Defend free speech
Submitted by Anon on 12 January, 2005 - 5:59
The Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s shameful decision before Christmas to cancel the play Behzti (Dishonour) was justified in the following way by Executive Director Stuart Rogers: “[Sikh] community leaders have been unable to guarantee to us that there will be no repeat of illegal and violent activities… we cannot guarantee the safety of our audiences… [W]e have decided to end the current run of the play on security grounds.”
Behzti, which shows rape and murder within a Sikh Temple, had been picketed by some Sikhs. The play is a black comedy set around a young Sikh woman and her sick mother. The programme notes ask: “in a community where public honour is paramount, is there any room for the truth?”