THE ACCUSED: DAMNED OR DEVOTED?
The Accused: Damned or Devoted? is a modern-day inquisition. Against the backdrop of Pakistan’s elections, this film follows the rise of powerful cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi, on a mission is to preserve the country’s blasphemy laws, which prescribe a mandatory death sentence for disrespecting The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and life imprisonment for desecrating the Holy Quran. With millions sympathetic to his goal, Rizvi holds the country under his spell and silences anyone attempting to change the law by condemning them to death. As he pushes for more power, Rizvi decides to run for office in the upcoming general elections, and those accused of blasphemy or those who oppose the blasphemy laws- whether targeted minorities, liberals, and opposing Muslim voices – become the pawns of his ambition.
Watch the trailer:
Brook Lapping
64th Street Media
BBC Four
ZDF/Arte
2021
• Documentary, Amnesty Media Awards (Nominated)
• Feature Documentary Award, One World Media Awards (Nominated)
2020
• Best Investigation, Asian Media Awards
• F:ACT Award, CPH:DOX (Nominated)
• International Affairs Documentary, AIB Media Excellence Awards (Nominated)
• Feature Documentary, South Asian Film Festival of Montréal (Runner-Up)
Director & Producer: Mohammed Ali Naqvi
Executive Producer: Fiona Stourton
Executive Producers for the BBC: Mandy Chang, Hayley Reynolds
Executive Producer for ZDF/Arte: Martin Pieper
Associate Producers: Muhammad Sohail Rana, Rabbia Arshad, Madeeha Syed
Co-Producers: Syed Musharraf Shah, Mohsin Abbas
Associate Producer: Madeeha Syed
Composer: Toni Martin Dobrzanski
Film Editor: Safi Ferrah
Additional Editor: Kamran Shahnawaz