- David Gretten
- BBC News and BBC Arabic
Last update 1 hour ago
A report by the official Saudi Al-Ekhbariya channel on the spread of homosexual devices
Both Egypt and the Gulf countries demanded that Netflix remove content that “contradicts societal values.”
Saudi and Gulf watchdogs warned in a statement that some materials, including content directed at children, contravene the applicable regulatory rules.
The statement did not clarify any other details regarding future procedures, and only said that the concerned authorities will follow up on the platform’s commitment, and in the event that the violating content continues to be broadcast, “the necessary legal measures will be taken.”
And the official Saudi TV showed unclear clips from an animated series, in which two teenage girls appear kissing each other.
It also showed clips from a controversial French movie in the report of the official Saudi Al-Ekhbariya channel, along with a comment accusing the Netflix platform of being “a cinematic cover for immoral messages that threaten the healthy upbringing of children.”
Another video on Al-Ekhbariya said the online movie streaming platform was “promoting homosexuality, with an excessive focus on homosexuals”.
The channel also interviewed several Gulf public figures who adopt the same accusations against Netflix, and called on the authorities to take immediate action.
And a statement published by the General Authority for Audio-Visual Media in Saudi Arabia stated that the committee of electronic media officials in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries demanded the Netflix platform to remove the offending content.
The statement stated that “recently, it was noticed that the Netflix platform broadcast some visual materials and content that violates the media content controls in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.”
He added that this content “contradicts Islamic and societal values and principles, and accordingly the platform was contacted to remove this content, including those directed at children, and to abide by the regulations.”
The statement warned that the concerned authorities “will follow up on compliance with the directives” (by the platform), and “if the violating content continues to be broadcast, the necessary legal measures will be taken.”
In Egypt, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation called on electronic television platforms such as Netflix and Disney to abide by what it described as the state’s societal values and norms.
The council, which is responsible for regulating media affairs in the country, decided to issue regulations and licenses for such platforms, according to Sally Nabil, a BBC Arabic correspondent in Cairo.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, he indicated that he would take the necessary measures against these platforms in the event that they broadcast material that contradicts the values of society.
It is not known what is the mechanism for implementing such decisions, knowing that the council does not have the authority to grant or withdraw a license for platforms such as Netflix and Disney. The statement also did not clarify the nature of the measures that may be taken in the event that these platforms violate his decision.
This comes after Gulf countries demanded the Netflix platform to remove content that “contradicts Islamic and societal values and principles,” and Saudi and Gulf watchdogs warned in a statement that some materials, including content directed at children, conflict with applicable regulations.
There was no immediate comment from Netflix on the lead data.
And last April, cinemas in Saudi Arabia did not show one of the films in the “Doctor Strange” series, after Disney rejected a request from the Saudi authorities to remove “references to the gay community.”
The animated film “Light Year”, which featured a kiss between two lesbian characters, was reportedly banned in both the kingdom and the UAE in June.
Saudi authorities also accused YouTube last month of allowing “inappropriate advertisements” that violate Islamic values.