Imams for Hollywood

A new initiative to protect feelings of Muslims and avoid rage. The US Government and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences have started joined negotiations with the governments of Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Iran, Pakistan, Somalia and Saudi Arabia over the appointment of several imams as overseers of the American Film Industry. Following the protest of Muslim people against the US Government’s lack of control over the production of movies that are insulting to Islam, the group of 7 Islamic countries (GI7) have demanded urgent measures to control the film industry in the United States. Representatives from the 7 Islamic countries, the US and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences met in Dubai to discuss terms and conditions for assigning a number of Imams who would “oversee the film industry”. The meeting is called the “GI7-US-AMPAS Summit”. A few film-makers in Hollywood have mildly expressed concerns about the infringement of artistic right, hinting that this might be a form of censorship that might somehow limit their artistic expression. However, the GI7 representatives insisted that such a measure is indispensable under the new circumstances and that everyone has to make some kind of sacrifices for the sake of peace and cooperation. A Department of State Representative declared that such a step is necessary to guarantee the lives of the diplomatic personnel abroad. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney made extra efforts to explain that this is by no means censorship. The Imams will allow a complete freedom of expression for the movie industry, except for the content that is insulting to Islam or that goes against what they would consider to be the fundamental values of their religion and the Quran. A joined governmental program between Saudi Arabia and Iran have undertaken to cover all the expenses the new program which is temporarily called “I 4 H” (Imams for Hollywood). This means that the living expenses and the salaries of all the appointed religious personnel, as well as the cost of operation for the new program will be covered completely by these two countries, at no cost to the American taxpayers. The GI7 Summit, with the participation of representatives from the US Government and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences are now discussing details of how the process of control will be implemented. According to reports, yesterday it was agreed that each of the member countries of the GI7 would appoint one imam, with the exception of Iran, which will be represented by an Ayatollah. Temporarily, the 7 high clerics will be accredited with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.