In a show of solidarity with the Christian community, Muslim groups and clerics in Mumbai have demanded that the movie Da Vinci Code be banned in India.

"We cannot tolerate any insult to Jesus Christ," Maulana Mansoor Ali Khan, general secretary, All India Sunni Jamat-Ul-Ulema, an organisation of Islamic clerics, told rediff.com

"In the Holy Koran it is written clearly that Jesus is one of our prophets. The film Da Vinci Code says Jesus was a married man. That is blasphemous," Khan added.

The film, based on Dan Brown's bestseller by the same name and starring Tom Hanks, is scheduled to be released in India on Friday, May 19.

Muslim groups opposing the movie have written to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R R Patil and Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy to stop the screening of film.

The groups have also vowed to ensure that the film's posters will not be put up anywhere.

"The film shows our Prophet Jesus Christ in a bad light. I have not read the book but I am told that the author says Prophet Jesus Christ had a child. This will not be tolerated by any Muslim," said Maulana Saeed Noori, general secretary, Raza Academy, an organisation that works for the uplift of Muslims.

Christian and Muslim leaders in Mumbai will hold joint protests, demanding a ban on the film.

Should Da Vinci Code be banned?

So far, only the Goa government has banned the film.

"Other state governments should also ban this film," said Maulana Noori.

"This book and film is an insult to both the Christian and Muslim communities and no one should tolerate that," he said.

Also see:
Bishops back Da Vinci action
Secrets of the Da Vinci Code