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PreisvergleichSubject: The Rooskies are playing with fire
Author: vic arpeggioDate: 8 Sep 2008
Maybe the Russians aren't worried about retribution for the invasion
of Georgia, but they better watch out for the wrath of Matt and Trey
if they're going to make inflammatory comments about South Park and
Mr. Hankey.
Vic
Moscow prosecutors began legal proceedings aimed at the cartoon series
South Park today in a bid to kill Kenny in Russia.
Prosecutors took action against the 2x2 television channel for
broadcasting an episode of the animated comedy show that featured
Christmas songs including a medley duet performed by Santa Claus and
Jesus Christ.
The Basmanny regional prosecutors office in Moscow has announced that
the programme "bore signs of extremist activity".
The episode in question called Mr Hankey’s Christmas Classics was
aired in Moscow in January. It shows a number of regular and guest
characters including Satan, Adolf Hitler and an anthropomorphised
human faeces called Mr Hankey performing in a Christmas variety show.
An accompanying CD is available to buy.
Valentina Titova, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors office said: "In
accordance with the conclusions made by experts from the court
investigations committee, a claim has been filed against 2x2 for its
broadcast of an episode of South Park."
The cartoon series made by Matt Stone and Trey Parker since 1997 has
attracted criticism throughout its award-winning run and often targets
special interest groups and religions for mockery.
A statement by Moscow prosecutors read: "It offends the honour and
dignity of Christians and Muslims alike." It could just have easily
included Jews, Scientologists, Catholics, Mormons and Moonies all of
whom have been mercilessly targeted by American series.
Authorities in the Philippines threatened to ban the programme in 2006
and scores of groups around the world have campaigned against
broadcasting the series. The creators respond by describing themselves
as "equal opportunity offenders".
The Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith asked prosecutors
to ban South Park last week 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.
"Our complaint is against a lot of cartoons, but this one was from
South Park season three, episode 15," he said.
Mr Hankey’s Christmas Classics was first broadcast in the United
States on December 1, 1999, a total of 12 series have been made so
far. It was unclear today what the Russian Union of Christians of
Evangelical Faith thought about the other 174 episodes of the series,
which has won two Emmy awards during the past eleven years.
The prosecutors said they agreed with the Christian group that the
programme "could provoke ethnic conflict and spark inter-religious
hatred".
Russia passed a 2006 law widening the definition of extremism to
include "the abasement of national dignity" and "inciting religious
and national hatred", which backers say was needed to stem a wave of
violence aimed at ethnic minorities.
The prosecutor's office has sent the case to court and has also issued
a warning to the 2x2 TV Channel that airs the show.
The Russian adult-oriented cartoon network TV channel faced similar
accusations in March, when Russian Protestant leaders submitted a
request to the Prosecutor General's Office asking for the channel's
license to be revoked, saying it "promotes immorality and violence".
In February 2008, Rossvyazokhrankultura, a regulatory body for
television in Russia, issued warnings to the channel recommending that
they remove two other series from the air to avoid legal issues.
The Happy Tree Friends cartoon is a virtually dialogue-free animation
with a cult following for its extreme violence. The other programme
that offended the regulatory body was The Adventures of Big Jeff, a 90-
second animation starring a naked Australian on roller-skates.
The Venezuelan authorities banned The Simpsons from being broadcast
during the morning earlier this year before the programme was replaced
by the fellow US heavyweight Baywatch.
SP Fan
vic arpeggio