Cinemas withdraw film following Muslim protests!

 

Muslim Protestors Outside Cineworld

Although the constitution of India guarantees the right to freedom of expression, it's not uncommon for cinemas to be burnt down by protestors who object to the content of a film. In 2017, a hard-line Hindu nationalist group, called for British cinemas to be burnt down if they showed a controversial Bollywood film called Padmavati.

Cinema chains in Britain are now withdrawing the film 'The Lady of Heaven', because Muslim protestors have denounced it as 'blasphemous'. Cineworld announced that they had decided to cancel all showings of the film to "ensure the safety of our staff and customers." On Sunday night the manager of Sheffield Cineworld told Muslim protestors that the screening of the film had been cancelled. This was greeted with cries of "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great).

The cancellation of the film was criticized by a House of Lords peer as being "disastrous for the arts, dangerous for free speech." The law of blasphemy was repealed in England and Wales in 2008 and in Scotland in 2021. Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998, also guarantees free speech and freedom of expression. "Everyone has the right to freedom of expression" in the UK. This right is only limited in certain circumstances, and blasphemy and not liking a film for whatever reason, are not covered.