Cineworld has cancelled all screenings of the film The Lady of Heaven across its UK branches following protests by Muslim activists who deemed the film blasphemous. The cinema chain said the decision was taken to “ensure the safety of our staff and customers” after branches in Sheffield, Birmingham, and Bolton were picketed.
More than 117,000 people signed a petition calling for the film’s removal. In Sheffield, a manager was filmed telling protesters that Sunday’s screening was cancelled, to cries of “Allahu Akbar”. The chair of the Bolton Council of Mosques urged cancellation, describing the film as “underpinned with a sectarian ideology and is blasphemous in nature”.
Baroness Claire Fox criticised the move as “disastrous for the arts, dangerous for free speech”. The film’s executive producer Malik Shlibak said cinemas should “stand up and defend their right to show films that people want to see”, adding that the decision was “silly” and against British values.
Rival chain Vue still listed screenings in London and the south-east, stating it takes “seriously the responsibilities that come with providing a platform” and only shows films rated by the BBFC. The film, which uses computer-generated imagery to depict the Prophet Muhammad, has been accused of sectarianism by Muslim groups.
