Cinema Chain, Cineworld has canceled all UK screenings of a movie about the daughter of Prophet Muhammad after it sparked protests outside several cinemas in the country. Cineworld has said that the decision to shut down their cinemas was to ensure the safety of their staff and customers.
Over 120 thousand people have signed a petition for cinemas in the UK to pull down the movie, The Lady of Heaven. The places affected by the protests were Bolton, Birmingham, and Sheffield. Meanwhile, The Bolton Council of Mosques has disclosed that the movie was “blasphemous” and that it was only about a certain belief. The movie was released on 3rd June in the UK and it claims to tell the story of Lady Fatima, the alleged daughter of Prophet Muhammad. Certain groups have criticized the movie, cutting that it portrayed Prophet Muhammad in an insulting way to Islam faithfuls.
Much criticism has gone to the Shia Muslim cleric and film-maker, Yasser Al-Habib who has portrayed prominent revered figures in early Sunni Islam. The film’s website had put up a disclaimer saying “no individual represents any Holy Personality” with their performances, instead, it was achieved “through a unique synthesis of actors, in-camera effects, lighting and visual effects”.
The Muslim Council of Britain which is the largest Muslim umbrella organization in the UK has described the film as “divisive”.
