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Brüno star Sacha Baron Cohen has been threatened by a terrorist organisation he ridiculed in the hit satire.
The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a coalition of Palestinian militias in the West Bank, released a statement saying it was “very upset” at how it is portrayed in the film.
The London-born comedian, 37, had made fun of the group in Brüno, in which he plays a gay Austrian fashion journalist.
The group is alleged to be responsible for dozens of suicide bombings and shootings and has been designated a terrorist organisation by the EU and America.
“The movie was part of a conspiracy against the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades,” a spokesman told Jerusalem-based journalist Aaron Klein.
“We reserve the right to respond in the way we find suitable against this man.” In the film, Baron Cohen's character attempts to get himself kidnapped during a meeting with Ayman Abu Aita, who is identified in the film as the leader of the Martyrs' Brigades.
Brüno is shown telling Mr Abu Aita: “I want to be famous. I want the best guys in the business to kidnap me. Al Qaeda is so 2001.”
Before Mr Abu Aita can respond, Brüno suggests he remove his moustache, explaining: “Because your king Osama looks like a kind of dirty wizard or homeless Santa.”
A spokesman for Baron Cohen refused to comment on the threat.
Klein, the WorldNet reporter who received the statement, said today: “These are terrorists who are fundamentalist Islamists. They are against feminism, gay rights and abortion. Once I asked them what would they do if they found out one of their members was a homosexual. They said they would cut off his head.”
Mr Abu Aita himself has threatened to sue Baron Cohen. He claims he was tricked into appearing in the film and has insisted he is no longer involved in the Martyrs' Brigades after serving a jail term for his activities.
Al Aqsa are named after the mosque in Jerusalem which is the third-holiest site in Islam and identify themselves as the military wing of Fatah, the Palestinian political movement which forms the bulk of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation.
Baron Cohen, who lives in Los Angeles and London with fiancée Isla Fisher, 33, and their one-year-old daughter Olive, is reported to have received death threats in America and Kazakhstan after his previous film, Borat.
He has already been sued in California over Brüno.
Reader views (22)
fascist religious maniacs..now I've read the article...I thought they were worried becuase islam was being attacked...no just because they are compared to gays...
- Arthur, Paris, France
oh!so they objected to being ridiculed...well they should just stop be ridiculous.
- Edouard, Toulouse, France
Why is it that some of these various kinds of 'artists' work so hard to be despicable plagues on society?
And why do so many willing pay them?
- Trunk, US
'Sow the wind...reap the whirlwind! Perhaps the "terrorists" are closeted homosexuals who cannot reconcile themselves to their sexuality so must kill instead'
Spot on, Neil! The Israelis can bomb these guys all day, but one man in tight shorts is what REALLY upsets them.
- Mdj E10, london uk
He is just right to make fun of this bunch of terrorist child murderers. They are nothing but the dregs of a corrupt society and deserve nothing but ridicule and contempt. Good for Baron.
- Eoin Mcgreeghan, Derry, NI
The Palestinians have a lot more important things to think about besides a third rate movie.
Movie a complete flop, hence the publicity stunt.
- John Smith, London , England
"..incite violence towards gay people..."
No it won't. It'll incite violence towards Jewish people.
- Bryn, Eltham, UK
Story stinks of desperate attempt to get free publicity for a below average film that is unsurprisingly failing at the box office!
- Paulo Uccello, London UK
The movie was funny, but will stoke up homophobia and probably incite violence towards gay people - just like Little Britain has done. It's a sad world we live in. But typically, it's the muslims who are first to want him dead ... islam really is a cult based on hate and violence. I guess one of the movies success has been to highlight that. Name and address withheld, incase a muslim feels the only response open to them is to cut my head off ... and film it ... and put it on YouTube
- Ben Farrell, London
Funny how groups like al-asqa, hamas etc will bleat&cry when Israel give them a taste of thier own medicine, yet do not mind threatening and dishing out violence for whatever flimsy reason.
Shows them for what they really are, just a shame all the stupid apologists do not see through them.
- Russell, London
Ironic how our democratic tolerance allows them to espouse their radical intolerance. What's wrong with this picture?
- Bern, Whitstable
Its a comedy sketch for crying out loud,We should really be out raged at such threats to free speech and humour,These threats should inspire on all who value freedom,have you heard the joke about Mohamed and the duke of Westminster!!!I feel a cartoon coming on.
- Kev, London-UK
London has had it's fare share of terror by these murdering swine,so do not take this threat with a pinch of salt.The fact that Cohen is Jewish makes no differance,these swine will kill anyone anywhere.
- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy
Terrorism is big business; it keeps the arms industry working full out, and makes billionaires out of arms dealers.
But Terrorists need targets to kill, injure, or maim; and without comedians like Sacha they would have fewer aims and causes left in their lives to fight for, and if this happened; the arms industry would all end up making electric cars and TV sets instead of guns and bombs etc.
Oh for the days of free speech, humour and happiness; it beats killing unkown passing stranger’s any-day; in my opinion.
- Mickinlondon, london.
They say they reserve the right to respond in any way they feel suitable.
So, as these people are vicious, gun-toting killers, we must assume said response won't be an a 500-word, witty, critique of this grubby little film.
- Jargonaut, South London
What does he expect taking the mickey out of any extreme militia, might think twice next time! Almost feel like saying 'serves him right!'
- Stuart, Ferndown
Sow the wind...reap the whirlwind! Perhaps the "terrorists" are closeted homosexuals who cannot reconcile themselves to their sexuality so must kill instead.
- Neil, London, London UK
Quote "The organisation is alleged to be responsible for suicide bombings and shootings and is a listed terrorist group in the EU and US"
... and is very upset about how it is being portrayed in the media ???!!!
Oh, poor ickle murdering fascist religious maniacs, how upsetting for them. Sacha Baron Cohen (Jewish) ought to be seriously worried because people have been killed for far less. Murder in the name of religion is WRONG in all cases. Death threats for taking the mick out of these terrorist murderers with ridiculous fanatical religious beliefs is SO WRONG it's almost laughable if it wasn't so real.
- Deano, London
It's their moment for 15 minutes of fame - the world is looking at them on the back of Sacha Baron Cohen's publicity: they could use this to air their righteous grievances and get the world on-side to help solve their problems . . . and they fluffed it!
Seems SBC has shown them in their true colours, which is what satire is about.
- Roz, France
what a big risk to take for a film that wasnt that funny
- Ross, london
To be fair, id I were him I'd be more worried about the rednecks he's offended, they have a much larger arsenal.
- Bob, Cheam
The publicity hungry Baron Cohen may well be taking these 'threats' seriously but he has such a long history of inventing childish and ridiculous stories to get himself into the papers that not many other people will take much notice.
- David, Barnet, UK
