Stand up to ‘religious mobs’, says adviser

APPEASEMENT of “religious mobs” by government and councils will undermine social cohesion, a senior adviser warns today in the wake of Islamic protests about a film.

Dame Sara Khan, the Government’s independent adviser on social cohesion and resilience, criticises the failure by national and local politicians to stand up to protests that have forced Cineworld to cancel all UK screenings of a film about the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed.

In an article for The Daily Telegraph, Dame Sara says that while Cineworld could be criticised, it was vital to find out what support the cinema chain had received from politicians and police.

Cineworld said it had pulled the film The Lady of Heaven “to ensure the safety of our staff and customers”.

More than 120,000 people signed a petition opposing its screening, while the Bolton Council of Mosques called the film “blasphemous” and sectarian.

Dame Sara says that failing to stand up to the protests was a “dangerous, slippery slope” that would mean anybody offended by anything could potentially try to shut down all kinds of lawful activities through the use of “intimidation and fear”.

Citing previous cases where a teacher and playwright had been silenced by bullying, she writes: “Over the years, leadership from local MPS, local authorities and central government in standing up and firmly defending our democratic values has unfortunately been lacking.

“I have seen how local authorities and MPS have tried to appease religious mobs or sit on the fence in the hope that such protests will disperse and often they have in the short-term.

“But this is a failure of leadership and in the long-term has only galvanised religious fundamentalists who now

know that by engaging in such behaviour their unreasonable demands will be met.

“It will undermine social cohesion and result in a gradual erosion of our democratic values and principles.”

Dame Sara says that despite claims the protests were “peaceful”, video evidence shows inflammatory, sectarian, anti-shia chants being screamed through megaphones and protesters threatening there would be “repercussions” if the film was not pulled.

“[Cineworld’s move] wasn’t out of choice – they were bullied and intimidated to make such a decision. Out of fear. This is a dangerous, slippery slope.

“When offence is subjective, anybody who is offended by anything could potentially – using intimidation and fear – attempt to shut down all kinds of lawful activity in our country,” she writes.

“It’s easy to criticise Cineworld, but questions need to be asked [about] what support and help they received from local and central government and even the police. Imagine being a manager at one of those cinemas.”

Malik Shlibak, executive producer of

blamed a radical group “trying to cause sectarian division” for the protests and said cinemas were “crumbling to the pressure”.

“They are trying to say that only their interpretation is correct, and that everyone should be aligned with that; they are like spoiled children who want it their way,” he said.

Mr Shlibak also criticised the police

‘Anybody who is offended by anything could potentially attempt to shut down all kinds of lawful activity’

for failing to keep the protesters away from public entrances.

“The protesters should have been put to one side,” he said.

“It is [the police’s] duty to ensure public safety and ensure no disruption to usual public affairs.”

His comments came as Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, said he was “very concerned about the growing cancel culture” in the UK. “There are people out there who think they have a right not to be offended and of course, noone has that right,” he said.