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Journalism of Courage
Tennis star Sania Mirza, who is in the eye of a storm over shooting an ad film in the premises of the Mecca Masjid here, tendered “unequivocal” apology on Thursday for hurting religious sentiments. “I would like to apologise to all my brothers and sisters and respected elders who are anguished by my unwittingly entering a portion of the land belonging to Mecca Masjid,” Sania said in a letter to the Imam of the Masjid.
The apology came in the backdrop of the city police registering a case of trespass against Sania and the ad agency for filming the commercial, allegedly without obtaining permission from the authorities.
The tennis sensation said she was not aware that entering the outside gates of a mosque was also seriously objectionable. “While I am fully aware that a woman must not enter the sanctity of the mosque, I was unaware that even entering the outside gates of a mosque was seriously objectionable, specially without permission, which I was assured by the agency they possessed,” she said.
The advertisement agency involved in the shoot was also slapped with a case of trespass, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Charminar), B Reddenna.
The cases were registered following a complaint by the Minority Welfare Department. The complaint was filed by District Minority Welfare Officer Kareemulla, who is the custodian of the mosque.
