ESCAPE BLOG

Currently, due to the culture restrictions in Saudi Arabia, public cinemas and theatres are banned. For over 30 years, the Saudi people have been prohibited from watching movies that are not suitable under Islamic law. The authorities here have even gone so far as to condemn films as “an absolute evil”, meaning that it’s hard work for locals to enjoy the luxury of an evening at the flicks with friends. Some cafes are cashing in on this, showing films to encourage people to come in. For some, it’s a novelty. For others, DVDs and satellite television provide censored films for enjoyment in the home.

One film banned due to censorship was Brokeback Mountain, which was banned because of its storyline of two cowboys forming a relationship in Mid West America. This kind of relationship is highly frowned upon and can be prosecuted which can lead to imprisonment or even flogging.

But it’s not just the storyline that is being censored. The English Patient was also banned because it depicted Islamic morals in a negative light. Syriana – a film about America’s fight against terrorism – was also removed from public viewing, although both these films can now be seen in their entirety.

Bahrain is much more laid back and there are cinemas for people to enjoy the latest blockbuster, but even then these films can’t be licensed unless they can have Arabic subtitles.

Censorship in the Middle East is heavy-handed; in Dubai the authorities can basically ban or restrict whatever media they like. It appears that even though censorship is important, they are now editing the inappropriate scenes and allowing the film still to be seen, rather than just banning the film it in its entirety. This shows that even though the conservative Muslim laws are strict, the mood is changing.