Faith-offending films
Who was offended? Jews What was their beef? Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” was one of the biggest hits of 2004. Its stark images of Jesus’ crucifixion and the violence toward him, as well as villainous portrayals of many Jewish people, created a religious furor. Rabbis around the world said the film had the potential to transmit potent negative images, attitudes, stereotypes and caricatures about Jews and Judaism. (Philippe Antonello / Associated Press)
Who was offended? Muslims What was their beef? When Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, a descendent of Vincent van Gogh, released the 10-minute film “Submission,” with its criticism of violence against women in Islamic society and its images of seminude actresses with passages from the Koran displayed on their bodies, he became the target of death threats. He shrugged them off, but on the morning of Nov. 2, 2004, he was killed in the streets of Amsterdam by Mohammed Bouyeri, a Dutch citizen who was later sentenced to life in prison. (Rick Nederstigt / AFP)
