WASHINGTON, Oct 5: Several US sponsors have withdrawn their endorsement of a controversial film that denigrates Muslims and their faith.

Howard Gordon, the executive producer of Fox’s television drama, while explaining why he withdrew his endorsement of the film “Obsession,” said: “After being contacted by a number of people whose opinions I respect and after reviewing Obsession with their criticisms and concerns in mind, I have asked the film makers to remove my endorsement from the Obsession website and from any future promotional materials”.

He said that while he remained committed to the film’s essential message – “that the hate-mongering promoted by radical Islamism presents a real threat to western values of tolerance and pluralism — I also appreciate that the goal of co-existence and tolerance is not being served by films like Obsession.”

The film is currently being distributed to some 28 million households in presidential election swing states by a shadowy non-profit organisation called the Clarion Fund.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations welcomed Mr Gordon’s statement and noted that others are withdrawing their support for the film that many commentators have called anti-Muslim “propaganda”.

“We commend Mr Gordon for recognising the harm caused to our society by intentionally inflammatory and divisive films such as ‘Obsession,’” said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. “As public outrage grows over this hate-filled production, people of conscience are spontaneously withdrawing their support.”

He said newspapers that distributed copies of the “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West” DVD have received an outpouring of negative feedback from readers of all faiths. A number of newspapers refused to carry the DVD as an insert and there have been reports of anti-Muslim bias related to the film’s distribution.