Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck Batfleck/facebook

Ben Affleck was involved in a heated argument with TV show host Bill Maher when the latter put forth his views on Islam.

The incident occurred when the Gone Girl star appeared on the popular show Real Time With Bill Maher.

The Batman V Superman star accused Maher and Sam Harris, another panellist, of portraying an overtly negative image of Islam, E Online reported.

Harris started his arguments saying "liberals have failed on the topic of theocracy."

"We can criticise Christians but when you want to talk about the treatment of women, homosexuals and free thinkers in the Muslim world, liberals have failed us. We've been sold on this meme of Islamophobia, where criticism of the religion gets conflated with bigotry toward Muslims as people" he continued.

"It's intellectually ridiculous."

His views angered Affleck who immediately replied: "Hold on — are you the person who officially understands the codified doctrine of Islam?" and accused the duo of being racist.

"(Your characterisation) is gross and racist. It's like saying, 'Oh, you shifty Jew!'"

But this didn't stop Harris from further criticising the religion, as he compared Islam with the mafia.

"It's the only religion that acts like the mafia," Maher explained. "That will f--king kill you if you say the wrong thing, draw the wrong picture, or write the wrong book."

The Oscar-winning Argo filmmaker then asked: "What is your solution? That we condemn Islam?", "We've killed more Muslims than they've killed us by an awful lot, and we've invaded more Islamic nations. But we're exempted from these things?"

Meanwhile fans have praised Affleck's brave arguments on the show. Below are some fan reactions on Twitter.