Indian High Commissioner in New Zealand claims "unnecessary controversy created around The Kashmir Files"
The High Commissioner said that an unnecessary controversy has been created around the movie in New Zealand, and asked the censor to take a balanced and fair view in the matter.
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New Delhi, March 21: After chief censor of New Zealand David Shanks said that he will be re-evaluating the certificate issued to The Kashmir Files after Muslim organizations raised objections to it, Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Muktesh K Pardeshi wrote to him regarding the matter.
While the chief censor had said that the movie will not be banned, he had said that it will be reviewed due to the concerned raised. As a result, the release of the movie in New Zealand was also postponed.
Muktesh K Pardeshi said that he has been receiving calls and emails from Kiwi moviegoers and members of the Indian diaspora who have been looking forward to watch the movie in theatres.
Pardeshi also informed that several leaders in New Zealand have supported the movie and opposed any censorship, including former Deputy PM Winston Peters, MP Melissa Lee and MP David Seymour.
The letter states that the movie has been released in several countries worldwide where it has been received well by the audience.
Therefore, Pardeshi requested Shanks to take a holistic, balanced and fair view of the matter within the remit of the Films, Videos, and Publication Classification Act 1993, and not as a result of “disinformation and political activism led by some sections of vested interests”.
He said that an unnecessary controversy has been created around the movie in New Zealand, and asked the censor to take a balanced and fair view in the matter.
He wrote to after the Chief Censor of New Zealand had said that the R16 certificate issued to The Kashmir Files was under review. The censor had said that after the certificate was issued, concerns were raised about potential risk of harm to the Muslim community in relation to the release of the film. David Shanks had added that these concerns appeared to them to be genuine, “and sufficiently serious to cause us to pause and review our classification for this film.”
While the chief censor had said that the movie will not be banned, he had said that it will be reviewed due to the concerned raised. As a result, the release of the movie in New Zealand was also postponed.
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The High Commissioner said that he has been informed that some organizations led by the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) have approached the New Zealand Government, including the Prime Minister, urging to stop the release of the film.
Muktesh K Pardeshi said that he has been receiving calls and emails from Kiwi moviegoers and members of the Indian diaspora who have been looking forward to watch the movie in theatres.
Pardeshi also informed that several leaders in New Zealand have supported the movie and opposed any censorship, including former Deputy PM Winston Peters, MP Melissa Lee and MP David Seymour.
The letter states that the movie has been released in several countries worldwide where it has been received well by the audience.
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The letter to the chief censor emphasizes, “We all believe in the fundamental principle of freedom of expression. If there were no freedom of expression, the human kind would have not seen films and books on wars, holocaust, political conflicts and other tragic historical events”.
Therefore, Pardeshi requested Shanks to take a holistic, balanced and fair view of the matter within the remit of the Films, Videos, and Publication Classification Act 1993, and not as a result of “disinformation and political activism led by some sections of vested interests”.
Meanwhile, an online petition has been launched on Chgange.org to urge the New Zealand government to allow release of the movie The Kashmir Files, and not surrender to the pressures of radical Islamist groups.