South Asian Alliance condemns cancellation of Behzti

Socialist Resistance no21 | page 21

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BEHZTI We regret that this production

has been cancelled. Gurpreet Bhatti's play Behzti (Dishonour) as a result of threats and violence towards the playwright and the theatre was a severe blow against the right of freedom of speech.

The South Asian Alliance is a secular organisation made up of individuals from Hindu, Muslim and Sikh backgrounds.

We defend the right of people to practice their faith, we also acknowledge that there is a long standing tradition in South Asia of publiclycriticising and ridiculing corrupt institutions and individuals.

Much of this criticism has come from poets and writers at the risk of their lives.

It is a fundamental right that people should be able to protest against something they disagree with but equally worth defending is the right of artists to create work without fear of being verbally threatened or physically attacked.

The times we live in can only benefit from honest open criticism and debate.

This can only take place if we firmly commit ourselves to the principle of defending the right of someone to speak even if we disagree with them.

(Statement from South Asian Alliance)