In defence of Behzti

Submitted by on 21 December, 2004 - 2:30

The Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s shameful decision 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 the illegal and violent activites we saw on Saturday… 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, has 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?”

A local Labour councillor, Gurdial Singh Atwal claims the play has “caused great hurt and shows a lack of respect.” He says he wanted the play set in a community centre, not a Temple (as if he has the right to edit someone else’s play).

On Saturday 18 December the protests turned violent as 400 attempted to storm the Theatre.

It took the Theatre less than two days to fold up and give in to the reactionary pressure of some Sikh leaders (quite possibly aided by the police).

It is a wretched, spineless response and sets an awful precedent.

The play’s author, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, appears to have fled her home after having been threatened with murder and, according to a friend, has been told “to go into hiding by the police.”

Playwright and filmmaker Ash Kotak commented, “The idea that whole [Asian] communities are homogenised is bollocks, especially as we go through the generations. The people who are campaigning are the ones who have oppressed us in the first place: the very people we are writing against… These are issues which have to be highlighted.”

In the Guardian (21 December) Ash Kotak continues, “My generation of writers define themselves against the elders who have suppressed us… importantly [the young writers are] attempting to end the silence that exists around abuses and injustices that take place within their communities.”

Quite right. This is not only a question of upholding the right to free speech, but the right of progressive younger people inside a community to speak out against conservative ‘leaders’.

The events also give us an idea of what New Labour’s proposed new law to outlaw incitement to religious hatred would mean. Such a law would encourage such “community” responses; the police would be under pressure to back up “community” opinion.

Only last week, the comedian Rowan Atkinson demanded "the right to offend”. Atkinson argues the law would force "creative thinkers" to bite their tongue, and so produce a "veneer of tolerance concealing a snakepit of unaired and unchallenged views".

It is extremely important that this play is shown and the left should be willing to defend any attempts to get this play staged.

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.