Jamiat-Ulama-I Hind vs Union of India

The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind moved To Supreme Court seeking a stay on the release of the movie ‘The Kerala Story’ in theatres and in OTT (Over The Top) platforms.

It stated in the petition that the movie demeans the entire Muslim community and Muslim youth and it will result in endangering the life and livelihood of the entire Muslim community”.

“The movie demeans the entire Muslim community, particularly Muslim youth and it will result in endangering the life and livelihood of the entire Muslim community in our country and this is a direct infringement under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India”.

The petition also stated that the movie imparts that the non-Muslim young women are being lured into converting to Islam and forced to join terrorist organization.

“The message the movie imparts is that non-Muslim young women are being lured into converting to Islam by their classmates and subsequently, trafficked to West Asia where they are forced to join terrorist organization”.

The petition stated that “It is falsely stated that 32,000 girls have left Kerala for West Asia to join ISIS even though the United Nations, the Union Home Ministry, police sources and experts agree that the number of Indians who left to join ISIS is around 66 and the maximum number of pro-ISIS persons who may have shown inclination towards ISIS is in between 100 and 200”.

The petition has also sought the removal of trailer from the internet including directions to the Central Board of Film Certification to suggest deletion of certain scenes and dialogue from the movie.

The another alternative suggested that the movie be released with a disclaimer stating that it is a work of drama and the characters in the movie bear no similitude to any person living or dead.

Before this petition an application was made seeking a stay on the release of the movie which is refused by Supreme Court asking petitioner to approach High Court.

The film is going to release on 5th May.