A proposed Facebook advert for the controversial 'I Am A Christian' film about Meriam Ibrahim, who was sentenced to death for apostasy in Sudan, has been rejected by Facebook because it broke policy guidelines.

The text of the advert, which can be seen on the film's Facebook page, says: "Are you a Christian? We challenge you to change your profile picture to this 'I Am A Christian' photo for one week! Change your picture now, and challenge your friends to do the same. Stand up and declare, 'Yes, I Am A Christian!!!'"

However, when it was submitted to Facebook's ad team a response was received saying: "Your ad wasn't approved because it doesn't follow Facebook's Advertising Guidelines for language that is profane, vulgar, threatening or generates high negative feedback. Ads can't use language that insults, harasses or demeans people, or addresses their age, gender, name, race, physical condition or sexual preference."

When the film's promoters queried the response they were told: "Your ad wasn't approved because it doesn't follow our language policies. We've found that people dislike ads that directly address them or their personal characteristics such as religion.

"Ads should not single out individuals or degrade people. We don't accept language like 'Are you fat?' 'Wanna join me?' and the like. Instead, text must present realistic and accurate information in a neutral or positive way and should not have any direct attribution to people."

Facebook's advertising guidelines say that ads "may not assert or imply, directly or indirectly, within the ad content or by targeting, a user's personal characteristics within the following categories" which include "religion or philosophical belief".

The film production company is raising funds for the movie, set to star Fox News contributor Stacey Dash and God's Not Dead star Kevin Sorbo, and has pledged to donate a proportion of the proceeds to Meriam and to "Judeo-Christian charities" working to fight persecution. However, Meriam and her husband Daniel Wani have expressed strong opposition to the film, which is being made without their involvement or consent.