CAIRO:Objections to the largest Iranian production of a movie on Prophet Mohamed’s life are political, rather than technical, director Majid Majidy told Al-Alam channel Tuesday.
Majidy called on Islamic scholars, especially scholars of Egypt’s Al-Azhar, to cooperate and “talk and make a dialogue with us, come to you contribute to this historic, tremendous achievement, and I invite you to watch the film first then we discuss it,” he told the Iranian TV channel.
The film, which cost $40 million and lasts for two hours, is the first in a series of three films on the life of the Prophet. Majidy has said his film only includes information agreed upon by both Shiites and Sunnis.
Al-Azharopposes depiction of prophets in pictures; it previously opposed the production of an Iranian series on Prophet Joseph, but private Egyptian TV channels have nevertheless broadcast the production.
Saudi Arabia has also harshly criticized the film, although Majidy says that the picture is a proper way to respond to insults directed at Islam’s prophet.
Saudi Arabia is leading a military campaign in Yemen against Houthis, believed to be backed by Iran; Egypt’s role in the operation is largely vague, but officials have stated that the military protects the Red Sea and Bab el Mandeb strait.