Kuwait-ALSharqiya, August 11: Kuwait banned the screening of the movie "Barbie", while the Lebanese government took steps to impose a similar ban, given that the film contradicts religious and family values.
On Wednesday, the Lebanese Minister of Culture, Muhammad al-Murtada, moved to prevent the screening of the movie “Barbie” in the country, saying that it contradicted religious values.
Al-Murtada's decision stated that the film "markets an ugly idea that rejects the guardianship of the father, belittling and ridiculing the role of the mother, and questioning the necessity of marriage and building a family, and portraying them as an obstacle to the self-development of the individual, especially for women."
The statement added, "The film's content violates morals and values, especially the value of the family, and violates the emotional, moral and faith principles that constitute the stronghold of Lebanese society."
Based on El-Mortada's decision, Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi referred the film to the Film Tapes Monitoring Committee prepared for screening to review it and make recommendations.
The Film Tape Censorship Committee is affiliated to the General Security Agency, which in turn reports to the Ministry of the Interior, and is traditionally responsible for censorship decisions.
Later, the Kuwait News Agency reported that the Film Censorship Committee had decided to ban the films “Barbie” and “Talk to Me” from showing. The committee attributed the decision to its keenness to "prevent everything that offends public morals or incites violations of public order, customs and traditions."
On Tuesday, Lebanon's cabinet urged citizens to "uphold" family values after a meeting with Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi, but did not specifically mention the LGBT community.
On the other hand, Ayman Muhanna, executive director of the Samir Kassir Civil Non-Profit Foundation, said that Al-Mortada's move went beyond the usual censorship process in Lebanon amid "a wave of blind fanaticism," as he put it.
and "Barbie," starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, in which Barbie doll goes on an adventure in the real world. The film's worldwide box office sales have topped $1 billion since its July 21 premiere
