Two Malaysian filmmakers are accused of violating other people’s religious sentiments in a film that is prohibited. In a rare criminal trial of filmmakers, the director and producer of a banned Malaysian film that delves into the afterlife were accused on Wednesday of hurting people’s religious sentiments. Critics criticized this as an attack on the right to free speech. Through the independent, low-budget film “Mentega Terbang,” director and co-scriptwriter Mohamad Khairianwar Jailani, along with producer Tan Meng Kheng, entered a not guilty plea to the charge of having a “deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of others.” They might spend up to a year in jail, pay a fine, or both if found guilty.
Defense Lawyer talks about the situation
According to defence attorney N. Surendran, the two feel that the charge is “unreasonable and unconstitutional” since it infringes upon their right to free speech. He said, “As far as we are concerned, these are groundless charges and we will challenge those charges in court.”
The movie, which made its world premiere at a small-town film festival in 2021, centres on a young Muslim girl who investigates different faiths in an attempt to determine where her sick mother will go once she passes away. The girl was seen wanting to eat pork, which is prohibited in Islam, and pretending to drink holy water. Her father was also shown endorsing her wish to quit Islam. These scenes infuriated Muslims.
Race and Religions in Malaysia
Issues related to race and religion are delicate in Malaysia. Two-thirds of the 33 million inhabitants of the nation are ethnic Malays, who are required to practice Islam and view apostasy as a sin. There are sizable Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian ethnic minorities in India and China. Religious conservatism, according to critics, has increased in Malaysia following the significant victories made by the powerful Malay-Islam coalition in the general election of November 2022.
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