film you had no intention of watching, it has to be public demonstrations for it to be banned.
Take Monty Python’s Life of Brian – a comedy released more than 40 years ago about a man constantly mistaken for Jesus after being born the same day in the stable next door.
Some countries banned it, saying it insulted Christianity. In the US it was due to show in just 200 cinemas but after various religious groups protested, the number of screens was tripled.
Clearly there really is no bad PR. So the makers of film The Lady of Heaven must be delighted that a few hundred protesters are demanding it is banned for blasphemy – and getting it talked about by everyone.
Executive producer Malik Shlibak and director Eli King tell the story of Fatima, the daughter of the prophet Muhammad.
Malik explained that, as this religious character was “very holy to nearly two billion people”, he went to great lengths to not cause offence. So Fatima’s face is never seen, covered throughout by a black veil. But I’m really not shocked there have been protests in Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield, Bolton, Blackburn and Birmingham. A film on Islam, daring to explore different viewpoints, is going to ruffle the feathers of those with narrow beliefs on how their religion can be talked about.
In a country built on free speech, they have every right to share their view. I would though question whether these people have actually seen the film?
History tells us those joining such protests often do so using just hearsay as their justification. Much of the anger here is directed at the film’s alleged “blasphemy”.
Yet the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel were abolished in England and Wales in 2008, and Scotland in 2021. It’s not, though, the demonstrations that I take offence to. It’s the decision by Cineworld and Showcase Cinemas to drop it.
Cineworld said: “Due to recent incidents, we have made the decision to cancel screenings to ensure the safety of staff and customers.” Well, what a slap in the face that is for democracy, freedom of speech and people like me who have received death threats for speaking up against religious intolerance.
How weak of Cineworld to buckle so quickly in the face of a handful of protesters. They do not represent most Muslims – like my family and friends – who can see a film about their faith and not be offended.
I know the backlash the wider Muslim community receive when such protests go unchallenged. So it’s imperative Muslims show solidarity for freedom of speech and speak out against this film being blocked.
Any religion only progresses when it can allow others to explore it without the need to feel “wronged”.
As one fan said: “If you shut down dialogue, you have a world of ignorance.”