Da Vinci Code banned In Pakistan

Following bans in some Indian states, Pakistan has also banned the movie in deference to the Christians in Pakistan.

6 June 2006
MUMBAI, INDIA

The government of Pakistan has banned The Da Vinci Code for showing content offensive to both Christians and Muslims. The ban has been carried out under the Motion Pictures Ordinance of 1979.

Christians in Pakistan have carried out two protests asking for a ban of The Da Vinci code. The ban was ordered in deference to the wishes of Christians in Pakistan. Christians constitute 3 per cent of the population in Pakistan. In India, where Christians constitute 2 per cent of the population, the movie has been banned in Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, and Nagaland.

The state of Goa was the first to ban the film. Apart from the movie, Nagaland has banned the sale, distribution and reading of the book. The film was passed by the censor board. Information and Broadcasting minister, Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi viewed the film with Christian representatives and passed the movie. The censor board passed the movie with a disclaimer at the beginning and end of the movie stating that The Da Vinci code is a work of fiction.

It's a different story the world over. The movie has grossed over $475 so far. Since 2003, The Da Vinci code has sold in excess of 40 million copies over the world. The book has topped the sales charts in Britain. Since the book was published in 2002, author Dan Brown himself has so far garnered $440 million.

Christians in India and Pakistan have protested against the book saying that it is blasphemous and that it has projected Jesus Christ and Christianity in a bad light. The book has suggested that Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and even sired a child. 

The movie, directed by Ron Howard of A Beautiful Mind fame, stars Tom Hans, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, and Jean Reno.