BANGKOK: A Thai horror film about Buddhist monks has been banned over fears it could “destroy” the kingdom’s majority faith, authorities said on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Culture has objected to certain parts of the film “Arbat” including a kissing scene and one where a monk is shown taking drugs.

The clergy have long been revered in overwhelmingly Buddhist Thailand but in recent years have been rocked by scandals including gambling and prostitution, as well as corruption at the increasingly wealthy temples propped by donations from the faithful. “The movie has some scenes that will destroy Buddhism. If it is shown, people’s faith in Buddhism will deteriorate,” Somchai Surachatri, spokesman for Thailand’s National Office of Buddhism, said.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2015

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