Blasphemy charges have been laid against the actors, producers and director of a play in Greece that depicted Jesus and his apostles as gay. A production of "Corpus Christi" in Athens was cancelled this month after weeks of almost daily protests outside the theatre by priests and right-wing groups, including deputies from the ultra-nationalist Golden Dawn party. Charges of "insulting religion" and "malicious blasphemy" have been filed after Bishop Seraphim of Piraeus lodged a lawsuit against those involved in the play, the officials have told Reuters. The play's director told Reuters he was stunned that prosecutors had chosen to go after him rather than pursue tax evaders and others blamed for driving Greece to near-bankruptcy. "What I see is that there are people who have robbed the country blind who are not in jail and the prosecutor turns against art," Albanian-born Laertis Vasiliou said. If found guilty, Vasiliou and the other defendants could face several months in prison.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 17th November 2012 - 11:11am