Documentary on Lal Masjid slammed with a ban

A documentary which features Lal Masjid Cleric Maulana Aziz was slammed with a ban on Friday.

A notification by the Central Board of Film Censors did not grant the film permission to be aired at a film festival scheduled from April 29-30, at the National Council of Arts, Islamabad.

 “The film contains dialogues which projects a negative image of Pakistan,” the notification said

The film titled ‘Among the Believers’ follows Maulana Aziz’s quest to impose a strict version of Sharia law throughout the country. In his network of seminaries which provides free food and shelter, children as young as four years of age are radicalized. The film charts the lives of two of his teenage students who are pawns in his ideological war. 

“It is a deeply worrying trend that our government is censoring Pakistani artists. After being screened in over 20 countries and winning 12 awards we are shocked that ‘Among the Believers’ has been banned from screening in its own country,” said the director Mohammed Ali Naqvi.

He added, “Aside from following Maulana Abdul Aziz and his Lal Masjid network for five years, the film features the stories of Pakistanis that have never been shared before.  Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy  (activist), Tariq (a village chief who runs a school), and Zarina (a student) stand up against extremist ideology without any support. Our team has taken immense risks to feature these voices to effect change in our country. “