Egypt To Ban Both Da Vinci Code Film And Book

Egypt's Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni, told Parliament this week that Egypt will ban the film The Da Vinci Code for insulting religion. Ali Abu Shadi, director of Egypt's censorship board, said official action has not yet been taken because copies of the film have not yet been received in Egypt. Culture Minister Hosni also said that the government will go further and confiscate copies of the book version of The Da Vinci Code, even though it has been on sale in the country for over two years. The Associated Press reported yesterday that the moves come after Georgette Qelliny, a Coptic Christian member of Parliament, demanded that the action be taken. There has been increased tension between Muslims and Christians in Egypt recently. (See prior related posting.)