In Support of The Intellectual Property Rights of Afghan Composer Late Mr Zakhil against the Director and Music Director of the film Passion of The Christ

Recently the film Passion of The Christ brought to the surface centuries lost memories of Jesus Christ to the silver screen. This glorious and wildly discussed film is directed by Mel Gibson who has directed and produced (among others) films like Lethal Weapon 4, Braveheart and The Patriot.

The music of the film is beautifully composed and masterly chosen. It takes the audience throughout the film on a breathtaking journey so much so that one truly forgets the passage of time during the films lengthy duration. The role of the background music employed in the film is decisive and apparent. The beautiful melody played between the 20th minute and 21st minute of the film which is captivating sounds very familiar to an Afghan audience and to those from the other side of the Atak Bridge. This melody http://www.farda.org/articles/h_shinwary/debney.ram which is indeed taken from the treasury of Afghan music and is skillfully incorporated with the films background music is none other than the famous Pashto song Waro Waro kezhda Qadumunnah Ashnaa. This song http://www.farda.org/articles/h_shinwary/zakhil.ram was composed by the golden fingers of Late Mr Mohammad Din Zakhil; one of the most talented Afghan composers in not too far but sadly forgotten yester days of peace and tranquility in Afghanistan. The lyrics of the song is also from the late Zakhil which he wrote in1974 and which was sang by the beautiful and captivating voice of Mrs Qamaargul and recorded in the Radio Afghanistan studios in 1974. The late composer undoubtedly was a talented and unmatched poet and music composer of his time and has composed more than 700 songs for many Afghan singers. From his collection come heart-warming classic songs like Da Zamoon Zeeba Watan, Pa Loyoo Gharoo Bandee Ra Tashowa Toofanona and Sengha Meena Zemaah Stah Waah and many others. There is absolutely no doubt that selection and use of his work in this film without any permission and copyright acknowledgement is a clear case of daylight artistic plagiarism. Zakhils great artistry and cultural heritage belongs to his family and to the art loving people of Afghanistan.

Despite the fact that there currently exists no official and proper mechanism in place in Afghanistan to protect and safeguard the rights of Afghan artists and their creativities there are individuals (both inside and outside the country) who feel the pain and misfortunes of Afghanistan and whose hearts are filled with love for the people and their cultural heritage. These people will not let this example of daylight cultural theft pass without notice and in doing so support and acknowledge the artistic and legal rights of the late Afghan composer Mr Mohammad Din Zakhil. While Icon Production, Mel Gibson (the director) and John Debney (the music director) enjoy the phenomenal financial success of the Passion of The Christ the family of the late Zakhil struggle for their day to day living and the people of Afghanistan are deprived of a worldwide accolade towards one of their famous sons; the genius music director, the late Mr. Zakhil.

The Zakhil family has hired a lawyer to file a copyright lawsuit against Icon Production, Mel Gibson (the director) and John Debney (the music director of the film). It is upon all art-loving Afghans and friends of Afghanistan around the world to offer their support to this just cause. Let us communicate our protest loudly and worldwide and let the world knows that we Afghans are as passionate in defending our cultural creativity and heritage as we are of our freedom and love for our land.

Please sign this petition and pass it on to your friends.