Greek Court Lifts Ban on Jesus Cartoon Book

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By Karolos Grohmann

ATHENS (Reuters) - A Greek court on Wednesday has lifted a ban on selling a cartoon book from Austria depicting Jesus Christ as a drinking buddy of Jimi Hendrix and a marijuana-smoking, naked surfer.

Austrian cartoonist Gerhard Haderer had been found guilty by a Greek court of "malicious public blasphemy" earlier this year and given a six-month suspended prison sentence for his take on the life of Christ.

But the Athens appeals court ruled the book was not "blasphemous" and overturned Haderer's conviction, his lawyer Maria Marazioti told Reuters.

"We have won. The book is no longer banned, Haderer is free and the book can now go on sale legally," she said. "This is a wonderful decision."
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