A poster for the latest
Borat film on Paris buses has caused anger among some French Muslims for featuring a nearly-naked
Sacha Baron Cohen wearing a ring bearing the word 'Allah' in Arabic script.
Incensed locals have taken to social media, accusing the city's authorities of insulting Islam.
While
Paris' main transport network RATP refused to remove the posters, buses on the TICE network, which operates in a largely-Muslim area, no longer feature the advert.
The poster, which can be seen on the side of many Parisian buses, shows English actor Baron Cohen wearing a gold ring with the word 'Allah' written on it in Arabic and wearing only a face mask to cover his genitals in tribute to the 'mankini' his Borat character wore in the first film.
The upset over the image comes at a time of sky-high tensions in
France between the state, which argues that mocking religion is part of freedom of speech, and Muslims in France and beyond who feel especially targeted and disrespected by France's stance.
Mass protests have taken place in Muslim-majority countries around the world over comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron in defence of controversial depictions of the Prophet Mohammed.
France and other European countries have raised their terror level alerts in response to three recent attacks.
Bus Drivers in Paris, many of whom are Muslim, have appealed to the city's transport authority to remove the poster.
One driver, named as Django M, reportedly threatened to 'scratch over' the poster, saying it was 'incredible' that the image had been allowed to adorn Paris' buses.
The upset over the image comes at a time of sky-high tensions in
France between the state, which argues that mocking religion is part of freedom of speech, and Muslims in France and beyond who feel especially targeted and disrespected by France's stance.
Mass protests have taken place in Muslim-majority countries around the world over comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron in defence of controversial depictions of the Prophet Mohammed.
France and other European countries have raised their terror level alerts in response to three recent attacks.
Bus Drivers in Paris, many of whom are Muslim, have appealed to the city's transport authority to remove the poster.
One driver, named as Django M, reportedly threatened to 'scratch over' the poster, saying it was 'incredible' that the image had been allowed to adorn Paris' buses.