POTSDAM, Germany (AFP) — The first ever stage play based on Salman Rushdie's book "The Satanic Verses" passed off without incident in Germany on Sunday with police in attendance in case of disturbances."It all went well," police spokesman Rudi Sonntag said.
There had been no specific threats but there was a moderate police presence inside and outside the venue "as a preventative measure" after complaints from some Muslim groups, the police spokesman said.
Iran's late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa -- or religious decree -- in 1989 calling on Muslims to kill Rushdie for what the leader said were insults to Islam in his book. Officially the fatwa still stands.
There had been fears that Sunday's play might become another flashpoint in tensions between Europe and the Muslim world.
There have been protests in a number of Islamic countries after Danish newspapers last month reprinted a drawing of the Prophet Mohammed that offended many Muslims. Police had uncovered a plot to murder the cartoon's author.
Dutch far-right MP Geert Wilders provoked further anger this week by posting on the Internet his film "Fitna" attacking Islamic ideology.
Such fears appeared unfounded over Sunday's play however. Some members of the 400-strong audience at the theatre in Postdam near Berlin even confided to reporters that at three and a half hours long, the play had been "boring."
Rushdie, an Indian-born Muslim 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 was reworked for the stage by the manager of the Hans Otto Theatre, Uwe Eric Laufenberg, and dramatist Marcus Mislin -- with Rushdie's consent.
On Friday the president of the German Islamic Council, Ali Kizilkaya, told AFP that his organisation had publicly complained.
"We regret that the religious sentiments of Muslims are being treated in a provocative manner," Kizilkaya had said.
The general secretary of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, Aiman Mazyek, urged Muslims to remain calm and engage in a "critical and constructive dialogue" about the issues the play 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.
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 finally went ahead under tight security.
Re: 'Satanic Verses' premiere passes off peacefully
No, to just really tick us off. I just laugh really cause they might be making fun of us but they are the ones in reality who look like the fools lol. Your just supporting them by giving them any importance.
Salaam
*Without Allah, without Islam, life would be meaningless. If I've ever learned patience, it's because of this. Alhamdulillah...*
Re: 'Satanic Verses' premiere passes off peacefully
I don't know what's so controversial about his book cuz I've not read it. But I can say that the book's gonna make me angry if I read it. Hence, I've avoided reading it. This has made me moderate whenever I see Rushdie's name in the news. I guess all Muslims should do the same thing and forgive, but not forget.
Re: 'Satanic Verses' premiere passes off peacefully
Before reading the book you must know that all characters mentioned in it are not fictitious and any resemblance to any person, dead or alive, is not regretted by the author...
Re: 'Satanic Verses' premiere passes off peacefully
Greetings,
format_quote Originally Posted by shahidiceprince
I don't know what's so controversial about his book cuz I've not read it. But I can say that the book's gonna make me angry if I read it. Hence, I've avoided reading it. This has made me moderate whenever I see Rushdie's name in the news. I guess all Muslims should do the same thing and forgive, but not forget.
Why all this blatant, conscious prejudice?
You say you would definitely be angered by the book, but you haven't even read it!
On top of that, you think that makes you a moderate?
Re: 'Satanic Verses' premiere passes off peacefully
^^Well cuz we know he's got nothing good to say about it! We know our religion well and know there is NOTHING satanic about it.
On top of that, you think that makes you a moderate?
So a person can't express anger over a book defaming his/her religion? I must be radical then huh.
Plus I hate using those words, either your a Muslim or your not. Why even a level??
Re: 'Satanic Verses' premiere passes off peacefully
Greetings,
format_quote Originally Posted by Jazzy
^^Well cuz we know he's got nothing good to say about it! We know our religion well and know there is NOTHING satanic about it.
Has Rushdie said your religion is satanic? Have you checked?
So a person can't express anger over a book defaming his/her religion? I must be radical then huh.
Since when is anger a virtue? Stand up for what you believe in, by all means, but getting angry won't help anything.
Plus I hate using those words, either your a Muslim or your not. Why even a level??
In the context of this discussion, 'moderate' doesn't necessarily refer to 'moderate' Islam. A person can be a moderate on all sorts of issues. My comment was meant to express a question about whether condemning something out of hand without having read it is really such a moderate position.
Re: 'Satanic Verses' premiere passes off peacefully
Has Rushdie said your religion is satanic? Have you checked?
Where have you been? :confused: That IS what we are talking about, is it not?
Since when is anger a virtue?
Never said it was..?
Stand up for what you believe in, by all means, but getting angry won't help anything.
Am I hurting you if I express anger? No. Plus, anger doesn't have to always be physical or verbal. I could feel anger inside and not tell you or show you.
In the context of this discussion, 'moderate' doesn't necessarily refer to 'moderate' Islam. A person can be a moderate on all sorts of issues. My comment was meant to express a question about whether condemning something out of hand without having read it is really such a moderate position.
Peace
Roger that. Btw, that part was meant for the brother.
Peace
Last edited by Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн; 04-16-2008 at 03:18 AM.
Re: 'Satanic Verses' premiere passes off peacefully
This book is a piece of **** according to those who have read it. They call it crap. Mostly, this was not meant for western readers. Westerners would find this book as nothing more than plain rubbish.
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.
- Stephen Hawking
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lol. Your just supporting them by giving them any importance.
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