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Da Vinci Code ban necessary to 'maintain peace' |
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Contributed by Nicol Wistreich |
Friday, 30 June 2006 |
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 The
Tamil Nadu Government in India told the Madras High Court on Thursday
that it had powers under the Cinematography Act, to stop the screening
of the Da Vinci Code, even though it had previously been approved. "A ban was necessary to maintain even tempo of life and it is a
bonafide exercise in the interest of maintaining peace", the government claimed.
The film had previously been approved for release by the Central
Board of Film Censor, but its screening had upset a number of
Christians and Muslims, who protested vehemently and
staged demonstrations against it. The state government suspended the
screening of the film for two months from June 1.
"The
state had the powers to decide on exhibiting a film during exigencies
post certification", Government Pleader P Wilson told the court.
There have been protesters at several cinemas across the United
States on opening weekend protesting the themes of the film, citing it
as blasphemy and claiming that it shames both the Catholic Church, and
Jesus Christ himself. More than 200 protesters also turned out in
Athens, Greece to protest the film's release shortly before opening
day. In Manila the movie was banned from all cinemas and then set by
the local MTRCB as an R18 movie for the Philippines. Protests also
occurred at the filming sites, but only a monk and a nun stood in a
quiet protest at the Cannes premiere
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