Gulf | Saudi Arabia

Imam calls for club boycott over film

A prominent imam at a grand mosque in the northern Saudi city of Hail has called for the boycott of a famous club, its members and officials for showing the Indian film Black, according to Saudi newspapers.

  • By Mariam Al Hakeem, Correspondent
  • Published: 00:16 May 19, 2008
  • Gulf News

Riyadh: A prominent imam at a grand mosque in the northern Saudi city of Hail has called for the boycott of a famous club, its members and officials for showing the Indian film Black, according to Saudi newspapers.

He also ruled that "all those men and women who had gone to watch the film, have done a great injustice and committed a big crime."

Noting that Saudi Arabia follows Sharia, the imam urged people to strictly adhere to Islamic principles in all walks of life. Several people had gathered at the Hail Literary Club to watch the film after getting SMS invitations from club officials, according to the Arabic daily Al Watan.

Black, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was released in 2005.

Blind girl

It tells the story of a deaf, mute and blind girl and her teacher who brings a ray of light into her dark world.

It has Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee in the leading roles.

There are no cinemas in Saudi Arabia. Residents either watch movies at home or at clubs. The imam protested because the movie ''contained scenes that contradict Islam''.

Reacting to reporters about the imam's calls, Abdullah Al Harbi, member of the board of directors of the club, told reporters the club is a licensed cultural organisation working under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture and Information.

"We follow the strategic plans approved by the ministry. What is happening at our club is similar to that of other licensed literary clubs in the Kingdom," he said.

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