Pakistan

Mahershala Ali's Oscar win stirs controversy in Pakistan

Pakistan's envoy to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi apparently forced to delete a congratulatory tweet

News Desk February 27, 2017

Mahershala Ali poses with the Oscar for best actor in a supporting role on February 26, 2017. PHOTO: AFP

Controversy arose in Pakistan after Mahershala Ali -- who won the best supporting actor Oscar on Sunday for his portrayal of a drug dealer in coming-of-age drama “Moonlight” -- was given the title of the first 'Muslim' film star to pick up a golden statuette.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi was forced to delete a congratulatory tweet when people on Twitter began pointing out that Mahershala Ali was an Ahmadi.

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Article 260-3 of Pakistan's Constitution declares Ahmadis “non-Muslims”. The amendment made this exclusion legally in that the phrase “for the purposes of the constitution or law” was used when rendering them non-Muslims.

The deleted tweet and Ali's Ahmadi religion immediately caught the attention of many on Twitter.

Pakistan's Ambassador to UN, Maleeha Lodhi first tweets then deletes the tweet just bcoz #MahershalaAli is an Ahmadi. pic.twitter.com/EwpxrQGiJN
— Ayesha Khan (@KhanAyesha23) February 27, 2017

The world's first Muslim actor to win an Oscar, Mahershala Ali, is an Ahmedi. Remember that, Pakistanis who want to claim his win.
— Bina Shah (@BinaShah) February 27, 2017

u r right, we do wanna claim his win, but our UN Ambasaddor Maleeha Lodhi doesnt wanna claim.
— Ayesha Khan (@KhanAyesha23) February 27, 2017

A minute silence for those Pakistani media outlets who played and then rolled back Mahershala Ali's Oscar win as "First Muslim Actor" pic.twitter.com/h5gMV61nTj
— Rabwah Times Urdu (@Rabwah) February 27, 2017

Muslims must understand this fact about #MahershalaAli's #Ahmadiyya Muslim identity and appreciate his strength even more! pic.twitter.com/Uyue27sysj
— Kashif Chaudhry (@KashifMD) February 27, 2017

https://twitter.com/JeromeTaylor/status/836041582189031426

A first-time nominee, the 43-year-old actor saw off competition from Britain's Dev Patel, veteran US actors Jeff Bridges and Michael Shannon and newcomer Lucas Hedges, AFP reported.

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“I want to thank my teachers, my professors,” Ali said. “One thing that they consistently told me... 'It's not about you. It's about these characters. You are a servant. You're in service to these stories and these characters'.”

He thanked his fellow cast members — and his wife, who gave birth to their first child, a baby girl, just days earlier.

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Barry Jenkins's “Moonlight” tells the life story of a young African-American struggling to find his place as he grows up in a rough neighbourhood of Miami.

Muslims have won Oscars in various categories over the years — including Pakistani documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and feature director Asghar Farhadi — but none has taken a statuette for acting.

Ellen Burstyn, who won a best actress Oscar in 1975, has practised a blend of Sufism and other religions since her late 30s but has said she considers herself a “spirit open to the truth” rather than a Muslim.

COMMENTS (20)

R S Chakravarti | 7 years ago | Reply I believe this controversy shows why governments should be secular.

Farru | 7 years ago | Reply I am a Pakistani Muslim and I have no issue with Mahershala Ali's sect or faith. He won the award for his performance and that is enough for me. Good luck Ali!

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Yusuf | 7 years ago | Reply We Pakistanis are so narrow minded, why bring in religion in all walk of our life, I totally agree with all the other people who have commented on the issue.

vinsin | 7 years ago | Reply @hamza khan: Pakistan is an Islamic state. All Muslims are Pakistani.

hamza khan | 7 years ago | Reply @Nadir Sadiq: he's not pakistani! he's an african american.

Humanity | 7 years ago | Reply Ahmadi muslims are pro-claimers of Kalima in its absolute form : There is no God but Allah, Mohammad is a messenger of Allah. That declaration makes them Muslim by default. No agency in the world can refute that entitlement. As far as the matters of divine judgement are concerned, theyare best left to the Master of the day of judgement when each and every one be judged by the Creator. Or would the nay sayers rather amend the Kalima to feed the demagoguery that has become the legendary laanut for the nation. A laanut which simply is snuffing the air out of the lungs for the quam now unable to breathe and think like humans. Carry one with your zarbs and Radhs and see how far that gets you ..

PrakashG | 7 years ago | Reply Why can't he belong to both Ahmadiyya and Muslim communities, kind of like dual-citizenship?

gp65 | 7 years ago | Reply @kilo: "Ahmadis are non Muslims only in Pakistan, outside Pakistan they are considered and treated as Muslims" Partly true. In many Arab countries also they are considered non-Muslims by other Muslims. In India and US though they can openly own their Muslim identity.

Feroz | 7 years ago | Reply Anyone who believes he belongs to a certain faith, belongs to that faith irrespective of what others think about it. An Ahmadi is considered a Muslim everywhere, if anyone claims otherwise, it will not change matters.

Nadir Sadiq | 7 years ago | Reply Let's congratulate him on winning and and take pride in his being a Pakistani or it will be too late just like Dr. Slaam. These are our heros who are and have give good name to Pakistan. Let's keep religion out of this.

Sunny | 7 years ago | Reply He is a Pakistani and we are happy.

Naeem Khan | 7 years ago | Reply Congratulations to you Mahershala Ali, we support you regardless of your faith and belief. You are a superb actor who deserved the Oscar.

Freedom | 7 years ago | Reply In an age where people are getting fed up of religions and saying bye bye to them, talking about who is Muslim and who is not Muslim is a waste of time. Celebrate a success and move on.

Lumdheeng | 7 years ago | Reply Mahershala Ali converted from Christian to Muslim, because his wife is an Ahmedi Muslim. Secondly he is black African American, likely to be accepted in Pakistan society, who consider themselves as fair skin people.

Nasir Mahmood | 7 years ago | Reply Please do not act on behalf of ALLAH. He is the on who will decide who is muslim and who is not and what punishment/rewards to give. We waste so much time on trivial/non productive matters which has no bearing on the well being of our society. JUST GROW UP and accept other. Allah has created them all.

rich | 7 years ago | Reply he his a Muslim bec he believes in koran, ect yes maybe the difference is they are a peaceful sect, and educated too

Munib | 7 years ago | Reply As if Pak has the copy rights of ISLAM

kilo | 7 years ago | Reply Ahmadis are non Muslims only in Pakistan, outside Pakistan they are considered and treated as Muslims

Zaida Parvez | 7 years ago | Reply What a narrow-minded people Pakistanis have become ! Just shameful !!

Hasan | 7 years ago | Reply How sad that in this day and age people are using religion to divide people and downgrade the merit of other people. Man was born free, put everywhere he has put himself in chains.

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