The Shahi Imam of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan Mosque Syed Noor-ul Rehman Barqati on Friday issued a fatwa against My Name Is Khan drawing widespread criticism from a cross section of the society.
The Imam said, Shah Rukh Khan has worked as brand ambassador for the Lux hosiery product of a company owned by Ashok Todi, father of Priyanka Todi, who had married her lover Rizwanur Rehman, a graphics designer in 2007. Rizwan was later found dead on railway tracks and Ashok Todi was taken by police into custody. The Imam says, SRK has thus worked against the interests of Islam.
The Imam said, “The actor has lots of money. Why is he becoming the brand ambassador of a company owned by such a controversial man? I am issuing a fatwa to all Hindus and Muslims to boycott the movie.”
Cinegoers in Kolkata ignored the Imam's fatwa and went whole hog on Friday to see the moview.
Reactions poured in within hours of Imam Barqati's statement with politicians and intellectuals reacting rather sharply to his fatwa.
Professor Salman Khursheed of City College felt “not every one is eligible to issue fatwa on whatever issue one likes. A fatwa is normally issued for the betterment of the humankind. This fatwa is unacceptable.”
Trinamool Congress MLA Javed Khan felt MNIK should not be linked to Rizwanur Rehman case.
“Endorsement of a product of a company is completely related to a person's livelihood. This should not be linked to a film which is a work of art.” Whereas PCC vice president Pradip Bhattacharya said his party was not for interfering in matters of art.
