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Indian painter cleared by court | Indian painter cleared by court |
(about 1 hour later) | |
India's Supreme Court has refused to launch criminal proceedings against one of the country's best-known and controversial artists. | |
MF Husain had been accused of obscenity and was denounced by hardline Hindus for a painting of a nude goddess in the shape of the Indian map. | |
The court said Mr Husain's paintings were not obscene and nudity was common in Indian iconography and history. | The court said Mr Husain's paintings were not obscene and nudity was common in Indian iconography and history. |
Mr Husain says he is looking forward to returning home from self-imposed exile. | |
The Supreme Court also upheld a lower court ruling in May that dropped legal proceedings in three cases against the painter and cleared him of obscenity charges. | The Supreme Court also upheld a lower court ruling in May that dropped legal proceedings in three cases against the painter and cleared him of obscenity charges. |
Under Indian laws, obscenity is a criminal offence. | Under Indian laws, obscenity is a criminal offence. |
In its ruling, the court said that the nudity portrayed by Mr Husain had a long history. | In its ruling, the court said that the nudity portrayed by Mr Husain had a long history. |
"There are many such pictures, paintings and sculptures and some of them are in temples also," it said. | "There are many such pictures, paintings and sculptures and some of them are in temples also," it said. |
'Victory' | 'Victory' |
Mr Husain, a Muslim, has spent the past two years in the Middle East. He welcomed the court's decision and said he was looking forward to returning to India. | |
"At last they have understood the dignity of Indian contemporary art," he was quoted as saying by the Times of India newspaper. | "At last they have understood the dignity of Indian contemporary art," he was quoted as saying by the Times of India newspaper. |
"This is not a victory for me only, but one for the Indian contemporary art movement." | "This is not a victory for me only, but one for the Indian contemporary art movement." |
Last year, art auction house Christie's rejected demands by a group of expatriate Indians to withdraw the work of Mr Husain. | Last year, art auction house Christie's rejected demands by a group of expatriate Indians to withdraw the work of Mr Husain. |
The group had threatened to hold demonstrations unless the auction was dropped. | The group had threatened to hold demonstrations unless the auction was dropped. |
Over the years, his exhibitions have often been attacked by hardline Hindu groups, angry over a series of paintings depicting Hindu goddesses in the nude. | |
In 2006, Mr Husain publicly apologised for his painting, Mother India. It shows a nude woman kneeling on the ground creating the shape of the Indian map. | |
He promised to withdraw the controversial painting from a charity auction, after Hindu nationalist groups accused him of hurting their religious sentiments. | |
Mr Husain, 92, is one of India's leading painters. | Mr Husain, 92, is one of India's leading painters. |
His paintings are much sought after and are auctioned for millions of dollars. | His paintings are much sought after and are auctioned for millions of dollars. |
He has also made two Bollywood films, although both failed at the box office. | He has also made two Bollywood films, although both failed at the box office. |