Extremists blamed for 'gay Jesus' attack
Fingers were being pointed at religious extremists on Sunday after a fight outside an exhibition that portrays Jesus as gay.
The Ecce Homo photo exhibition, by Swedish artist Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin, has been causing controversy ever since it was first unveiled a decade ago. In Jönköping on Sunday, protests against the exhibition turned violent.
A group of youngsters tried to set fire to a poster on the wall of Jönköping Kulturhuset, where the exhibition was being held. When staff tried to stop them a fight broke out.
Tony el Zouki, chairman of Kulturhuset, said around 30 people were involved in the fracas. The attempt to vandalize the exhibition appeared to have religious motivations, he said.
Jönköping is known as the heartland of Sweden's evangelical Christian movement.
"If this is some Christian group, then I really do not understand them. The message of Christianity is that people should understand and love each other," el Zouki told The Local.
"I really can't see how this can have a Biblical explanation," he added.
Police say that two reports have been made over the incident, Expressen writes.
Comments
See Also
The Ecce Homo photo exhibition, by Swedish artist Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin, has been causing controversy ever since it was first unveiled a decade ago. In Jönköping on Sunday, protests against the exhibition turned violent.
A group of youngsters tried to set fire to a poster on the wall of Jönköping Kulturhuset, where the exhibition was being held. When staff tried to stop them a fight broke out.
Tony el Zouki, chairman of Kulturhuset, said around 30 people were involved in the fracas. The attempt to vandalize the exhibition appeared to have religious motivations, he said.
Jönköping is known as the heartland of Sweden's evangelical Christian movement.
"If this is some Christian group, then I really do not understand them. The message of Christianity is that people should understand and love each other," el Zouki told The Local.
"I really can't see how this can have a Biblical explanation," he added.
Police say that two reports have been made over the incident, Expressen writes.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.