iran blasts fatwa against rahman defends prophet film

New Delhi: After music composer AR Rahman was issued a fatwa for insulting Islamic values, the Iranian government has come out in support of the film ‘Muhammad: The Messenger of God'.

The government through its embassy in New Delhi has defended the film, asserting that it does not insult Islamic values. A day before this, Rahman himself also clarified that he composed music for Iranian film-maker Majid Majidi in “good faith”.

A section of scholars had also opposed the fatwa issued by Sunni Muslim group, Raza Academy, which had not only pronounced Muslims associated with the film as “infidels” but also urged other Muslims to protest against the film.

The embassy's release stated, “The film of Majid Majidi is an artistic work and any opinion about it should be expressed only after seeing it... launching hot discussions before seeing the film may be wrong, illogical and incorrect.”

It further stated, “No insult has been committed to Islamic values in the film... The system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, from the very beginning, has always been the standard bearer in the defence of Islam."

According to a newspaper report, it is learnt that neither Raza Academy's general secretary Saeed Noori nor Mufti Mahmood Akhatrul Qadri, who issued the fatwa, had seen the film.

Maulana Zaheer Abbas Rizvi, secretary, All India Shia Muslim Personal Law Board, said clerics should be cautious before issuing fatwas. He said, “It was needed that someone like Majidi made such a film. Rahman associating with this film only gives credence to the belief that it is not blasphemous and avoids raising contentious issues.”

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