Posted on 05/25/2006 11:52:34 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government on Thursday banned the screening of controversial film Da Vinci Code across the state.
Punjab's decision came a day after the government of predominantly Christian Nagaland banned sale of the novel and screening of the film based on it, saying the content was blasphemous.
"The book is blasphemous. It has portrayed Christ and the Christian faith in a highly objectionable manner," Nagaland education minister Imkong Imchen said.
However, Punjab government decided to ban its release in the state quoting "intelligence inputs", which predicted violence in case the movie was shown in the state.
Though so far, the state had not witnessed any large-scale protest against the movie, the Catholic Church Diocese of Jalandhar sought a ban on it on Thursday morning, following which the decision was taken.
The home department order on Thursday said, "The decision was taken after the Christian community expressed strong resentment against the alleged objectionable contents of the movie.
So, there was a possibility of violent confrontation at some places, particularly those having sizable population of Christians."
Home secretary Dr B C Gupta said the decision was taken at the top level following intelligence inputs about the possibility of violence in theatres in case the movie is screened.
Father Franco Mulakkal, the Jalandhar-based spokesman of the Jalandhar Diocese said an 'Anti Da Vinci Code Action Committee' had been formed.
The ban comes despite the film being cleared for viewing throughout India with a disclaimer that it is a work of fiction. In Goa, theatre owners have decided to wait for the reaction to the film before releasing it across the state which has 30% Catholic population.
A spokesman of the Inox multiplex said instructions on release of the film are still awaited. "I am not sure as to when the film will be screened here," he said.
Congress MP from south Goa Churchill Alemao said, "People are unhappy with the film. Jesus Christ is God not only for Christians. He is also revered by other communities."
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Agreed. Christians should show the world that they are not the savages that Muslims are.
Yes, banning is not savage. But the farther removed from Muslims Christians are, the better.
Frankly, the fact that Dan Brown has not gone into hiding from Opus Dei assassins is proof enough of that, and further attests to his knowledge that the assertions he makes in his book are pure BS.
Islam has never had a reformation, nor has it ever been seriously questioned and forced to examine itself. Christianity had Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, etc. It's high time Islam ended up under a microscope. Once there, it will end up having to evolve or die.
We, on the other hand, are above throwing rocks, blowing up non-believers, and even banning speech. Christianity does not fear criticism because it has no need to.
Yeah, the worst Opus Dei will do to this guy is deny his assertions. No rock throwing, no suicide bombing.
Sad, that most people are not aware of this.
There is a lot of hate directed at Christians because they don't riot, kill, destroy.
Very well said.
Maybe Islam is on the verge of a reformation. Islam is under the microscope right now and Muslims in the civilized parts of the world must be questioning the fanatics. Although, it is deafly quiet whenever there is an incident.
I can hope...
I thought he already said that his book was a work of fiction.
He said it was a work of fiction before he said it wasn't a work of fiction. He's been as firm on the matter as Kerry's support for the war...actually it's been a non-denial denial with him sticking fast to the basic line that even though it's not true, there's no reason to believe that everything in his book couldn't be completely true...
They have a tough road ahead of them, to say the very least. The Wahabbist freaks accuse them of shirking, and people who simply don't like Islam think they're just spinning. I don't know what CAIR thinks of them, but if they don't like them, then the reform Muslims may be worth examining (as opposed to, y'know, dismissing them as spin doctors). They'd be a fifth column working for us.
Catholic attacks on a fun movie. They don't call them "papal bulls" for no reason at all.
Maybe one of the reasons why fanatical Muslims around the world hate America so much.
Because, America is forcing reform and it is angering the Muslim leadership.
The Muslim leadership want it's followers to continue to be poor and ignorant.
Lame. You can either have free speech, or you can practice censorship in the name of religious sensitivity. It's a pity Indian states have decided to go with the latter.
Well, that was confusing... I'm trained to analyze, but only Military stuff. Heh, I hadn't heard that part, but I suppose it makes sense that some crackpot writer would say that.
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