Czech Jews are irked as Mel Gibson has been awarded a lifetime achievement award at the state-sponsored International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary.
The Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic objected to the award as they argued that Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ', which was released in 2004, portrayed Jews as "evil and bloodthirsty", the Washington Times reported.
In a letter to the festival, the Federation has said that by giving the award to Gibson, they are "gradually changing the atmosphere of our country from a traditional, relatively tolerant society into one a place where space is given to hostility, xenophobia, and anti-Semitic ideas".
The 'Braveheart' star has received the Crystal Globe for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema.