Controversial ring leader of the right-wing party Moviment Patrijotti Maltin, Henry Battistino,has removed his social media post boasting about a criminal act in which he vandalised a billboard displaying an advert for a popular fast-food chain.
The ad had sparked controversy in itself because it is a re-creation of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous The Last Supper, with Jesus and the twelve apostles now portrayed as dining on burgers, fries, pizzas and milkshakes instead of the original bread and wine. The 12-metre billboard can be found at the Msida skate park, close to the University of Malta.
Intentionally damaging third party private property is a crime under Maltese law that may also carry a jail term. Law dictates that should the damage amount to less than €250, criminal proceedings may only be instituted on the complaint of an injured party.
Mr Battistino may have removed the post boasting about the crime upon advice from lawyers or possibly from the police. Several attempts to contact the ring-leader of the Patrijotti Maltin in order to ask why he removed the post, what prompted him to take the law into his own hands rather than complaining in a civilised way and whether he condones lawlessness, remained unanswered as at the time of going to print he had failed to answer any phone calls.
Mr Battistino is known for being present when pork-sandwiches were distributed at Msida where Muslim people were using an open air space for theirdaily prayers. The Muslim religion prohibits pork and some viewed the move to be deliberately offensive. The ring leader this time took offence at the outlet New York Best's decision to use an iconic artwork for Catholics all over the word as a marketing ad and subsequently took the law into his own hands, and ripped off the image of Jesus from the billboard.
After posing for a picture with a cigarette, the ripped Jesus and a fellow party member Desmond Falzon, who contested the June 4 general election and was awarded an unbelievable zero votes, meaning that he did not even vote for himself, Mr Battistino took to Facebook to say that he had been spurred on by "righteous anger and a Christian conscience".
On Facebook, he wrote:"I saw our Lord who died to save us, mocked to sell some pizza and chips...I made an attempt to speak with the owners but was coldly and arrogantly told to send him an e-mail. My faith is stronger than any man-made law and I can never agree with the removal of vilification of religion."
He also asserted that had the image depicted the Muslim prophet Mohammed, he would have done the same thing. Mr Battistino has in the past organised a number of anti-Islam protests.
He called for the government to re-insert the vilification of religion as a criminal offence. Between Sunday and Monday, Mr Battistino chose to remove the post.
Contacted yesterday to ascertain whether he will be taking legal action against Mr Battistino, NYB founder Tommy Diacono said that despite having every right to do so, he will be 'turning the other cheek', ironically a lesson taught through Jesus in the Bible.
The damaged billboard is still in place and it is unclear as to whether it will be removed completely, restored or changed into another controversial ad.
The billboard elicited strong reactions both in favour and against. Many argued that there is no need to use religion in order to sell your product, and the mere fact that Christianity is so sacred to the majority of Maltese people shows a lack of respect and is in bad taste.
Others argue that the ad is not immoral or offensive, that the religious figures have not been altered or made a mockery of, and that it is a contemporary take on the Last Supper which depicts Jesus and the 12 apostles sharing a last meal before the crucifixion.
Many argue that it is only the food that is changed which reflects a more contemporary approach. It has been stressed that the religious figures are not even portrayed drinking, ingesting drugs or is sexually suggestive in any way, something designed to catch people's attention but not offend in such a deep way.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2tbQbVv
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment