Comedian Jackie Mason sues Jews for Jesus after the group put his image on a pamphlet.

The famous Jew is asking a court to halt the unauthorized use of his face by a group that aims to convert Jews to Christianity.

Mason, 75, tells Reuters, "I found it disgusting and obnoxious, and I find it even more disgusting and obnoxious that the spokesman for that organisation says, 'Why doesn't he have a sense of humour about it?'"

He adds, "It's like if they kidnap my children and say, 'So what, you never saw a child before?'"

The suit was filed in New York Supreme Court on Wednesday. However, Jews for Jesus asked a federal court to accept the case on Friday.

A federal judge will decide which court should have jurisdiction over the case. Mason says in an affidavit, "As everyone knows, I am as Jewish as a matzoh ball or kosher salami (not to mention that I was an ordained rabbi)."

The suit seeks compensatory damages of $2 million and exemplary damages of $2 million.