Twist: Elton John Banned in Egypt Over Remarks About Jesus

Spinner ^ | May 6, 2010 | John D. Luerssen

[NYer]

Elton John has been banned from performing an upcoming gig in Egypt as a result of remarks he made earlier in the year that suggested Jesus was a "super-intelligent gay man" and accused Middle Easterners of being homophobic. The New York Daily News reports John's May 18 concert was canceled by Mounir al-Wasimi, the head of Egypt's Music Union.

Jesus is considered a prophet to worshippers of Islam, and John's remarks are considered an insult to the religion. John, who first came out in the '80s, is married to David Furnish.

"A homosexual who wants to ban religions, claimed that the prophet Issa [Jesus] was gay and calls for Middle Eastern countries to allow gays to have sexual freedom [can't perform]," al-Wasimi reportedly told Contactmusic.

In a February interview with Parade magazine, John also condemned countries in the region, which are largely Islamic, for hating on homosexuals. "Try being a gay woman in the Middle East – you're as good as dead," he said in that article.

[annalex]

Neither reaction comes from a vacuum. Tolerance of opinion, even hurtful one, is a Christian value. I think that we should protest blasphemy and seek to outlaw it even, but when a Christian defends the right of Elton John to say whatever he pleases it is not suprising, it is a part of what Christianity is.

On the other hand, with all its numerous flaws, Islam has the virtue of piety: they take prayer and fasting seriously. They also hold Jesus, Mary and John the Baptist in high regard even though they deny the Resurrection and divinity of Christ; the Koran has a mini-gospel (heretical theologically, but written with great sympathy) embedded in it. Finally, Islam styles itself as protector of both Christians and Jews. So we should not be surprised to see the Muslim outraged over this.

[Trillian]

He’s not married..

[John-Irish]

Jesus was NOT gay and HE wasn’t a f**king Muslim! And Elton John’s an asshole.

[John-Irish]

Screw Muhammed and screw Islam. My Savior was no f’ing Muslim.

[the invisib1e hand]

the women in Egypt are hot, too. Generally.