Egypt to ban Da Vinci Code?

16-06-2006 11:50

Egypt is the latest country to call for 'The Da Vinci Code' to be banned.The government wants to outlaw the controversial blockbuster and the book it is based on because of their "blasphemous" content.Both suggest Jesus and Mary Magdalene has a relationship which resulted in them having a child. Egypt's People's Assembly has attacked the proposed ban, saying: "We believe that judging literary and creative works from a religious or political perspective threatens to impose religious or political tutelage over human thought."On Thursday (15.06.06) Culture Minister Faruq Hosni told the country's parliament: "The censors have an order to prevent the film from entering Egypt because it profanes religions."That which profanes Jesus Christ also profanes Islam."Last week, China announced it was pulling 'The Da Vinci Code' from cinemas.

The film is no longer being shown in the country but officials deny the move is due to the blockbuster's divisive religious storyline.

Cyrus Man, a marketing executive with Edko Films Company, said: "They are transferring some films from the China market to other territories in Asia. It is mainly a business decision."

UME Shanghai cinemas claim they have been told the film was "no longer permitted to be shown".

The film has already been banned in Belarus, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and five of India's 25 states.