Voltaire play on Mohammed sparks outrage

United Press International - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "A play about the prophet Mohammed by the celebrated writer Voltaire has sparked outrage on the part of Muslims in the eastern French region of Gex, and in neighboring Switzerland.

At issue is "Mohammed or Fanaticism," a play penned by the famous 18th century French writer and philosopher that ostensibly represented anti-Muslim views of the time. The local Muslim communities have requested that the play be withdrawn from theaters in Geneva and in the French town of Saint-Genis Pouilly, where it aired last week.

Gex's deputy prefect argues Voltaire aimed to attack what he considered religious fanaticism by Catholics at the time -- which was in 1741."