A welcome bit of anti-dhimmitude. I don’t think this kind of staging is necessary or helpful, and certainly it is needlessly insulting of all three figures depicted. But part of living in a civilized society as a civilized person is addressing wrongs peacefully, without either violence or the threat of violence. This show was cancelled for fear of Muslims; no one worries about Christians or Buddhists rioting. All three should take up their complaints, should they have any, in a peaceful and lawful manner. An update to this story from DPA, with thanks to Fjordman:
BERLIN – The Berlin opera house which last week cancelled a production for fear of protests by Muslims announced Wednesday it was reinstating Idomeneo by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but set no date.
Media and German politicians have accused Deutsche Oper Berlin of practising “self-censorship” and kowtowing to violent radicals.
First staged in 2003, the production has a scene devised by director Hans Neuenfels and not in the original Mozart opera that shows the hero laughing at the severed heads of the Prophet Mohammed, Jesus Christ and the Buddha.
Opera house spokesman Alexander Busche said, “The earliest slot for the production is in December, but first we need an okay about security from the police.” City police are expected to mount a strong guard at the theatre if there are any demonstrations outside.