New Delhi, May 2 (). Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Center not to allow screening or release of the film The Kerala Story in theatres, OTT platforms and other platforms. Also, there has been a demand to remove the trailer of this film from the internet.
Earlier on Tuesday, the apex court declined urgent hearing on a plea seeking a stay on the release of the controversial film directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Sunshine Pictures.
Justice K.M. Joseph and B.V. Nagaratna said that the censor board has already cleared the film and the petitioners should challenge the certification of the film before an appropriate authority.
The bench said that there is a separate procedure for the exhibition of films, therefore the plea to stay the release of the film cannot be clubbed with hate speech cases.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Nizam Pasha urged the bench to hear their plea saying the film would release on Friday.
The petition filed by Jamiat states: The film is clearly made with the aim of spreading hatred and enmity between different sections of the society in India. The film conveys the message that non-Muslim girls are being lured by their classmates to convert to Islam and are subsequently trafficked to West Asia, where they are forced to join terrorist organizations .
The petition states, the film defames the entire Muslim community and its outcome will endanger the life and livelihood of the petitioners and the entire Muslim community, and is in direct violation of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
The film gives the impression that apart from extremist clerics who radicalise people, ordinary Muslim youth, their classmates also play a vital role in wooing non-Muslims and as friendly and good-natured people as per the instructions given to them. Present in
The petition, filed through advocate Ejaz Maqbool, has alternatively sought a direction to the Central Board of Film Certification to initiate removal of incendiary scenes and dialogues or display a disclaimer stating that it is based on a fictional story. and there is no resemblance between the characters in the film and the people in real life.
The petition states, the film promotes the idea that love-jihad is being used to lure non-Muslim women to convert to Islam and join ISIS. However, an investigation by the state police in 2009 revealed that there was nothing of the sort.
As soon as the film’s teaser was released, the ruling CPI(M)-led Left and the opposition UDF in Kerala demanded that the film should not be screened.
The state committee of the Muslim Youth League has also announced a reward of Rs 1 crore to anyone who proves the allegations made in the film.
Pratheesh Vishwanath, a right-wing activist and founder of Hindu Seva Kendra, has also offered Rs 10 crore to prove the contrary that no one from Kerala has gone to Syria to join IS.
Starring Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani and Siddhi Idnani in lead roles, the film traces the journey of four female college students in Kerala who become a part of the Islamic State (IS).
SGK
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