‘The Lady Of Heaven’: Morocco Bans Film, UK Dismisses Imam As Government Adviser Following Protests

deadline.com:

Controversy continues to swirl around The Lady Of Heaven, a film about the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad which last week caused protests in the UK that led to some screenings being pulled.

Morocco has now banned the movie while the British government has dismissed imam Qari Asim from his role as an adviser saying he had “encouraged an ongoing campaign to prevent cinemas screening the film” in a “clear effort to restrict artistic expression.” Asim responded that the government’s characterization of his actions is “inaccurate.”Directed by Eli King, The Lady Of Heaven centers on the story of Arabian holy legend Lady Fatima and her message of peace and non-violence told through two separate timelines hundreds of years apart.Some groups have criticized it for depicting the Prophet Muhammad, which is taboo in Islam, although the movie’s website notes, “In accordance with Islamic tradition, during the making of this film no individual represented a Holy Personality.”In Morocco, local media reports that the national Cinema Center said it would not authorize the film to play following condemnation by the country’s religious council.

The Supreme Council of Ulema deemed the movie “a blatant falsification of the facts of Islamic history,” that employs “loathsome partiality” and accused the filmmakers of seeking “fame and sensationalism… by hurting the feelings of Muslims and stirring up religious sensitivities.”Meanwhile, the UK has removed imam Qari Asim from his role as a government adviser saying he has “encouraged an ongoing campaign to prevent cinemas screening the film” in a “clear effort to restrict artistic expression.”Asim, who was made an MBE in 2012, and was Deputy Chair of the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group, was