BEIRUT, Lebanon – Deeming its contents insulting to Christianity, Lebanese authorities have banned “The Da Vinci Code,” a novel that has drawn harsh criticism – and millions of readers – with its depiction of Jesus Christ marrying Mary Magdalene and fathering a child.
American author Dan Brown’s fast-paced, globe-trotting thriller was pulled off shelves around Lebanon on the orders of the General Security Department this week after the Catholic Information Center, which speaks for Lebanon’s Catholic community, recommended that it be banned.
“We were asked for our opinion on the book and we gave it,” the Rev. Abdo Abu Kasm, who heads the center, said on Thursday. “We cannot accept that anyone insult our dignity and beliefs. … Christianity is not about forgiveness to the point of insulting Jesus Christ.”
The 2003 book portrays Roman Catholic leaders as demonizing women for centuries and covering up the truth about the Holy Grail, which Brown says is Mary Magdalene herself.
More than 10 books have been written trying to discredit the historical and theological content of Brown’s novel. Brown, who has said he is too busy working on a sequel to talk much about the book, has said he is grateful his work is generating debate.
Brown’s book, which sat atop The New York Times bestseller list for months, has sold more than 7.5 million copies worldwide and is expected to be made into a movie. It has been a success in Lebanon, where about 35 percent of the 3.5 million population is Christian.
Roger Haddad, assistant manager at the Virgin Megastore’s bookstore department, says the book has been among the top five bestsellers for almost a year. He declined to give a sales figure but said it was a huge success until the bookstore was asked to take it off the shelves in all three languages – English, French and Arabic.
“I call this backwardness. … This novel is what is called popular literature, people read it for fun, it’s not harmful and banning it only attracts more attention to its content,” he said.
The head of Lebanon’s Publisher’s Union was equally angered.
“Salman Rushdie is forgotten in the annals of history, whereas Islam stayed on and Dan Brown will go, too, and Christianity will stay on,” Ahmed Fadlallah Assi said in a statement.
“Who decides that a creative work will lead to religious strife? Banning … might give a bigger chance for these ideas to spread.”
Lebanon’s General Security Department said it consults with Christian and Muslim religious authorities on all books dealing with sensitive subjects. The department routinely screens imported publications to prevent the distribution of material it deems harmful to the country’s security and policies.
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