Croatian police prevent nationalists from disrupting play

SPLIT, Croatia – Croatian police have intervened to stop a group of extreme nationalists from disrupting a controversial play that contains scenes of nudity and rape.

Oliver Frljic’s “Our violence and Your Violence” deals with Europe’s refugee crisis and has been denounced by the Catholic church and previously also by Muslims.

Carrying a banner reading “Satan, leave our city,” about a dozen right-wing supporters Monday chanted extremist slogans and sang nationalist songs inside the theatre in the coastal town of Split before police pushed them out.

Local media say the play was further delayed by a bomb threat.

Earlier, a few hundred nationalists staged a protest outside the theatre demanding that the performance be cancelled.

The church in predominantly Catholic Croatia has said the play is insulting for Christian believers. Frljic’s plays often stir controversy and spark protests.