Anti-Muslim film is haram, says MUI

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) announced on Wednesday that the distribution of Innocence of Muslims, a film that ridicules the Prophet Muhammad, was haram (prohibited under the Islamic law).

MUI division head for foreign affairs KH Muhidin Junaidi said that any visualization of the Prophet Muhammad, whether it glorified or denigrated the prophet, had never been allowed.

“We have never been allowed to make a visualization of the Prophet Muhammad. It is haram,” he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Muhidin said that the MUI had issued the fatwa against the depiction of Prophet Muhammad on June 2, 1988.

“Islamic history says that even the Prophet himself prohibited his followers from making any depiction of him,” he said. Muhidin said that circulating or watching the movie in Indonesia was not allowed.

According to Muhidin, the MUI appreciated freedom of expression and creativity. However, he sent out a reminder that everyone should caution when making a film about religion, which the MUI believed was one of the most sensitive issues.

The MUI called for Muslims in the country to stay calm in responding to the movie, and to not be easily provoked. (lfr)