The Times of India, India
July 27 2006

Iran bans Da Vinci Code after protests

AGENCIES[ THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2006 12:42:57 AM]

TEHRAN: Iran has banned the best-selling novel `The Da Vinci Code’
after protests from the country’s Christian clergy, the culture
ministry said on Wednesday, but the Persian translation is already in
its eighth edition.

Iranian publishing thresholds have relaxed considerably in recent
years and Tehran booksellers have noted an increased appetite for new
age and spiritual titles.

`Based on the request of three Christian clerics, yesterday we
decided to ban its republication,’ said an official at the ministry
of culture and Islamic guidance.

Most of Iran’s Christians belong to the Armenian church. Although a
small minority in a country of 69m Muslims, the Armenians have two
seats reserved for them in the 290-seat parliament.

The tiny Assyrian Christian community also has its own
parliamentarian. Many Christians have condemned Dan Brown’s
page-turner, saying the plot is offensive for arguing Jesus Christ
married Mary Magdalene and that their descendants are alive today.

The Da Vinci Code has sold more than 40m copies worldwide and has
been turned into a Hollywood film starring Tom Hanks.

Although the film has not had a box office release in Iran, the
pirated DVD is widely available.
Copies of the book were still on sale in Iran and will not be taken
off bookshelves, but a ninth edition will not be printed, the
official said.