SAUDI ARABIA: According to Saudi media, the Gulf governments have ordered that Netflix must remove any content that they perceive to be against “Islamic and societal values and principles.”
In a statement, media watchdogs from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) cautioned that recent content, including those intended for children, violated laws. It gave no additional information.
Saudi Arabia asks Netflix to remove homosexual content
However, Saudi state television aired hazy excerpts of the Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous animation series, in which two adolescent females declare their love for one another and share a kiss.
The program by Al Ekhbariya TV included clips from the contentious French film Cuties and a caption accusing Netflix of serving as a “cinematic cover for immoral themes that jeopardise the healthy upbringing of youngsters.”
The streaming service was allegedly “promoting homosexuality by focusing extensively on homosexuals,” according to a different video on Al Ekhbariya’s website.
The channel also interviewed a number of well-known individuals who made similar allegations and urged the authorities to act immediately.
“[Netflix] was contacted to remove this content, including content directed at children, and to ensure adherence to the laws,” the joint statement from the Saudi General Commission for Audiovisual Media and the GCC Committee of Electronic Media Officials said.
The authorities cautioned that “in the event that the infringing content continues to be aired, the required legal measures would be taken” and that they would monitor compliance with the instructions.
Netflix didn’t immediately respond to the accusations.
Although there are no laws in the Sunni Muslim-dominated kingdom of Saudi Arabia governing sexual orientation or gender identity, extramarital sex, including homosexual sex, is legally forbidden.
Consensual same-sex sexual activity is punishable by death or flogging under the country’s interpretation of Islamic law, depending on how serious the offence is deemed to be.
After Disney declined a request from Saudi authorities to remove what they called “LGBTQ references,” the movie Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was not shown in Saudi Arabian theatres in April.
According to reports, the monarchy and the United Arab Emirates outlawed the cartoon movie Lightyear in June because it contained a kiss between same-sex partners.
In the meantime, Saudi authorities have accused YouTube of allowing “inappropriate advertisements” that go against Islamic principles.
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