Indian Christians: Ban ‘Da Vinci Code’

Ah, a picture is worth a thousand words. And for a change they’re about non-Muslims.

AFP on Christian demands for censorship:

Indian Christians call for ban of "Da Vinci Code"

A Christian activist protests against the release of “The DaVinci Code” and “Tickle My Funny Bone” in Mumbai. Russia’s Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper said polemics surrounding “The Da Vinci Code” reflect a clash between religious and secular values reminiscent of the recent furor over the Prophet Mohammed cartoons, considered blasphemous by Muslims.(AFP/File/Sebastian D’Souza)

Update (2009-03-06):

Happened to do some googling on this again and came across this other interesting report from May 2006, which shows that Christians in South Korea and even Thailand got into the censorship act. BBC: “Da Vinci Film Protests Stepped Up”:

Its release in India is likely to be delayed after a furore that has seen Islamic clerics in Mumbai (Bombay) back a call by Catholics for a boycott.South Korea’s Christian Council has unsuccessfully tried to ban the film.

And Thai censors want to cut the last 10 minutes, having been persuaded by critics that they are “blasphemous”.

The film is adapted from Dan Brown’s best-seller, which revolves around the theory that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and their descendants survive today.

The blockbuster has caused outrage among many Christian organisations, including senior officials at the Vatican.

In India, which is home to 18 million Catholics, the head of the Catholic Secular Forum has begun a “hunger strike until death”.