TORONTO — A religious group in India is asking a court to ban a video by Iranian singer Amitis Moghaddam and U.S. rapper Snoop Dogg because of its depictions of a sacred religious symbol.
The Parsi Zoroastrian Association of Kolkata is upset that the video for “King” shows scantily clad woman and Snoop Dogg in front of the Faravahar — a winged disk revered in Zoroastrianism.
“The respondents were well aware of the Faravahar and the religious sentiments that the Parsi Zoroastrians attach with it as Amitis Moghaddam is of Iranian decedent,” wrote Darayas Jamshed Bapooji in the petition.
“Yet intentionally they produced and published the said video with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging and insulting the religious feelings of the Parsi Zoroastrian community. The said video is insensitive towards the religious beliefs of one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world.”
The Public Interest Litigation petition names Moghaddam, Snoop Dogg, YouTube, Vevo, Vydia and the Indian government.
“The wrong use of religious and sacred symbols and iconography hurts, insults and outrages the religious sentiments and beliefs of Parsi Zoroastrians,” Bapooji wrote.
“The Faravahar should be revered and respected as the Christian cross, Allah, the Star of David and Om, the religious symbols of all religions. All over the world, people respect religious symbols. The Faravahar, a sacred symbol for the Parsi Zoroastrians, does not belong to this song.”
India has the largest population of Parsis in the world but their numbers are dwindling.
In June, blogger Mahroo Kershavarz wrote about the video’s “superficial” use of religious symbols. “If this video means that Snoop Dogg fans will begin to listen to more Iranian singers than it’s done some good. But it’s unlikely it will inspire anyone to learn more about the depths of our culture.”
In its first month online, the video has been viewed fewer than 82,000 times.
A hearing is scheduled for July 17.
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