Russian City Halts Ticket Sales For Musical To Consider Religious Offense Complaint

Russia's Duma is considering amendments to the country's criminal code to specifically outlaw causing of religious offense.  As reported last week by RIA Novosti, the bill was drafted in the wake of the sentencing of 3 members of the punk rock group Pussy Riot for hooliganism after their performance in a Moscow cathedral. The proposed law would impose a sentence ranging from a fine to up to 5 years in prison for violation of its prohibitions. Apparently relying on the proposed legislation, 18 Orthodox Christian private citizens in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don have complained to the city about the scheduled performance of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. They contend that it is an inaccurate portrayal of Jesus. RT reported yesterday that the city administration has ordered the theater to stop selling tickets for the performance while the city considers the complaint.