Greece Issues Blasphemy Charges For Gay Jesus Play

BY Michelle Garcia

November 18 2012 1:26 PM ET

Actors and a producer in Greece have been charged with blasphemy for staging an American play that depicts Jesus and his apostles as gay.

The production of Corpus Christi was cancelled in Athens earlier this month after priests and right-wing groups protested the theater, Reuters reports. If found guilty, the defendants could face several months in prison.

Director Laertis Vasillou said the Greek government should be targeting those who have contributed to the failing economy.

"What I see is that there are people who have robbed the country blind, who are not in jail and the prosecutor turns against art," he said to Reuters.

Blasphemy charges are rare, and many political figures, organizations, and the co-ruling Democratic Left Party have come out in defense of the actors and play's producers.