Singapore bans play for portraying Muslims negatively.

Singapore has banned a local play because its contents were deemed offensive to Muslims.
It said the play by playwright P. Elangovan was "insensitive and inappropriate for staging."

Singapore is an ethnically diverse city-state, whose population of more than four million is comprised of an ethnic Chinese majority, but with substantial Muslim and Indian minorities, and foreign workers of various nationalities.

Because of this diversity and the country's bitter experience with racial riots in the 1960s, the government has made the promotion and maintenance of racial harmony a top priority.

Smegma was initially granted a license to run for two nights at the weekend, but the MDA changed its decision after consulting with the Arts Consultative Panel whose members were "concerned that the play could create unhappiness and disaffection amongst Muslims," the report said.

It did not say which part of the play was offensive to Muslims, but a synopsis showed it would touch on moral, cultural, religious, political and economic issues viewed from the perspectives of "the underdogs and their masters."

The play is also riddled with expletives and contained sexual themes, the report said.

In 2000, another play by Elangovan entitled Talaq -- which was about an Indian-Muslim woman's experiences with marital violence -- was banned due to protests from Muslims and Indians.

**** There are so many topics to write on and yet we find people like this Mr Elangovan who insists on engaging controversial subjects. While in an ideal world this would be ok, the Singapore situation much like ours unfortunately dictates that such 'adventurism' be cut short. While this may be unacceptable to the proponents of total liberty and licence to stage plays or dramas, one cannot blame the Singapore authorities for the decision they have taken. Erring on the side of caution is better than facing the consequences of foolhardy bravado later.