London –
An imam (Islamic religious leader) removed by the government English from his position as government adviser. You see, the priest was protesting the film about princess Nabi Muhammad SAWFatimah.
Reported by the BBC, Tuesday (14/6/2022), the priest named Qari Asim (44) previously served as a government consultant on islamophobia.
Qari Asim protesting about the film The Lady of Heaven, controversial film. Qari Asim supports ‘restrictions on freedom of expression’. The British government believes that ‘restrictions on freedom of expression’ as voiced by Qari Asim can undermine democratic values.
On Twitter, Asim denied that he was undermining democratic values. He views the film The Lady Heaven at risk of fueling extremism and fueling societal tensions that could destroy social cohesion in British society.
On Wednesday (8/6) last week, the Cineworld network canceled the screening of the film. You see, protests spread in cinemas.
Asim is the imam at the Makkah Mosque in Leeds. He became a member of the Order of the British Empire (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2012 for building social harmony. His appointment as deputy head of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred ended after he received a letter from the Department of Improvement, Housing and Society. The letter, published on June 11, can be seen at this link.
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Qari Asim (Source: Facebook Imam Qari Muhammad Asim)– |
“Your recent support for the campaign to limit freedom of expression—a campaign that in itself triggers societal tension—demeans you from continuing your work with the government in its role of supporting societal harmony,” the letter reads.
Government lawyers said Asim’s move “clearly limits artistic expression” and Asim’s campaign has “triggered street protests that fuel religious hatred”.
On Monday (13/6) local time, the British government said Asim had posted on Facebook that he had been working with brothers and priests across the country to protest the film and to dialogue with cinemas to resolve the issue. The British government could not accept Asim’s attitude.
“Bright involvement in a campaign to limit freedom of expression is incompatible with a role as an adviser to the government,” the government letter said.
Protests outside cinemas, which are widely held in Britain, are said to have voiced sectarian hatred, including calls for anti-Shia hatred.
“We are disappointed to see you fail to condemn some of the protests involved in this behavior,” the letter said.
Asim himself is open to dialogue about the relationship between Sunni and Shia. He also firmly condemned anti-Shia hatred. Even though he was dismissed by the government, Asim would not stop his actions which he described as support for free speech on controversial issues. He admitted that he had not been contacted by the government and felt he was not given the opportunity to provide clarification.
My response to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities’ recent letter removing me as Government’s Adviser to define #Islamophobia
👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/EcdoWiVXwZ– Qari Asim MBE (@QariAsim) June 12, 2022
The film The Lady of Heaven was released on June 3 in the UK. The film was produced by Malik Shlibak. Last week, protests against the film The Lady of Heaven erupted in Bolton, Birmingham and Sheffield. As a result, the film was discontinued by cinemas.
Criticism of the film has mainly revolved around its depiction of early Sunni Islamist figures and comparisons to ISIS in Iraq. The Muslim Council of Britain, Britain’s largest Muslim organization, said the film was divisive.
British Health Minister, who happens to be of Pakistani descent, namely Sajid Javid criticized the decision to stop screening the film. Speaking to TalkTV, Javid said Britain had no blasphemy laws. The social phenomenon of protests like this is dangerous for democracy.
“What we have in this country is freedom of speech and expression and that is a fundamental value,” said Sajid Javid, Wednesday (8/6) last week.
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