Fear is not funny, says Python alumnus

Terry Jones, veteran of Monty Python from way back says today's politically correct atmosphere would not allow for a Muslim version of "The Life of Brian".

When asked if a movie parody using Muslims would be a good idea, Jones replied “Probably not – looking at Salman Rushdie. I suppose people would be frightened." Jones did make a very prescient statement when he said “So in future we look for Islam to replace communism." Now if we would only fight Islam with the same commitment to the win as we did communism, maybe we would have a chance.

From Express.co.uk October 11 by Elisa Roche

A MUSLIM LIFE OF BRIAN? NO WAY, SAYS PYTHON

COMEDIAN Terry Jones has admitted that he and his Monty Python colleagues would be “frightened” and “think twice” before poking fun at Muslims in today’s politically correct climate.

The Life Of Brian star says he never believed the 1979 comedy about Jesus would be as controversial as it was at the time. He certainly never expected people still to be discussing it now.

Jones, 69, says he and his fellow comics were able to make the film only because, at the time, religion “seemed to be on the back burner”.

He said: “I never thought it would be as controversial as it turned out, although I remember saying when we were writing it that some religious nutcase may take pot shots at us, and everyone replied, ‘No’.

“I took the view it wasn’t blasphemous,” he tells Radio Times. “At the time religion seemed to be on the back burner and it felt like kicking a dead donkey.” But he says: “It’s come back with a vengeance and we’d think twice about making it now.”

Asked if he would make a satirical film about Muslims now, he replied, “Probably not – looking at Salman Rushdie. I suppose people would be frightened.

“I think it’s whipped up by the arms industry. I read an in-house magazine called Weapons Today before the Gulf War and the editorial was headlined, ‘Thank God for Saddam’ and went on to say that since perestroika we have an enemy no one can complain about.

“So in future we look for Islam to replace communism.

“I thought they were joking – the Crusades were 1,000 years ago – but of course that’s what’s happening now.” The star, who has a two-year-old daughter by his 28-year-old Swedish girlfriend, is “amazed” The Life Of Brian still provokes rage. “We’re still discussing it, and I don’t know why,” he says.