Posted on 06/23/2006 1:32:14 PM PDT by The Lion Roars
HYDERABAD: The screening of controversial Hollywood movie "The Da Vinci Code" was suspended at a theatre here after a group of Christians, protesting against the release of the film, ransacked the theatre.
The movie was to be released at Prasad Imax following a direction by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, quashing the state government's order to ban its screening.
However, dozens of activists under the banner of the Christian United Front raided the theatre and damaged the property extensively forcing the management to suspend the film's screening.
The protesters, who were carrying banners and placards describing the film as "Devil's Code", barged in to the theatre located near the Hussain Sagar lake in the heart of the city even as hundreds of people eager to watch the movie were standing in queues for the tickets of the first show of the movie.
Police said the mob shattered the glass panes and damaged furniture and ticket counters. The protesters also raised slogans against the court's order lifting the ban imposed by the state government on the film
Prasad Imax was the only theatre in the state, where the film was scheduled to be released on Friday.
The court, on petitions by the film's distributors, Wednesday quashed the June 1 government order banning the screening of the movie in the state. The movie was to be released in the state on June 2.
The government move came following protests by various Christian and Muslim groups that said the movie would hurt religious sentiments. The government, in its order, contended that the film might lead to law and order problems.
Following the court order, the distributors had announced plans to release the English and Hindi versions of the movie next week.
The movie, based on Dan Brown's bestseller with the same title, remains banned in several Indian states.
PING!!!!
Okay, I want any Muslims reading this to take note: as a Christian, I condemn the actions of these people. By acting in this violent and destructive manner, they are in no way showing the love of Christ that results in modeling your life after Him.
Protest is fine. Violence and vandalism is not.
Christians wouldnt dare to do this to muslims. Imagine ransacking a theatre in Pakistan!!
AMEN
Imagine ransacking a theatre in Pakistan!!
Are there any theatres to ransack??
Good question. I know Saudi Arabia doesnt have theatres. My guess is that Pakistan does have theatres.
An excellent example of taking the Lord's name in vain.
some christians in india do indulge in violence against the hindu population.
Because Christ never "ransacked" anything, like the tables of the money changers?
Pinging.
Says a lot about how "peace-loving" Christians are in India. This is pretty much why we (Hindus) must not get cowed down by such stuff and actually go ahead with anti-conversion (by proselytization) ordinances in every state. It will keep such unlawful elements at bay.
So, you're saying a bunch of Christians are justified in ransacking a theater for showing The Da Vinci Code?
This is really sad,a bunch of vandals has brought shame upon indian christianity and indian christians,the spirits and the ethics of the once peaceful agitation is lost after the hyderabad incident,the protests can no longer be called civillized and as an indian catholic i feel ashamed to have such narrow minded bigots in my community these people are a nothing but a liablity for the coutry and the christian faith.
More news on this deed
Protesters barge in to disrupt The Da Vinci Code show
Despite the Andhra Pradesh High Court clearing the way for the screening of the controversial Hollywood movie "Da Vinci Code", the admirers and fans could not see the movie in the Prasad IMAX theater in Hyderabad on Friday.
A large number of Christian activists under the banner of Christian United Front raided the theater and damaged the property extensively forcing the management to postpone the screening of the film.
About a couple of hundred agitated people, carrying banners and placards in the hands, describing the film as "Devil's Code" barged in to the theater even as there was a long queue for the tickets of the morning show of the movie.
The mob shattered the glass panes and damaged the ticket booking counters and other parts of the theatre. The furniture in the theater also suffered losses.
The protestors were also raising slogans against the AP High Court's order staying the ban imposed on the film by the State Government.
Just wait and you will hear the "real version" of this event from "reputed sites" like Worldnetdaily, Indian Catholic, Hindu Aggression against Christians, 'Bad Hindus refusing to convert.com' etc.
Protestors attack Imax, threaten to burn halls
http://www.deccan.com/home/homedetails.asp#Protestors%20attack%20Imax,%20threaten%20to%20burn%20halls
Hyderabad, June 23: Activists of two Christian organisations barged into the Prasads Imax theatre on Friday and broke a glass pane at the counter to express their anger at the decision to screen the controversial film The Da Vinci Code.Though the AP High Court lifted the ban imposed by the State government on the film, the activists of the All India Christian United Front and National Congress of Indian Christians threatened to set fire to the theatre if it was screened.
Police failed to anticipate the incident and posted no guards at the theatre. They also reacted tamely to the vandalism. “We will register a case if we receive a complaint,” said a police officer. Interestingly, the screening of the film was cancelled by the Imax management on Friday morning, long before the protesters reached the spot.
Nearly 20 activists of AICUF and NCIC, led by T. Vijay Raju and C.A. Daniel Adams, rushed into the theatre shouting slogans. They were not ready to turn back even after being told that the screening had been cancelled. Mainstream Christian organisations distanced themselves from the noisy and violent demonstration.
Imax management was shocked by the incident and said it had not anticipated trouble since boards had been put up at 10 am itself announcing the cancellation of the scheduled screening at 3.15 pm.
However, the protestors say that the Imax management is not being honest by claiming that the screening was cancelled at 10 am in the moring.
“When we reached Imax at 1.30 pm, The Da Vinci Code posters were in place and tickets for the film were being sold,” Mr Vijay Raju said.Vijay Raju justified the vandalism and said that his organisation would prevent the screening at any cost. “If necessary, we will sacrifice our lives,” he said. “The film hurts the religious sentiments of Christians and Muslims”.
He admitted that he broke the glass pane at the counter and alleged that the theatre management was planning to screen the film, though they claimed otherwise. “When we reached here at about 1.30 pm, they were selling the tickets,” said Raju. Saifabad Assistant Commissioner K. Uma Maheswara Rao, however, refused to term it an attack. “The protesters entered the theatre and one of them broke a glass pane,” he said. “They left after the management informed that the show was cancelled”.
The CC TV cameras in the theatre had recorded the vandalism by the protesters. However, Prasad Media Corporation Limited General Manager (operations) Silas Kapadia said the theatre had decided to screen the film only after Archbishop Marampudi Joji said that the community would respect the court judgment.
“But we decided to cancel the screening after some organisations called us and told us they would stage protests,” said Mr Kapadia. “We also did not want to hurt sentiments of people who have been enjoying films in our multiplex for years.” Saifabad Sub-Inspector Ramachandra Reddy said that no case had been booked so far since no complaint was lodged.
They did the screeners a favor. That was the most boring movie I ever saw. I wish I would have listened to the FREEPERS before I saw it....will I ever learn? lol.
I wonder what comment you would have posted had this been the Muslims doing the same thing. Its just like you all to maintain double standards. Ho Ho Ho!! The truth is it happened and it shouldn't have and it was against the law. We'll just remember what you said the next time one of your "works of art", or "works of god" (missionary work) pisses us off.
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