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Christians, Muslims and media unite over government's 'ludicrous' decision

Moviegoers in Malaysia have voiced their anger over the government's decision to allow only Christians to see Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion of the Christ.

Officials decided last week to restrict to designated cinemas the movie that depicts the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus.

Tickets are sold only to Christians through the church network. No trailers and  advertisements have been permitted in the country for the movie, which went on general release elsewhere in the world in February.

The restricted screening comes after pressure from Christian groups.

Government and church officials said the restrictions were needed to avoid offending the sensitivities of other religions, especially Islam. While some Christians are overjoyed that the movie will finally be shown, church leaders are voicing qualms over the restrictions.

The curbs have angered the large and thoroughly secular Malaysian middle class that had backed  Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's  government against fundamentalist Muslim encroachment.

'I am a Muslim and my friends are Hindus, Chinese, Muslims and Buddhists,' said lawyer Zieman Ismail. 'Why can't we all see the movie?'

Reverend  Herman Shastri of the Christian Federation of Malaysia asked: 'How could the screening of the movie be only for Christians and in designated cinemas? 'Do Christians have to bring along their baptism certificates to the cinema?'

The semi-official New Straits Times and the  The Sun daily criticised the decision and urged a government rethink.

The Sun said officials had 'shot themselves in the foot' by restricting Passion to Christians.

'This is ludicrous and makes a mockery of the government's intention to unite the races,' the daily said in an editorial yesterday.

The movie was a box-office success in the United States but was also criticised for appearing to blame Jews for the death of Jesus - something that helped make it a success in Muslim countries such as Iran, Oman and Qatar where the film was screened without problems.



Malaysians voice their passion over restrictions on Gibson movie