International   

Pakistani Christians hail "Code" decision

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday banned cinemas from showing the movie ``The Da Vinci Code'' following protests by the minority Christian community.

Though the film has not been screened in any theatre, a government announcement said authorities decided to ban it out of respect for the feelings of Christians, some of whom have said the movie is insulting. The ban came a couple of days after Christians staged protests in two cities against the film, demanding a global ban on the movie. Christians make up about 3 per cent of Pakistan's 150 million persons. Minister for Culture Ghulam Jamal told state media that the movie was banned as it contained blasphemous material on Jesus Christ.

Shahbaz Bhatti, a prominent Christian leader in Pakistan, hailed the ban and thanked the leadership for ``making the right decision.'' He said the ban would go a long way to ensuring sectarian harmony.

Mr. Bhatti last week wrote letters to President Pervez Musharraf and superior court judges, demanding a complete ban on the sale of CDs or screening of the movie in theatres.

On Saturday, he said, ``The Da Vinci Code is a sacrilegious act in the guise of freedom of expression and fiction. ''

He also criticised Dan Brown, saying the author had ``evil intentions'' and wanted ``to undermine the historical as well as theological truth about Jesus Christ'' as presented in the Bible. — AP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Rumsfeld warns China on defence modernisation
U.S. must drop terms: Iran
Pakistani Christians hail "Code" decision
U.K. police face shooting criticism
Arrest warrants against Benazir and her husband
Former leader may win Peruvian presidential election
Great apes question
China for dialogue
Deal to drop lawsuit
India is a core state for Asian security: Pranab Mukherjee
India-U.S. talks: Pranab discounts China profile
Boy orphaned in PoK quake allowed to join his grandparents in Jammu and Kashmir

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu