Britain gears up for protest at Gibson's 'Christ'

Director accused by Jewish leaders of ignoring plea for disclaimer at end of movie

A leading figure in Britain's Jewish community claims that Mel Gibson ignored his demands to add a postscript to his controversial new film The Passion of the Christ stating that Jews were not responsible for Jesus' death.

The row over the movie, which has been simmering in the US for several months, has now boiled over into the UK.

Sir Sigmund Sternberg says he was snubbed by Gibson, who directed and co-wrote the film, over his request for a disclaimer at the end it. Sir Sigmund, president of the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain and renowned for his work in bringing different faiths together, spoke out on the eve of the film's opening on 2,800 screens in the United States.

Jewish lobby groups have accused Gibson of fuelling anti-Semitism through his violent depiction of the last 12 hours of Christ's life. The film aims to be the most realistic made, and at one point was said to have the endorsement of the Pope - though that was later denied.

Gibson made an apparent concession by cutting one line from the film when a Jewish high priest says Jesus' blood will be "upon us and our children". But Jewish organisations such as the Simon Wiesenthal Centre have continued to warn it could play into the hands of anti-Semites.

Sir Sigmund will be one of many leaders from different faiths who will see preview screenings in London on Thursday, ahead of the official British launch on 26 March.

He said he found it "rather insulting" that an intermediary for Gibson approached him about seeing an earlier viewing of the film last year, but his invitation was withdrawn shortly after it was made. It is understood Gibson was unaware that arrangements had been made for him to meet Sir Sigmund in Britain, and when the actor found out, he could not fit the meeting into his schedule.

Sir Sigmund, who is patron of the International Council of Christians and Jews and co-founder of the Three Faiths Forum of Christians, Muslims and Jews, said he then wrote to Gibson asking for the post-script to be added to the film, but received no reply.

"I feel there should be a post-script because there is a great deal of violence, and my concern is that it will create anti-Jewish feeling. It would have been easy to say that the Jews did not kill Christ," he said.

Sir Sigmund, a prominent Labour Party donor, added that Gibson should have shown the film to different faiths before it was released publicly. Other religious leaders attending this week's screenings echoed his concerns.

Neville Nagler, director-general of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: "We are very disturbed by the accounts given by many of those who have seen it, but we want to see it for ourselves."

Joel Edwards, general director of the Evangelical Alliance, said there was great interest among Evangelical Christians in any depiction of Christ's Passion, but that he had concerns about anything that might "fan the flames" of anti-Semitism. "While the Bible is clear that Roman and Jewish authorities colluded in Jesus' death, we have got no excuse to blame the Jews any more than we have to blame Italians," he said.

Jane Clements, deputy director of the Council of Christians and Jews, said the emotional power of the film could over-ride previous statements by the Vatican that Jews could not be held collectively responsible for Christ's death. "There are people who see the crucifixion in terms of good and evil, and put Jews in the evil group. We are worried that the film is not going to help that."

Others defended the film. Jonathan Stephen, director of the British Evangelical Council, said: "It depicts the fact that, according to the Gospels, Jewish leaders ordered him to be crucified as he had said he was the son of God. To charge it with the loaded phrase 'anti-Semitic' is just nonsense."

The film opens on Wednesday in the US and is expected to recoup its $30m cost in five days. Church groups have made block bookings worth $2m. One cinema in Plano, outside Dallas, will be showing it on all 20 of its screens, 24 hours a day.

Additional reporting by Annabel Fallon

Sigmund Sternberg: 'It would have been easy to say that the Jews did not kill Christ'

Mel Gibson: Made apparent concession by cutting one line of dialogue from the film

Neville Nagler: 'We are disturbed by the accounts of many who have seen it'