GERMANY: Germany's political and Muslim leaders joined together yesterday to demand the reinstatement of a provocative Berlin opera production cancelled over fears of violent reprisals from Islamic extremists.
Their call came as Berlin's Deutsche Oper was accused of cowardice and self-censorship for removing Mozart's Idomeneo from its repertoire three years and 14 performances after its premiere - after police warnings that it posed an "incalculable" security risk.
The final scene of the Deutsche Oper production - not in the original libretto - involves the severed heads of the Prophet Muhammad, Jesus, Buddha and Poseidon.
Deutsche Oper director Kirsten Harms said Berlin police had received an anonymous, non-specific threat about the production and that she had decided to cancel performances of the opera in November, with the support of her 570 employees.
The opera-loving chancellor Angela Merkel said she thought the cancellation was a "mistake".
"Personally I don't think that self-censorship helps us further against people who want to carry out acts of violence here in the name of Islam," she said. "We have to be careful that we do not retreat out of a fear of potentially violent radicals."
Her remarks echoed the widespread condemnation of the Deutsche Oper's decision yesterday. Many newspapers warned that a dangerous "appeasement precedent" had been set, with some even warning of the end of freedom of artistic expression.
"Freedom of expression is anchored in our constitution and was won only after centuries of battle, firstly against clerical authorities, and we cannot allow ourselves to retreat one millimetre," said Prof Julian Nida-Rümelin, a former federal cultural minister.
Several commentators went further, suggesting the scandal was just another stunt in a Berlin opera scene addicted to provocative, blood- and urine-soaked productions.
The row overshadowed a ground-breaking conference in Berlin yesterday between leading government ministers and leaders of Germany's Muslim community yesterday.
All sides praised yesterday's talks as a breakthrough.