Opera Director's Silver Platter

The director of the Berlin Opera recently cancelled a producion of Mozart's "Idomeneo" (article here). The reason given by Kristen Harms, the director, is that the depiction of Mohammad's severed head might offend Muslims, and she fears for the safety of the audience and of the staff at the opera. Also depicted in the opera are the severed heads of Poseidon, Jesus, and the Buddha, but apparently Harms is not afraid of offending neopagans, Christians and Buddhists.

Protecting sensitive religious types is not my goal here. My point is that you won't get shot or have a fatwa issued clamoring for your head if you symbolically or artistically decapitate any other religious figure. Muslim faith forbids the depiction of the prophet Mohammad for fear of idolatry. What if the depiction is being made by a non-Muslim?

This from the article:

Last month Madonna sparked criticism from some Roman Catholics in Germany for a show that staged a mock crucifixion. Mel Gibson's 2004 movie, "The Passion of Christ" met with disapproval from some Catholics and some Jews. In 2004, a Birmingham, England, theater canceled its run of "Behzti" after a violent protest by members of the Sikh community.

The difference amongst all of these? The only one that sparked "violent protest" was the one that offended Muslims.