Algeria bans American movie ‘Barbie’ for 'breaching morals'

Algeria has pulled the American movie ‘Barbie’ from its cinemas, becoming the latest Arab country to ban the Hollywood film.

Online news site 24H Algerie on Monday cited well-informed sources as saying that ‘Barbie’ was withdrawn from Algeria's cinemas for "violating morals".

According to media reports, the cinemas removed ‘Barbie’ from their schedules on Sunday as the film sparked controversy in the North African country for promoting homosexuality and sexual transformation in violation of Islamic teachings and values of the Algerian society.

Algeria's Culture Ministry supervises the contents of films shown in the country’s movie theaters and can stop their screenings.

Algeria was the latest country in the region to ban the film, which grossed nearly $1.2 billion at the global box office in almost a month.

Last Wednesday, Kuwaiti authorities banned the film over concerns about "public ethics".

Kuwait's decision came shortly after Lebanese Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada said he had asked his country's authorities to ban the movie for what he called "promoting homosexuality". Lebanon’s General Security is yet to make a final decision on the ban.

SQ/FM