Banning of the FILM Rafiki

I would argue that morality is relative – and when morality starts to come down to religious belief – I am far from convinced that any state should have the right to dictate the religious and moral choices of others, provided they do no demonstrable harm to a third party.

Once you introduce censorship because of moral belief, particularly moral belief that is founded in religious idealism, you open the door to a slippery slope where anything can be countenanced in the name of religion. In the same way the crusades were justified and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, in the same way people died in the salem witch trials, they all stem from the same place, the imposition of one’s belief systems on another.

If however we must resort to biblical quotation – when it was written in Luke 20:25 “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” this is often interpreted as a financial reference – however, this is expanded on in Romans 13:7 where it says “Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due” – and I would argue strongly that the judgement of morality in the religious context is strictly in God’s hands – not the hands of the state (again with the limitation that the lack of morality does not have a detrimental affect on others)

Then again – I prefer the words of one François Rabelais<en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Rabelais> who wrote in 1534, “Do as thou wilt, because men that are free, of gentle birth, well bred and at home in civilized company possess a natural instinct that includes them to virtue and saves them from vice. This instinct they name as their honor”, or, a more extreme and controversial one, “In that ye harm none – do what ye will – but beware – for what ye do comes back thrice unto thee”

However, in all of this – these are personal beliefs and each person is subject to their own beliefs – and in the case of the Kenyan constitution, which clearly defines Kenya as a secular state – personal choices they must remain – because the day that constitution came into force, the issue was no longer Caesar’s to adjudicate on.

Just my personal beliefs.

Andrew

From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+andrew.alston=liquidtelecom.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Lawrence Dinga, CISSP via kictanet
Sent: 30 April 2018 15:04
To: Andrew Alston <[email protected]>
Cc: Lawrence Dinga, CISSP <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Banning of the FILM Rafiki

Religion a side I think this is an issue of morality but I agree, morality can be subjective and depends on one’s conscience.

Regards

From: Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2018 2:50 PM
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Cc: Mwendwa Kivuva<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Banning of the FILM Rafiki

KFCB always makes roadside pronouncements that would not pass any legal threshold.

And quoting the Bible here is imposing your religion on others who believe in different deities.

Ebele, No, there is no State religion in Kenya, and our constitution recognises freedom of worship.

Article 32 of Kenyan Constitution:
32. FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE, RELIGION, BELIEF AND OPINION

(1) Every person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.

(2) Every person has the right, either individually or in community with others, in public or in private, to manifest any religion or belief through worship, practice, teaching or observance, including observance of a day of worship.

(3) A person may not be denied access to any institution, employment or facility, or the enjoyment of any right, because of the person\’s belief or religion.

(4) A person shall not be compelled to act, or engage in any act, that is contrary to the person\’s belief or religion.

On Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 2:36 PM Ebele Okobi via kictanet <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Does Kenya have a state religion?

On 4/30/18, 12:33 PM, \”kictanet on behalf of Lawrence Dinga, CISSP via kictanet\” <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> on behalf of [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

Dear Alex,

I don’t know much about the movie but if it is about lesbianism then it is
immoral and ungodly.
God only approves a relation between a man and a woman

Leviticus 18:22
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Genesis 2:24
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his
wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Regards

—–Original Message—–
From: Alex Comninos via kictanet
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2018 2:05 PM
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Cc: Alex Comninos ; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Banning of the FILM Rafiki

I am not sure what the film is about in its entirety, but the main
storyline is a lesbian romance in Nairobi. It is the first Kenyan film to
be nominated for the Cannes film festival and will premiere there on the
8th of May.

Here is the trailer for the film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M_-ucSaFpU

On Mon, 30 Apr 2018 at 12:57, Dorcas Muthoni <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

> What is the film about?

> On Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 1:55 PM Alex Comninos via kictanet <
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

>> Hi

>> I was shocked to learn that the film classification board has banned an
>> LGBT film, Rafiki.

>> Our Film and Publication Board recently attempted this but it was
reversed
>> by the courts.

>> Films are ICTs and we should be discussing this on the list.

>> I am looking forward to the discussion.

>> Kind regards,
>> Alex

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