Spanish singer charged over 'cooking Christ' spoof

A popular Spanish singer has been charged with blasphemy for a satirical skit he filmed in 1978 in which he "cooks" a crucifix. Musician Javier Krahe faces a fine of £159,000 after stills from the spoof cookery show, which involved baking an effigy of Christ for three days, were shown on television in 2004 during an interview with the star.

Despite the length of time since both the film was made and the interview was aired, Mr Krahe faces prosecution for offending the feelings of a religious group, a little-known article included in the Spanish Penal Code. In the video, he jokingly talks about how one gaunt Christ serves two people and instructs viewers to remove spikes before cooking, announcing that it is delicious after three days on a low heat.

You rub him in butter and take him out of the oven "on the third day, when he's ready."


The television company Canal+, which broadcast the video and interview, has also been hit with a fine of £119,000 after viewer complaints prompted an investigation. Both the show's producer, Monserrat Fernández Villa, and Mr Krahe have defended themselves saying that only stills were aired, rather than the film in its entirety.

The hard line taken against the tongue-in-cheek video has divided opinion in Spain, with many progressive groups calling for the freedom of speech law to be altered to include freedom to blaspheme.