'Respect For Jesus Christ Definite Matter For Muslims': Iran’s Khamenei Slams Paris Olympics 2024 Opening Ceremony

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has expressed strong disapproval over the portrayal of holy figures during the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony. We condemn these insults directed at the holy figures of divine religions, including Jesus Christ.#Olympic2024 — Khamenei.ir July 30, 2024 The intended interpretation of Dionysus aimed to raise awareness “of the absurdity of violence between human beings,” according to the organisers’ statement on X. While some praised the tableau’s message of inclusivity and tolerance, the Catholic Church in France criticised it for “scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity.” Monsignor Emmanuel Gobilliard, a delegate of the bishops of France for the Games, noted that some French athletes experienced difficulty sleeping due to the controversy’s fallout. The Italian bishops’ conference remarked that what should have been a celebration of French culture took an “unexpectedly negative turn,” calling the event a “parade of banal errors, accompanied by trite and predictable ideologies.” Avvenire, an Italian newspaper affiliated with the Catholic Church, questioned, “Don’t take us for moralistic bigots, but what’s the point of having to experience every single global event, even a sporting one, as if it were a Gay Pride?” Italian far-right leader Matteo Salvini described the segment as “squalid” and criticised it for insulting billions of Christians worldwide.