Vietnamese Catholics, Pakistani Muslims together against "Code"
Youth belonging to the Social Catholic Forum of Vietnam are "standing upright with the universal Church against the falsehoods depicted as truths". In Pakistan, Muslims of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal "have called for a boycott of whatever offends the religious sentiments of any community".
Ho Chi Minh City (Asianews) A group of Vietnamese youth and Pakistan's largest Muslim association are united in protest against the "Da Vinci Code", a film based on a book of the same name, now being screened in cinemas across the world.
"We cannot just sit and watch while a book and film defame Christ, and abuse of Christian love and pardon to go ahead with this endeavour," said one of 50 students who are members of Vietnam's Social Catholic Forum. Another said: "We are boycotting both works and we are seeking to increase awareness about the threat they pose among the country's Catholic community."
They added: "We, members of the universal church, stand upright by the side of the Holy See and Benedict XVI, indignant about the false and distorted contents of the film, which are presented as reality."
Meanwhile, over the weekend, Muslims parties in Pakistan will launch a national demonstration against the "Code": they are "protesting the way in which the life of Jesus, a holy figure dear to all religions, is presented." Deputy Secretary General of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA an umbrella organization of Muslims from across the country) Liaquat Baloch said: "Films or cartoons that hurt the sentiments of any religion in the name of culture should be rejected by the people."
He continued: "Jesus is not as important as Muhammad for Islam, but he is a loved and respected prophet. The protest against the offences against him by the Da Vinci Code will start right after Friday prayers."
In Pakistan, Muslims make up 95% of the population of 140 million while Christians account for 2%.
.png)
05/06/2006
