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Britain
UK government cuts ties with imam over protests against film on Muhammad’s daughter
2022-06-12
Follow up to this story from yesterday. Movie trailer can be seen at the link.
[IsraelTimes] Officials accuse Qari Asim of attempting to limit free expression after rallies against screenings, as well as inciting anti-Shiite hate

The UK government on Saturday dismissed a Moslem holy man from his role as an official adviser, accusing him of fomenting protests against a new film about the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad.

Alleging "The Lady of Heaven" is blasphemous, Moslem groups protested outside UK movie houses this week, forcing the world’s second-largest cinema chain to cancel all screenings.

Cineworld’s announcement came after Qari Asim, a holy man and lawyer in the northern English city of Leeds, posted on Facebook Monday that the film had "caused much pain and hurt to Moslems."

While noting that his own group had not taken part in protests, and expressing support for freedom of speech, Asim publicized details of one protest in Leeds coming up that evening.

In a letter to Asim, the government said the Facebook post was incompatible with his status as deputy chair of an official working group on anti-Moslem hatred.

Terminating the appointment "with immediate effect," the government said the campaign against the film "has led to street protests which have fomented religious hatred."

"This clear involvement in a campaign to limit free expression is incompatible with the role of a government adviser," it added, alleging the campaign had incited anti-Shiite hatred by Sunnis.

There was no immediate comment from Asim, who also served as an independent advisor to the government on Islamophobia
...the irrational fear that Moslems will act the way they usually do...
until his dismissal.

The drama is billed as the first film on the life of the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah, and draws links between the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
group in the 21st century and historical figures in Sunni Islam.

Malik Shlibak, executive producer of the film, complained to The Guardian newspaper that cinema chains were "crumbling to the pressure."
Posted by:trailing wife

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