Lebanese broadcasters cancel controversial Jesus program

A program about Jesus filmed from an Islamic perspective was cancelled by two Shi'ite Muslim television stations in Lebanon last week, reports Jeremy Reynalds, correspondent for ASSIST News Service.

According to the Ekklesia News Service, the decision was made on Aug. 13, after it was agreed that the program might incite sectarian conflict and unrest in the country.

The 17-episode series, been produced in Iran, portrays Jesus as a prophet and a teacher, but not Son of God, according to the Muslim faith.

Ekklesia said Lebanon has a history of sectarian conflict. The four million strong population is comprised religiously of 18 different groups, including Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims, Christians and Druse.

Ekklesia said Al-Manar, a television station run by Lebanon's powerful militant group, Hezbollah, and the National Broadcasting Network, NBN, started airing the series at the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

According to Ekklesia, both clergy and politicians from a Christian background objected, including the Catholic Maronite Archbishop Bechara el-Rai.

Before a news conference from el-Rai, Al-Manar and NBN issued a statement saying that the program “shows the great personality of God's prophet Jesus, the son of Mary, peace be upon him.”

But the stations, Ekklesia said, decided to stop the broadcast “in respect to other Lebanese sects.”

Ekklesia said Information Minister Tarek Mitri made it clear that he opposes censorship. However, he added that Lebanon's religious diversity needed to be respected, and therefore approved the two stations’ decision.

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TAGS: Lebanon Islamic perspective Jesus program Al-Manar Hezbollah Ramadan Tarek Mitri

[08/23/2010]

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