Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| ACTION ALERT: In Australia |
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| bhaloo |
| 01/16/01 at 15:01:10 |
| slm This is from Saleema. Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE ISLAMIC INFORMATION AND SERVICES NETWORK OF AUSTRALASIA (IISNA) as-salaam alaikum wa rahmatuallah wa barakatuhu, As some be aware, the Midsumma Gay & Lesbian Festival is currently hosting a two week performance of Terrance McNally’s controversial "Corpus Christi" play http://www.midsumma.org.au/normal_events/cat_events.asp?cat=13#71 in Melbourne. McNally’s play depicts ‘Isa ibn Maryam (as) as a homosexual, and depicts a series of gay sex encounters with his companions and disciples. According to a New York Commission for Social Justice report, the play begins with Maryam (as) screaming out to her impotent husband (Joseph), "f--- me, f--- me". The play concludes with the "Jesus" character being crucified, with his crucifixion being depicted as "hate crime" against "homosexuals". Paul Vout, the plays producer, says he "feels sorry (sic)" for those who are upset by his play and mentions that potraying 'Isa as an immoral homosexual is a "very poignant work". He adds that he doesn't expect any criticism or protest. The entire interview with Vout, along with footage of his "gay Jesus" character, can be viewed at: http://media1.f2.com.au/smil/age/2780.ram As Muslims we believe that this play is a direct insult to ‘Isa (as) and his pure mother, Maryam (as), about whom Allah has said: "And (remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allah has chosen you, purified you (from polytheism and disbelief), and chosen you above the women of the 'Alamin (Mankind and Jinns) (of her lifetime)." [Al-'Imran 3:42] It is imperative that Muslims strive to stop this evil, slanderous attack on our beloved Prophet, 'Isa (as). A clear message must be sent to all those involved with this production, that Jesus is a Prophet of Islam, and they have insulted the world’s one billion Muslims. Maybe Allah will hold us to account for what we did or did not do, when His beloved prophet and messenger, ‘Isa ibn Maryam (as), was reviled and insulted before us. Updates on this issue will be posted to the IISNA web page: http://www.iisna.com insha'Allah ACTION REQUESTED IISNA calls on Muslims to do to the following: 1. Contact Paul Vout, the plays producer, and demand in the strongest possible terms that he desist from running his play, and that he make a public apology to the Muslim community. Vout’s mobile phone number is: 0418 514 766 2. The Midsumma Festival is currently being sponsored by, amongst others, Telstra, Ford, Qantas, Moreland City Council, City of Melbourne, Stonnington City Council, and Bob Jane T Marts. Please refer to http://www.midsumma.org.au/sponsors/ for the complete listing. We urge Muslims to contact these companies and demand that they withdraw their sponsorship of this festival and publically distance themselves from this blasphemous attack on the sanctity of Islam, its Prophets, and its one billion adherents. A sample letter is included at the end of this email. Email your letter of complaint to the following: newsroom@telstra.com.au , vpayne@bobjane.com.au , hraschella@bobjane.com.au , qantasmedia@qantas.com.au , skariofyllidis@moreland.vic.gov.au , enquiries@melbourne.vic.gov.au, council@stonnington.vic.gov.au. Please CC us on all letters at: amir@eisa.net.au 3. The play is being shown at the Athenaeum Theatre each night at 8:00pm, from 16th January to 4th February. We ask Muslims to contact them and demand that the play not be allowed to be shown. Their contact details are: Athenaeum II 188 Collins Street MELBOURNE Tel: (03) 9650 3504 SAMPLE LETTER Dear Sirs: I am writing in regards to the Midsumma Gay & Lesbian Festival, which is currently sponsored by your organisation. As you may be aware, this festival is currently running the controversial play, "Corpus Christi". This play depicts Jesus as a being a homosexual who engages in promiscuous gay sex with his followers. As a Muslim, whilst we don't believe Jesus was God or the Son of God, we believe that Jesus was a Prophet and a Messenger of God, and that he was sent with the same universal message of monotheism that our own Prophet, Muhammad came with. As such, it is totally unacceptable for Jesus to be depicted as a homosexual, given that both Islam and Christianity consider homosexuality to amongst the major sins. As such, we are writing to demand that you withdraw all support for this festival and make a public statement distancing yourselves from the content of this play. As an organisation that cares about its image and its relations with the community, I am confident that such a statement will be quickly forthcoming. Yours Sincerely, [NAME] |
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