The Accused : Damned or Devoted?

The Accused : Damned or Devoted?

74 mins | Documentary | Feb. 23, 2020

Against the backdrop of Pakistan's elections, this film follows the rise of powerful cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, on a mission to preserve the country's blasphemy laws, which prescribe a mandatory death sentence for disrespecting The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and life imprisonment for desecrating the Holy Quran. With millions sympathetic to his goal, Rizvi silences anyone attempting to change the law by condemning them to death. As he pushes for more power, Rizvi decides to run for office in the upcoming general elections, and those accused of blasphemy or those who oppose the blasphemy laws- whether targeted minorities, liberals, and opposing Muslim voices - become the pawns of his ambition.

The Accused : Damned or Devoted?

74 mins | Documentary | Feb. 23, 2020

The Accused : Damned or Devoted?
Against the backdrop of Pakistan's elections, this film follows the rise of powerful cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, on a mission to preserve the country's blasphemy laws, which prescribe a mandatory death sentence for disrespecting The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and life imprisonment for desecrating the Holy Quran. With millions sympathetic to his goal, Rizvi silences anyone attempting to change the law by condemning them to death. As he pushes for more power, Rizvi decides to run for office in the upcoming general elections, and those accused of blasphemy or those who oppose the blasphemy laws- whether targeted minorities, liberals, and opposing Muslim voices - become the pawns of his ambition.
IMDb rating 7.5
Producers ZDF/Arte, BBC Four, Brook Lapping Productions, 64th Street Media Productions
Original title The Accused : Damned or Devoted?
Directors Mohammed Naqvi
Writers Mohammed Naqvi

Cast

Khadim Hussain Rizvi

as Chief Cleric TLP

Asia Bibi

as Accused of Blasphemy

Gulalai Ismail

as Human Rights Activist

Imran Khan Niazi

as Prime Minister of Pakistan

Mashal Khan

as Accused of Blasphemy

Patras Masih

as Accused of Blasphemy

Annequa Maria

as Human Rights Lawyer

Pir Afzar Qadri

as Spokesman TLP

Nadeem Anthony

as Asia's Defense Lawyer

Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry

as Prosecutor

Latif Sra

as Prosecutor

Hamza Khan

as Accuser

Quari Salim

as Accuser

Fazle Wahif

as Gulalai's Lawyer

Joseph Francis

as Human Rights Lawyer

Samson Dilawar

as Pastor

Eisham Masih

as Aisia's daughter