Birmingham, England’s Repertory Theatre has cancelled the play “Behzti” after violent protests by members of the city’s Sikh community. Demonstrators injured three police officers and damaged theater property. Three people were arrested. According to the BBC,

Protesters said Behzti, which depicts sex abuse and murder in a temple, portrayed the Sikh faith negatively.

The theatre said the "ugly" violence had caused free speech to be curbed. …

Stuart Rogers, the executive director of the Rep, [said] "It remains a matter of great concern to us that illegal acts of violence can cause the cancellation of a lawful artistic work."

A spokesman for the Sikh community in Birmingham, Councillor Chaman Lal, predicted there would have been larger protests had the play's run continued.

He said: "The theatre has made the right decision in response to a peaceful protest.”

Despite the theater’s talk, free speech has lost and “multiculturalism” has prevailed. Notice the implicit threat levied by the Sikh spokesman: “there would have been larger protests had the play's run continued.”

The battle continues. Will Western societies willingly throw away their most cherished values (freedom, democracy, free speech) all for fear of “portraying” various minority groups “negatively?” Just where will it stop? How many more 9/11’s, Bali bombings, slayings (Theo Van Gogh) do we need to experience?