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Gulf states warn Netflix over content that 'contradicts' Islam

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="A Netflix logo hangs on the company" s="" headquarters="" in="" Los="" October="" Christian="" EPA-EFE="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/entertainment/09/07/20220907-netflix-epa.jpg"/><figcaption>A Netflix logo hangs on the company&#x27;s headquarters in Los Angeles, October 18, 2019. <em>Christian Monterrosa, EPA-EFE/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Gulf countries Tuesday threatened Netflix with legal action for broadcasting content that &quot;contradicts&quot; Islam, and Saudi state media indicated that the offending material centered on shows depicting sexual minorities.</p><p>A statement issued jointly by the Saudi media regulator and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, headquartered in the Saudi capital Riyadh, did not specifically identify the offending material, referring only to content that &quot;contracts Islamic and societal values&quot;. </p><p>&quot;The platform was contacted to remove this content, including content directed to children,&quot; the statement said.</p><p>Regional authorities &quot;will follow up on the platform&#x27;s compliance with the directives, and in the event that the infringing content continues to be broadcast, the necessary legal measures will be taken.&quot; </p><p>Saudi state media went further, highlighting movies and shows featuring LGBT characters. </p><p>There was no immediate reaction from Netflix.</p><p>One segment on the state-run Al-Ekhbariya news channel deplored &quot;movies and series for children with scenes promoting homosexuality under a dramatic cover via Netflix&quot;. </p><p>A lawyer said in an on-air interview that these were &quot;very unfortunate and painful clips for our children, grandchildren and the next generation&quot;. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/06/16/22/saudi-seizes-rainbow-toys-in-homosexuality-crackdown">Saudi seizes rainbow toys in ‘homosexuality’ crackdown</a></li></ul><p>A separate segment, also on Al-Ekhbariya, showed clips from the animated show Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous in which two female characters kiss, though the channel blurred their faces. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/12/19/saudi-promo-video-labels-feminism-atheism-homosexuality-as-extremist-ideas">Saudi promo video labels feminism, atheism, homosexuality as extremist ideas</a></li></ul><p>The channel interviewed a self-described &quot;family and educational adviser&quot; who said offensive material was &quot;sneaking into our homes&quot; and that the country faced a &quot;censorship crisis&quot;. </p><p>Gulf countries have repeatedly locked horns with US film distributors over content related to sexual minorities, especially in films. </p><p>The United Arab Emirates in June banned the Disney animated film &quot;Lightyear&quot;, which contains a lesbian kiss. </p><p>The UAE is considered one of the more liberal countries in the Gulf region, though films with adult content are routinely cut or edited. </p><p>Saudi Arabia, which only opened cinemas in 2017, asked Disney in April to cut &quot;LGBTQ references&quot; in the Marvel superhero film &quot;Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness&quot;. </p><p>Disney did not comply and the film ultimately was not screened in the kingdom. </p><p>In June, Saudi state media filmed officials seizing rainbow-colored toys and articles of clothing from shops in the capital as part of a crackdown on homosexuality, which is a potential capital offense in the kingdom. </p><p>Items targeted in the raids included rainbow-colored bows, skirts, hats and pencil cases, most of them apparently manufactured for young children.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z84oy-MZYpQ?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Saudi state media indicated that the offending material centered on shows depicting sexual minorities.