Cancelled Berlin opera is no security risk -police

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

BERLIN, Oct 27 (Reuters) A Berlin production of a Mozart opera which involves a scene depicting the severed head of the Prophet Mohammad, is not a threat to security, German police said.

Kirsten Harms, the director of opera house Deutsche Oper, triggered a row last month by cancelling the opera ''Idomeneo'' over fears of Islamist violence, but the opera house said it was now considering when to restage the production.

''There is no concrete risk for Deutsche Oper or its staff,'' police said in a statement late yesterday after weighing up the security situation.

Deutsche Oper pulled the production, which contains a scene showing the severed heads of the Prophet Mohammad, Jesus and Buddha, after police warned Harms it could pose a security risk.

''The earliest the production could be staged is December,'' a spokeswoman from Deutsche Oper said.

Shortly before the cancellation, Pope Benedict had enraged Muslims by quoting from a medieval text linking the spread of Islam to violence. The fears of violence were raised by the violent Muslim protests which followed the publication of cartoons lampooning Mohammad.

The opera's cancellation drew condemnation from politicians and artists who warned Germans against bowing to fears of terrorism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the cancellation was a mistake and self-censorship did not help against people who want to practise violence in the name of Islam.

The row coincided with a government-sponsored conference to promote dialogue with the country's 3.2 million Muslims.

Integration has become a priority for the government as concern grows about Islamic radicalisation across Europe and the emergence of an underclass of disillusioned young Muslims, mainly Turks, in Germany.

REUTERS PDM SSC1531

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