South Park facing ban in Russia
Russian prosecutors have launched legal proceedings against animated series South Park for inciting religious and national hatred.
Objections were made to an episode of the programme that featured Christmas songs including a medley duet performed by Santa Claus and Jesus Christ.
The Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith asked for a ban after it said 20 experts had studied the show for its effect on young viewers.
Konstantin Bendas, a spokesman for the group, said “South Park is just one of many cartoons that need to be banned from open broadcast as it insults the feelings of religious believers and incites religious and national hatred.
“It’s one thing if they are on cable TV and viewers pay money and make a conscious choice. But young children should not be able to turn on the TV after school and watch this. They need to be defended.”
The prosecutors said they agreed with the Christian group that the programme “could provoke ethnic conflict and spark inter-religious hatred
“It offends the honour and dignity of Christians and Muslims alike,” a spokesman added.
The cartoon series made by Matt Stone and Trey Parker has attracted criticism throughout its award-winning run for its close-to-the-bone humour and mockery of religious and political figures.
Russia passed a law in 2006 widening the definition of extremism to include “the abasement of national dignity” and “inciting religious and national hatred.”
The nine-year-old episode of Mr Hankey’s Christmas Classics was aired in Moscow in January and has characters including Satan, Adolf Hitler and an anthropomorphised human faeces called Mr Hankey performing in a Christmas variety show.