Kuwait, Lebanon ban Barbie movie for undermining cultural values
Lebanon's culture minister criticized the film for endorsing homosexuality, transgenderism, and undermining traditional family dynamics
As the "Barbie" movie takes the global box office by storm, it has also stirred up a storm of controversy in some Arab countries.
Allegations of the film promoting homosexuality have led to bans in certain regions, and comes on the heels of Arab states making anti-Western moves after several incidents of Quran burning in Scandinavian countries.
Lebanon has banned screenings of "Barbie," with the country's Culture Minister, Mohammad Mortada, attributing the decision to concerns about the movie "promoting homosexuality." According to Mortada, the film contradicts Lebanon's moral and faith values, saying it endorses homosexuality, transgenderism, and undermines traditional family dynamics.
“The movie "Barbie" contradicts moral and faith values and established principles in Lebanon, as it promotes homosexuality and transgenderism and promotes an ugly idea of rejecting the father's guardianship, belittling and ridiculing the mother's role, questioning the necessity of marriage and building a family, and portraying them as an obstacle to the individual's self-development, especially for women,” Mortada wrote in a statement.
Following Lebanon's lead, Kuwait also decided to ban the film. Officials in Kuwait argue that the move ban is essential in order to safeguard public ethics and preserve social traditions.
These bans reflect the ongoing tension in many Middle Eastern nations as they grapple with the introduction of Western ideologies that challenge more conservative perspectives.
Interestingly, while eagerly anticipated by LGBTQ communities worldwide, the "Barbie" movie doesn't overtly portray same-sex relationships or queer themes.
Nevertheless, against the backdrop of a growing crackdown on LGBTQ sentiments spearheaded by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, the decision not to screen the film in Lebanon aligns with these efforts.
The movie's content has prompted deliberation in other Arab countries as well. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, for instance, postponed the film's premiere by three weeks to review its content.
The extent of any edits made to secure approval remains unclear. Notably, both of these Gulf states have recently banned another highly anticipated film, "Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse," likely due to a scene featuring a 'Protect Trans Lives' flag.
In today's interconnected world, the important of cultural sensitivity on the big screen continues to draw headlines, as governments in the Middle East consider what themes their citizens should be exposed to.