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UK Muslims object to film on Prophet

An animation film on the life of Prophet Mohammad, aired by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, has the faithful all animated.

Dubbing the film as un-Islamic and distorted, the Muslim community in Britain has called for the immediate suspension of all further screenings of the film, until the inaccuracies have been rectified and "false visualisations" deleted.

In a statement, the newly-formed UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs said it had advised Channel 4 that the film was "totally unsuitable for screening" and demanded that it be withdrawn immediately.

The grounds cited by the committee are as follows:

1. Islam does not allow depiction of the Holy Prophet's family or his companions. This rule is aimed at protecting truth, accuracy and historical authenticity, which constitute the basic elements in religious sanctity.

2. The film contains many inaccuracies which are unacceptable, more so as it purports to be an educational film.

Channel 4, for its part, having already aired The Life of Mohammad in Wales on Christmas Eve, now intends to show it on its school programmes throughout the rest of the UK.

This, the committee says, shows "plain arrogance". Joint convener Iqbal Sacranie said it was unacceptable for Channel 4 to continue screening the film despite having been advised of the "historical inaccuracies, impersonations and other fundamental and serious flaws that made the production unfit to be shown."

Dr Zaki Badawi, president of the Islamic College, London, disclosed that programme producer Christopher Grace had spoken to him some years ago about the project, and that he, Badawi, had at the time advised that it would not be possible to present the Holy Prophet or any of his companions in a direct form. "I am upset that my advice was totally disregarded," says Badawi.

The Islamic scholar was adamant that the film needs to be shelved, sans further dissemination. "This is religion, there is no scope for dramatisation at the expense of historical truth."

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