日만화 '울트라맨' 갑작스런 금지령...왜?

(123rf)

말레이시아 정부는 7일 일본 만화 울트라맨이 주인공의 이름을 “알라”로 칭해, 무슬림에게 혼란을 준다는 이유로 이 만화책에 대한 금지령을 내렸다.

금지조치가 내려진 울트라맨 시리즈는 “울트라맨, 더 울트라 파워”로 이전에 출판된 만화책은 판매가 허용된다고 말레이시아 내무부가 전했다.

말레이시아 정부는 말레이어로 번역된 “울트라맨, 더 울트라 파워”가 국민의 질서와 도덕성을 저하하는 내용을 포함하고 있다며 “많은 어린이들이 울트라맨을 알라와 동격화하며 우상화하고 있다”고 설명했다.

또 “젊은 무슬림들에게 혼돈을 가져오고 그들의 믿음을 실추시킬 수 있다”고 금지 이유를 밝혔다.

한편, 말레이시아 정부는 “알라”라는 표현은 이슬람교에서만 쓸 수 있다고 주장해 이에 반대하는 가톨릭 교회들과 법정 공방을 벌이고 있다.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)

Malaysia bans Japanese comic book Ultraman for using ‘Allah’

Malaysia has banned a translation of an Ultraman comic book after it referred to the popular Japanese superhero as “Allah”, authorities said Friday, during an ongoing row over use of the word by non-Muslims.

The home ministry, which is in charge of domestic security and censorship, said the Malay language edition of “Ultraman, The Ultra Power” contains elements that can undermine public order and morals.

“Ultraman is an idolised by many children,” and equating him with Allah will “confuse Muslim youth and damage their faith,” it said in a statement.

It further warned that irresponsible use of the word can provoke Muslims and threaten public safety.

The Malaysian government is currently embroiled in an intense court battle with the Catholic Church over the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims, in a case that has raised religious tensions in the majority Muslim country.

Ultraman is a fictional Japanese superhero who fights skyscraper-sized “Kaiju” (monsters), and first appeared on television in the 1960s.

The comic gained popularity worldwide, including in Malaysia, where versions dubbed in Malay were screened on TV and comic books translated into the national language.

The home ministry said other Ultraman comic books were unaffected and that only this edition is banned.