Only Christians can watch Christ films, says Malaysia

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Crazy laws just to protect Islam and Muslims…

Malaysia restricts Christ film

Thursday 08 July 2004, 22:18 Makka Time, 19:18 GMT

Government’s Film Censorship Board decision is perplexing

How would you react if a cinema refused to sell you a ticket because of your religion? Travel to Malaysia to find out.

Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ has been approved for Christian audiences – only.

The Ministry of Home Affairs revealed the restriction in response to a question by opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Teresa Kok in parliament on Tuesday.

“Does it mean that the government is going to implement a policy where movies concerning … Buddhism and Buddha could only be watched by Buddhists and movies related to Hinduism can only be watched by Hindus?” Kok asked.

Culturally divisive or diverse

More than half of Malaysia’s population of 25 million are Muslims, but there are large number of Christians, Hindus and Buddhists among the ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

Describing the move as “retrogressive”, Kok noted that movies about religious figures had been screened in Malaysian cinemas previously.

“Does it mean that the government is going to implement a policy where movies concerning … Buddhism and Buddha could only be watched by Buddhists”

Teresa Kok,
Democratic Party spokesman

She cited a few examples, such as Jesus of Nazareth a few decades ago, and more recently Little Buddha starring Keanu Reeves and Seven Years in Tibet with Brad Pitt.

“Let the people of Malaysia enjoy the freedom to watch any movie of their choice. The government should stop practicing unnecessary censorship and treating the people like children,” she said.

Tough decisions

Malaysia has strict censorship laws and has in the past been quick to ban or cut films deemed sensitive, including Schindler’s List, The Hours and animated musical Prince of Egypt.

A total of 1582 foreign films had been banned between 2000 and May 2004, the home ministry said in a written reply to Kok.

The Mel Gibson film has been criticised for alleged anti-Semitism - which Gibson denies - and violence, but has been a box office success.

Other Islamic countries have been divided about the film: Iran, Oman and Qatar have approved it while Bahrain has banned it.

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Its more a cultural/political decision. Then again it can as easily be a religious discussion.

Personally, I have no wish to see that movie even when it comes on DVD. Its just too much gore and brutality there, for my taste.

Brings up an interesting question as to how multicultural societies deal with religious sentiments. Based on what I have heard, most Christians are inspired by the movie and muslims are indifferent (cz they are not depicted in the movie at all, naturally). Only some sections of jews were protesting the movie. Based on this it is all the more surprising why Malaysia would restrict the movie only to Christians. Its not as if the movie hurts the sentiments of muslims or budhists or hindus.

The other aspect is how revered religious personalities are depicted, in general. Muslims avoid the whole thing as it is completely forbidden to show images of the messangers of God. In modern day christians there is a wide leeway, and so on one hand you have respectful images and at the same time you have the last temptation and other assorted Jesus-jokes floating around. Some call it freedom of speech, some call it out-of-control and hurtful.