The religion of religious assassination Fatwa contracts is offended again
German Muslims slam Rushdie based play as offensive
BERLIN (AFP)
German Muslims expressed "regret" Friday that a theatre near Berlin plans to stage the world premiere of a play based on Salman Rushdie's novel "The Satanic Verses".
"We regret that the religious sentiments of Muslims are being treated in a provocative manner," the president of the German Islamic Council, Ali Kizilkaya, told AFP after his organization publicly complained about Sunday's scheduled performance.
Iran's late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa -- or religious decree -- in 1989 calling on Muslims to kill Rushdie for perceived insults against Islam in his novel.
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Rushdie, an Indian-born Muslim who was educated in Britain, was forced into hiding for nearly a decade. He was knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in 2007, a move that sparked a new wave of protest across the Muslim world.
The play, adapted from Rushdie's 1988 book, was reworked for the stage by the manager of the Hans Otto Theatre in the eastern city of Potsdam, Uwe Eric Laufenberg, and dramatist Marcus Mislin.
Amid heavy media coverage of the upcoming premiere, the general secretary of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, Aiman Mazyek, urged followers of Islam to remain calm over the staging of the play and engage in a "critical and constructive dialogue" about the issues it raises.
But he also questioned whether the play might go too far.
"Freedom of expression and of art is important but offences against what is sacred in a religion is not something we value," he told RBB public radio.
A police spokeswoman said authorities planned to step up security around the theatre during the performance.
The team in Potsdam said they had received permission from Rushdie to adapt his novel and had invited him to the performance but they said it was unclear whether the author would attend.
Germany has seen previous controversies over the line between artistic freedom and respect for religious sensibilities.
In 2006, Berlin's German Opera House hastily pulled a staging of Mozart's "Idomeneo" featuring the severed head of the Prophet Mohammed over fears of protests by Muslims.
After a heated debate about self-censorship, the opera was finally presented under tight security. |
Naseem, you talk like a Christian, and, evidently you act like a Christian. You have said good things of late. You are not far off from the kingdom - but you are not helping us by refusing to comment on the violent and murderous instructions in the Koran. So why do you bother to post here? Do you think a site called "The Sons of Apes and Pigs" would be filled up with people who want to talk about the weather? Keep praying for your "Childrenz" Naseem, pray that they find peace because only in peace can true intelligence grow - that is why we hold back our hand and turn the other cheek to you - so that peace might grow in your hearts and minds - and with peace, always intelligence.
Naseem - this site, it can not be lost on you, is set aside to discus Islam and why it calls us apes and pigs and why so many Muslims hate, and why they love a book that in many cases calls for the murders of innocent people. You say nothing to help us answer this mystery except that it is purely a matter of your faith. Well, faith is blind alright, but it is never irrational. We Catholics teach that Faith without Reason is insanity - if you remove reason from faith, it no longer remains faith, but all that is left is insanity.
Assalamau Laikum Hal,
I am no christian....only a good human being and muslima to boot and there's lot of good muslims in this world...but you peoples will never allow us to have this.
For me christianity is childish.
Throughout history who ever gets slapped on the cheek makes the instigator pay...one way or another...they don't turn the other cheek....this is against human nature. Stay your hand if you want to...but then don't worry or complain about repeatedly being slapped on both sides....if that's your fate...and of course others love you for it....hey that's your outlook, but it's not going to be mine.
Also I think it's a hard enough concept to pray to a god....and christianity wants you to pray to a ghost as well...I mean how wierd is the concept of trinity.
Thirdly...christianity is male domianted...there's a male god who has a male son (only)...where's the daughter(s) in this story?
There's virtually no femaninty in christianity...where as in Islam womens are given pride of place and proper respect.
So...I simply could not be or convert to christianity...I cannot belong because of the lack of respect for us womens.
"...So...I simply could not be or convert to christianity...I cannot belong because of the lack of respect for us womens..."
Hal don't take "her" seriously, this line above is how I know "naseem" is full of crap. I suspect "she" get's "her" jollies by arguing from an Islamic point of view (while being a liberal-turd in reality) on-line. She can't be real talking about "lack of respect for us womens" while she supposedly resides in a black garbage bag only to get beaten if she doesn't wear it in public; now that is what I call "respect for womens"!