Film 'endorses violence'

The European Centre of Antiziganism [anti-gypsy] Research says it has filed a lawsuit to prevent the film being released in Germany on November 2.

The action claims the movie treats violence and discrimination against Roma peoples as acceptable, so should not be released.

Marko Knudsen from the group – which also campaigns against the use of the word gypsy – told the Reuters news agency: ‘We are accusing him of defamation and inciting violence against Sinti and Roma.’

He added: ‘We called the distributors, but they laughed at us.’

State prosecutors in Hamburg will investigate the allegations before deciding whether to take action.

When Baron Cohen won the award for best international comedian at the German Comedy Awards at the weekend, he joked in character: ‘I will put this prize next to the only other one I won. From Central Asian Olympic Committee. For hitting gypsy with rock at 50 meters.’

The suit follows complaints a slew of complaints about the film from Kazakhstan, the central Asian nation where the Borat character is from.

• Chris Rock’s mother, Rose, is suing America’s Cracker Barrel chain of restaurants after she was kept waiting for service for half an hour, claiming staff discriminated against her and her daughter because they were the only black customers there. When she complained to the manager of the branch in Georgetown, South Carolina, they were offered a free meal, which she didn’t want. The company is investigating.

Published: 17 Oct 2006