Veena Malik on the FHM Dec Cover
Photo Credit: FHM India FHM India

And now Veena Malik faces the fury of Islamic clerics.

The Pakistani model and actor, who was at the centre of a bitter row early this month over a "nude" photograph that appeared on the front cover of an Indian magazine, is facing fresh trouble over a reality show on an Indian TV channel that searches a perfect partner for her.

According to local media reports, the All India Muslim Tyohar (Festivals) Committee has issued a "fatwa" (religious edict) against Malik. The Bhopal-based organisation alleges that Malik showed disrespect towards the sacred institution of "nikaah" (marriage) by entering into a deal with a channel for her wedding on national TV. The particular edition of the reality show, Swayamvar, in which Malik is taking part, has been titled "Veena ka Vivah" (Veena's wedding).

A "fatwa" could mean that the actor could be socially boycotted.

TurthDive has quoted Ausaf Shahmiri Khurram, chairman of the Majlis-e-Shura which is the supreme body of the All India Muslim Tyohar Committee, as saying, "We were getting complaints from concerned community members who said that the activities of this Pakistani female actor were sending a wrong message to our teenagers, especially girls."

"The complaints said that there were offensive photographs of this woman all over the internet and that she was going to have a 'Swayamvar' on television. Islam has a certain procedure for a 'Nikaah'. We do not have 'Swayamvar'. The extreme step has been taken because the woman has openly revolted against the tenets of Islam and Prophet Mohammad. You are a Muslim only if you follow the rules of the religion. She has made a laughing stock of the community. The social boycott became necessary to stop our community girls from following her example."

"She has been ex-communicated and no member of the community will entertain her from now onwards."

Malik tweeted a few days back: "i feel sorry for people who think I brought shame to them or their country becus it means they are blind to their existence or surroundings."

India