Fears Of Muslim Violence Force Opera To Cancel Production

A stage production based on Mozart’s “Idomeneo” that featured a scene showing the severed heads of a Greek god, Muhammad, Jesus and Buddha is canceled over fears of violence. Security officials warned of “incalculable risk” if the play continued. Islamic leaders hailed the decision, but Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit said, “I consider the decision to be wrong. Our ideas about openness, tolerance and freedom must be lived on the offensive. Voluntary self-limitation gives those who fight against our values a confirmation in advance that we will not stand behind them.”