Portrayal of sexual minorities
“Violating Islamic values”: Gulf states threaten Netflix
Six Gulf States are asking Netflix to remove content that conflicts with what they understand by “Islamic values.”
© Alexander Heinl / DPA
Six Gulf states have threatened Netflix with fines if the streaming service continues to produce films and series that violate “Islamic values”. Apparently what is meant is the depiction of sexual minorities.
Six Muslim Gulf states are threatening the streaming provider Netflix with legal penalties if it continues to broadcast films and series that conflict with “Islamic values. Saudi state media reported that this meant in particular the portrayal of sexual minorities, such as the “Guardian” writes.
Apparently because of the depiction of sexual minorities: Gulf States threaten Netflix
In a joint statement by the Saudi media supervisory authority and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), based in the Saudi capital Riyadh, the material in question was not described in detail, but only referred to content that “contradicts Islamic and social values.” The platform was contacted to remove this content, it said.
The regional authorities would “monitor the platform’s compliance with the guidelines and, if the infringing content continues to be broadcast, take the necessary legal measures”. Netflix initially did not comment on the threats.
The Gulf Cooperation Council includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
While the council did not specifically name the content it deemed objectionable, a post by Saudi state news channel Al-Ekhbariya complained that Netflix promoted “films and series aimed at children with scenes depicting homosexuality under a dramatic guise.”
A lawyer said in the post that these are “very unfortunate and painful clips for our children, grandchildren and the next generation”.
Streaming provider repeatedly in conflict with Gulf States
In another report, on “Al-Ekhbariya,” clips from the animated series “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous” showed two female characters kissing, with the broadcaster blurring their faces. The channel interviewed a self-proclaimed “family and parenting counselor” who said that objectionable material was “creeping into our homes” and that the country was facing a “censorship crisis.”
The Gulf States have repeatedly clashed with streaming portals in the past, mostly because of the thematization of sexual minorities. The United Arab Emirates in June banned the Disney animated film ‘Lightyear’, which features a lesbian kiss.
The United Arab Emirates are considered to be one of the more liberal countries in the Gulf region. Still, films with “adult content” are routinely cut or edited.
Saudi Arabia fought a similar conflict. The country only opened its cinemas in 2017. In April this year, Disney asked Disney to remove “LGBTQ references” in the Marvel superhero film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Disney didn’t comply, the film was not shown in the kingdom.
In June, Saudi state media filmed officials seizing rainbow-colored toys and clothing items from shops in the capital to crack down on homosexuality, which still carries the death penalty in Saudi Arabia.
Items confiscated included rainbow-colored bows, skirts, hats and pencil cases, most of which appear to have been made for young children.
Sources: The Guardians, German wave