Algeria joins countries that ban Barbie for religious beliefs

Algeria has banned the screening of the film “Barbie”which had been running for several weeks in some cinemas in the country, an official source and the local news site 24H Algerie reported on Monday.

The official source said that the film “promotes homosexuality and other Western deviations” and? “does not comply with the religious and cultural beliefs of Algeria.” The Algerian Ministry of Culture monitors the content of films shown in theaters and may censor their showing.

Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, the film sends the Mattel Inc doll on an adventure into the real world. The film has surpassed $1 billion at the worldwide box office since opening on July 21.

Lebanon and Kuwait have also banned the film:

In Lebanon, the Minister of Culture, Mohammad Mortada, declared that the film “contradicts the values ​​of faith and morality” and “promotes homosexuality and sexual transformation”. His request to veto the film was sent to the General Security agency, under the Ministry of the Interior and which usually deals with issues related to censorship, for the final decision.

Kuwait also announced the ban on Wednesday night, alleging that the film promotes “ideas and beliefs alien to Kuwaiti society and public order”without offering further details, according to a statement published by the state news agency KUNA.

These measures have caused an uproar in Lebanon, which has long been an island of relative tolerance towards homosexuality. In the Middle East, many Muslims, Christians, and Jews view homosexuality as a sin. In some parts of the Arab world, members of the LGBTQ+ community have been arrested and sentenced to prison terms. In Iraq, regulators have banned the use of the word “homosexuality” in the media, imposing instead the term “sexual deviance”.

The film contains no overt sexuality, but the character of Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, sometimes engages in what could be considered feminine behavior, which could be controversial in much of the Middle East.

The Warner Bros. film about the iconic dolls has grossed more than $1 billion in less than a month since opening in other markets. The film — starring Margot Robbie, who is also involved in the production, and directed and co-written by Greta Gerwig — surpassed $400 million domestically and $500 million internationally faster than any other studio production. , including the Harry Potter saga.

With information from Reuters and AP