Umm Muhammed Umar

A sacrilegious film, ‘The Lady of Heaven’, has been banned in Morocco. The film will not be screened for commercial or cultural purposes in the North African country. The BBC reports that the film was condemned by the country’s religious council.

The film purportedly tells the story of Lady Fatima (May Allah be Pleased with Her), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him); however, Morocco’s Supreme Ulema Council denounced the film as a “flagrant falsification of the established facts” of Islam. The council added that the filmmakers were seeking “fame and sensationalism”, while “hurting the feelings of Muslims and stirring up religious sensitivities”.

Meanwhile, there have been protests against the film in the UK, with several other countries, such as Egypt, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq, expressing outrage over it. British cinema chain, Cineworld, cancelled all screenings of The Lady of Heaven to “ensure the safety” of their staff and patrons, after protests had been staged outside some of their cinemas.

The BBC’s Religion Editor, Aleem Maqbool, said the main focus of the criticism had been the way the actions of revered, prominent, figures in early Islam, by implication, could be compared with those of ISIS. To add insult to injury, the film tries to depict Prophet Muhammed (Peace be Upon Him).

According to the BBC, the film’s producer, Malik Shlibak, has complained that those who want the film banned, should not watch it, rather than censoring it.