Student union representatives and chaplains at University of Bath recently ordered references to Prophet Mohammed and Jesus Christ omitted from a comedy show, saying they may be deemed offensive by some in the audience. Bath Impact, a student-run newspaper at the university, reported that union representatives and university chaplains jointly decided to censor both Mohammed and Christ in the show to maintain inclusivity within the campus and avoid trouble outside.
One of the organizers of the show told National Secular Society (NSS) that a sketch related to the production featured only a single line reference to the Prophet but the society was still ordered to omit that line. The student union reportedly took the controversial material to the chaplaincy, who forwarded the complaint to the university secretary after taking great offence to another scene that featured Jesus. They denounced the script as graphic and offensive, before informing the society unofficially that they would have to face disciplinary action if they performed the comedy show as it had been scripted. The society thus cooperated with the student union and chaplaincy and omitted the line. Yet, the entire sketch was removed from campus.
Another member of CWIPS said that the union had failed to offer more of an explanation for their order to omit the sketch initially but the society eventually learned that the university chaplaincy had gotten involved and that is when the organizers were informed about the chaplains having read the scene and concluding that it was too graphic. While the chaplaincy is believed to have described the omitted sketch as “extreme,” the organizers have insisted that they worked hard to ensure the material was pleasant and enjoyable to people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Nick West, assistant director for “The Bible According to CWIPS”, told the NSS, “At a university with such diversity of religion among students it's important to try to make sure no person feels alienated by the work we do. But the line needs to be drawn somewhere.”
He also sent a written statement, clarifying that at no point did CWIPS intend to victimize any faith or its adherents.
“At the end of the day, it was a show based around the Bible and religion, not a show mocking it,” he wrote.
After ordering for portions of the script to be omitted, the chaplaincy spoke of how important freedom of speech and expression is for students at University of Bath.
NSS president Terry Sanderson said, “This is another example of blasphemy codes being normalized. It is extraordinary that the mere mention of Mohammed was considered unacceptable and that students were threatened with disciplinary action. The decision taken about the single line of dialogue mentioning Mohammed assumes that Muslim students would have been offended, and takes that as a sufficient reason to curtail these students' artistic expression. It is also very troubling to see 'inclusivity' being used as a spurious reason to shut down parts of the performance. There is an atmosphere of hysteria around satirizing or criticizing Islam, particularly since the Charlie Hebdo attack. We must start reclaiming ground from those who would silence free expression and satire. It is sheer hypocrisy from the chaplaincy to say freedom of speech should be respected while seeking to censor material lampooning Christianity.”
The show also featured material on Richard Dawkins, the Bible and a scene where God attends a nativity play at Jesus’ school.
On May 5, The Bath Atheists, Humanists & Secularists Society drafted an open letter for the students union and university secretary, voicing their concern over the systematic censoring of Mohammed and Christ from the comedy show that reflected rather poorly on the freedom of speech and expression as well as community cohesion prevailing at University of Bath.
Photo Credits: The Bath Mercury
