Germany drops Mohammed's head

Deutsche Oper Berlin has cancelled performances of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 1781 opera Idomeneo originally scheduled for November, following advice from the German police.

In his interpretation of the opera, director Hans Neuenfels includes a scene featuring the decapitated heads of Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, and Poseidon. The production was performed in 2003, though it was felt that a revival this year may incite Muslim protests and thus put the safety of the performers and audience at risk.

Presumably Christians and Buddhists (and ancient Greeks?) would also be offended by the opera, though it is the possible Islamic reaction which has prompted the cancellation. Christians and Buddhists may be offended, though they wouldn't try to burn down the opera house or issue death-threats against the cast, whereas Islamic extremists might have done so.