Accessibility links

Breaking News

Russian Paper Accused Of Inciting Religious Hatred


(RFE/RL) 15 February 2006 -- A spokesman for Russia's media supervisory body, Rosohrankultura, has warned Russian media they may have their registration cancelled if they publish materials inciting religious animosities.


The warning came after a newspaper in the southern city of Volgograd published a cartoon of religious figures to illustrate an article on fighting nationalism and xenophobia.


The local branch of the Kremlin-backed Unified Russia party accused "Gorodskie vesti" of inciting religious hatred and called for a boycott of the daily. The newspaper denies the accusations.


Local prosecutors said they are looking into the publication to see whether there are grounds for opening a criminal investigation.


The "Gorodskie vesti" cartoon shows Jesus, Moses, Buddha, and the Prophet Muhammad watching on television two groups of people about to start a fight. The caption reads: "We did not teach you that." The cartoon illustrates an article titled "Racists Have No Place In Government."


(Interfax, RIA Novosti)

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG