Russian bid to ban South Park

Cartoon branded 'extremist'

Russian religious evangelists have called for a ban on South Park, saying it contains ‘signs of extremist activity’.

Regional prosecutors agreed with the complaint from the Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith, and have started legal action to have it banned by the Federal Mass Media Inspection Service – which has the power to shut down broadcasters.

The Christian group's leader Konstantin Bendas said: ‘Our complaint is against a lot of cartoons, but this one was from South Park season three, episode 15.’

The episode, called Mr Hankey's Christmas Classics features the cast singing Christmas carols, hosted by a talking poo. Songs include O Tannenbaum, performed by Adolf Hitler and Merry Fucking Christmas, performed by Mr. Garrison.

South Park, dubbed into Russian, is aired on the 2x2 channel in Moscow and St Petersburg.

‘It's one thing if they are on cable TV and viewers pay money and make a conscious choice. But young children should not be able to turn on the TV after school and watch this. They need to be defended,’ Mr Bendas said. He added that 20 experts had studied the show for its effect on young viewers.

However network director Roman Sarkisov, said: ‘I don't think there's any extremism in South Park, which is shown all around the world.’

The religious group is also complaining that The Simpsons and The Family Guy ‘do not comply with legislation on protecting the moral and psychological development of children’.

But Mr Sarkisov said: ‘We are working for adults. In Russia, people still think that animation is aimed only at children.’

In 2006, Russia passed a controversial law widening the definition of extremism to include ‘the abasement of national dignity’ and ‘inciting religious and national hatred’ – which was widely seen as a way for Vladimir Putin to crack down on any criticism.

Here are some of the offending songs: