Legal News

Killing Kenny in Russia: Prosecutors Move to Ban ?South Park?

By Dan Slater

Devoted fans of “South Park,” the satirical and scatological cartoon that began airing on Comedy Central in 1997, will remember an episode called Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics. It features characters including Satan, Adolf Hitler and anthropomorphic human feces called Mr. Hankey performing in a Christmas variety show.

It’s definitely out there. For Russia, it may be a little too out there. Today, Moscow prosecutors began legal proceedings aimed at killing South Park, which in Russia airs on the 2×2 television channel. Prosecutors say the show “bore signs of extremist activity.” Russia passed a 2006 law widening the definition of extremism to include “the abasement of national dignity” and “inciting religious and national hatred.” Here’s a report from the Times of London.

A statement by Moscow prosecutors reportedly said that the show “offends the honour and dignity of Christians and Muslims alike.”

According to the Times, this isn’t the first time South Park has faced opposition abroad. In 2006, authorities in the Philippines threatened to ban the show and scores of groups around the world have campaigned against broadcasting the series. The creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, reportedly respond by describing themselves as “equal opportunity offenders”.

The Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith asked prosecutors to ban South Park last week after it said 20 experts had studied the show for its effect on young viewers. A spokesman for the group told the Times that “South Park is just one of many cartoons that need to be banned from open broadcast. . . as it insults the feelings of religious believers and incites religious and national hatred. . . . It’s one thing if they are on cable TV and viewers pay money and make a conscious choice. But young children should not be able to turn on the TV after school and watch this. They need to be defended.”

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on September 08, 2008 (boomark / email).