Morocco has banned the screening of the British film The Lady of Paradise (The Lady of Heaven), considered as “blasphemous” in several Muslim countries, according to an official communiqué published on Saturday evening, June 11.
“The Moroccan Cinematographic Center (CCM) has decided not to grant an authorization to the film The Lady of Paradise of its director Eli King and its author Yasser Al-Habib and to prohibit its commercial or cultural projection on the national territory”the statement said.
This feature film tells the story of the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, Fatima Zahra, wife of Ali, the first Shiite imam.
The CCM is responsible for granting exploitation visas for films, shot in Morocco or abroad, for theatrical distribution, “in accordance with the law” and provided that they are not “not contrary to the constants and the sacredness of the kingdom”.
His decision comes after the Supreme Council of Ulemas – the official body responsible for issuing fatwas (religious opinion) – a “strongly condemned” Saturday the content of the film.
Comments deemed “insulting”
In a statement, the Council of Ulemas, which is chaired by King Mohammed VI, denounces “the flagrant falsification of established facts of Islamic history”.
“This falsification of facts, which harms Islam and Muslims, is rejected by all peoples, because it does not serve their higher interests between nations, especially in these times”underlines the religious press release.
Released on June 3 in the United Kingdom, the film was deprogrammed by the Cineworld channel after gatherings of Muslims outside its cinemas where it was broadcast.
Describing Muhammad’s succession struggle after his death, he was judged “blasphemous” in Egypt, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq, in particular.
The Muslim world has recently been outraged by the remarks of the spokesperson of the nationalist party in power in India judged “insulting” on the Prophet Muhammad and which sparked a wave of protests and demonstrations.