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Politics : The Truth About Islam -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: richardred who wrote (1592)	9/27/2006 8:04:33 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 20106

Fury as opera cancelled for fear of offending Muslims Scotsman.com News ^ \| September 27, 2006 \| Melissa Eddy in Berlin news.scotsman.com Fury as opera cancelled for fear of offending Muslims Berlin cancels Mozart's Idomeneo because of fears over religious reprisals Opera criticised for using props of heads of Christ, Buddha and Mohammed Decision comes after Pope's comments on Islam angered Muslims. Key quote Our ideas about openness, tolerance and freedom must be lived out on the offensive. Voluntary self-limitation gives those who fight against our values a confirmation in advance that we will not stand behind them - Klaus Wowereit, Berlin's mayor. Story in full ONE of Germany's leading opera houses has unleashed an angry debate over free speech by cancelling a production over security fears because a scene featured the severed heads of Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed. The Deutsche Oper Berlin yesterday said it had decided "with great regret" to cancel a planned production of Mozart's Idomeneo after city security officials warned of an "incalculable risk" because of scenes dealing with Islam, as well as other religions. Kirsten Harms, the director of the Deutsche Oper, said that the Berlin state police had warned of a possible - but not certain - threat and that she decided it would be in the best interest of the safety of the opera house, its employees and patrons to cancel the production. After its premiere in 2003, the production by Hans Neuenfels drew widespread criticism over a scene in which King Idomeneo presents the severed heads not only of the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon, but also of Jesus, Buddha and Mohammed. "We know the consequences of the conflict over the [Mohammed] caricatures," the opera house said in a statement. "We believe that needs to be taken very seriously and hope for your support." While some said they understood the decision, a broad spectrum of politicians opposed it. The leader of Germany's Islamic Council welcomed the decision, saying a depiction of Mohammed with a severed head "could certainly offend Muslims." "Nevertheless, of course I think it is horrible that one has to be afraid," Ali Kizilkaya said. "That is not the right way to open dialogue." Dieter Glietsch, head of the Berlin state police, said: "One can find nothing wrong if, in a climate that's already tense between Islam and the western world, people avoid heating up the situation further through a scene that can - and perhaps even must - be taken as provocative by pious Muslims." Many others, including Germany's senior security official, Wolfgang Schäuble, the interior minister, condemned the decision, which came ahead of a conference on Islam planned for today. "That is crazy," Mr Schäuble told reporters in Washington DC, where he was holding meetings with American officials. Berlin's mayor, Klaus Wowereit, said that "with all understanding for the concern about the security of spectators and performers, I consider the decision of the director to be wrong. "Our ideas about openness, tolerance and freedom must be lived out on the offensive. Voluntary self-limitation gives those who fight against our values a confirmation in advance that we will not stand behind them." Bernd Neumann, the federal government's senior cultural official, said that "problems cannot be solved by keeping silent". He added: "When the concern over possible protests leads to self-censorship, then the democratic culture of free speech becomes endangered." The decision comes after the German-born Pope Benedict XVI infuriated Muslims by citing a 14th century Byzantine emperor as saying Muhammad brought "things only evil and inhuman". Earlier this year, furious protests erupted after a Danish newspaper published 12 cartoons depicting Mohammed. The images were reprinted by dozens of newspapers and websites in Europe and elsewhere, often in the name of freedom of expression. Islamic law is interpreted to forbid any depiction of Mohammed for fear it could lead to idolatry. The leader of Germany's Turkish community said that while he could understand how the production could be seen as offensive, he also encouraged Muslims living in the West to accept certain elements of western traditions, noting that an opera production was not equivalent to a political point of view. "I would recommend Muslims learn to accept certain things," Kenan Kolat said. "Art must remain free."