Culture

Morocco bans controversial movie about Prophet Muhammad’s daughter ‘The Lady of Heaven’

Published

3 years ago

June 12, 2022

The Moroccan Cinematographic Center (CCM), has banned a controversial movie about one of the daughters of Islam Prophet Muhammad, entitled ‘The Lady of Heaven’ which sparked outrage among Muslim communities across the world.

The CCM, in a statement on Saturday while banning the movie, said it acted in line with the position of the country’s Council of Ulemas, which called for a ban on the from being screened or commercialized across Morocco.

The CCM statement emphasized that the “competent services in the Kingdom are used to authorize cinematographic and audiovisual works, whether they are shot within the national territory or abroad.”

“The process is in respect to the legislative and regulatory texts governing the cinematographic sector in Morocco,” the statement noted.

On it’s part, the Moroccan Council of Ulemas condemned the content of the movie, emphasizing that the film constituted a “flagrant falsification of facts” and contains a heinous “act which cannot be accepted by Muslims.”

The controversial movie produced by foremost Moroccan filmmaker Eli King and author Yasser Al Habib, was released on June 3.

It portrays the daughter of Prophet Muhammad, Fatima al-Zharab as being a member of the Shia denomination of Islam, sparking outrage and concerns among Sunni Muslims across the world who believe the Prophet and his family were Sunnis.

Since its release, the controversial film caused widespread outrage among Muslims across the world, with the Muslim community in the United Kingdom holding nationwide protests, with 120,000 people signing petitions to have the film pulled down from cinemas, saying that its plot does not accurately portray historical events as they happened as it was racist and blasphemous.

While responding to the criticism the movie has received, the producer Malik Shlibak said that the outrage and controversy is a “massive, massive publicity for the film,” adding that he and his team “expected this from the start.”

“We’re not presenting an over-romanticised version of history. We spent a year in pre-production making sure the history is accurate.”

Shlibak expressed his acceptance of people’s freedom to criticize the film, saying that “any religious topic you tackle is going to have disagreements amongst different groups.”

Related Topics:Featured Lady of the Heaven Morocco Movie Prophet Muhammad

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Culture

Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging anti-LGBT bill

Published

13 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed two separate suits challenging the legality of one of the proposed anti-LGBT legislations awaiting assent into law by the president.

The separate suits were filed by two legal practitioners, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenging the bill, seeking to declare it illegal and prevent the president from signing it.

The two cases had challenged the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

But in a ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to dismiss the legal challenges to the new anti-LGBT legislation that has been criticised by rights groups.

The controversial bill was passed earlier this year by Ghanaian lawmakers with three years imprisonment for people identifying as LGBT and five years for forming or funding LGBT groups.

While dismissing the cases, presiding judge, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the seven-member panel, said the cases were premature.

“Until there’s presidential assent, there is no act, the two cases were “unanimously dismissed,” she said.

The ruling is the latest blow to the LGBTQ community in Ghana and paves the way for the president to sign into law what many say is one of Africa’s most restrictive piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose term in office ends on 7 January, had delayed signing it pending the outcome of the Supreme Court challenge but the judges said the case could not be reviewed until it had been signed it into law.

It expected that incoming president, John Mahama, will sign the bill into law as he had always expressed his support for the bill during his electioneering campaigns.

Culture

UNESCO lists Ghana’s Kente cloth as cultural heritage

Published

2 days ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The iconic Ghanaian Kente, a piece of clothing, has been recognized as a cultural heritage on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The global recognition, according to the UN body, is coming under the 2003 Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage highlights the cultural and historical significance of the vibrant, handwoven textile.

In a citation on its website, UNESCO describes the Kente cloth as “originating from Ghana’s Asante and Ewe communities and renowned worldwide for its bold colors, intricate patterns, and deep symbolic meanings, embodying the creativity and identity of the Ghanaian people.”

Ghana’s Tourism Minister, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, described the recognition as a testament to Ghana’s commitment to preserving its cultural heritage.

“This achievement places Ghana at the forefront of global efforts to safeguard and celebrate cultural traditions,” he noted.

In a statement acknowledging the recognition, Mercer said the “Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) expressed gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, UNESCO, and the artisans, cultural institutions, and traditional authorities who contributed to this milestone.”

“Special acknowledgement is given to the Bonwire and Agotime communities for their enduring role as custodians of the craft.

“As Ghana celebrates this historic moment, MoTAC reaffirms its dedication to promoting and preserving the nation’s rich cultural legacy.”