Saudi Arabia, GCC demand Netflix remove content that ‘violates Islamic values’

Saudi Arabia and 5 different Gulf Arab nations issued a joint assertion demanding that Netflix take away content material they are saying “violates Islamic and societal values and rules,” Saudi media has reported.

The assertion stated that the streaming large’s materials was in breach of presidency rules, although it didn’t make particular reference to which matters or reveals broke these guidelines.

It is extensively believed, nonetheless, and voiced by native media and officers, that Netflix reveals that includes gay characters, same-sex kissing and kids portrayed in a sexual mild are the targets of the directive.

The transfer was taken “in mild of the latest remark that the platform was broadcasting visible materials and content material which violates content material controls in GCC nations,” the assertion by the Saudi Common Fee for Audiovisual Media and the GCC Committee of Digital Media Officers stated Tuesday.

The content material “violates Islamic and societal values and rules. As such, the platform was contacted to take away this content material, together with content material directed at youngsters, and to make sure adherence to the legal guidelines.”

The GCC, or Gulf Cooperation Council, is comprised of the largely conservative, Muslim-majority states of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Homosexuality is criminalized in these nations and could be punished by fines, jail time and even the loss of life penalty. 

The authorities additionally threatened authorized motion if Netflix fails to stick to its demand.

“All authorized measures will likely be taken to guard the Kingdom’s sovereignty, residents and residents from any mental assault geared toward affecting its societies, values, security of upbringing their generations and defending them from dangerous content material,” Esra Assery, CEO of the Saudi Common Fee for Audiovisual Media, instructed Saudi outlet Arab Information.

Netflix has not but publicly responded to the assertion and had no remark when contacted by CNBC.

Al Ekhbariya posted its report on its official Twitter account, which has 1.4 million followers, with the caption “Netflix promotes youngster homosexuality beneath a cinematic cowl. Will #Netflix be blocked in Saudi Arabia quickly?”

One other tweet from the state community learn, “Netflix threatens the wholesome upbringing of kids,” and spreads “immoral messages.” A video in its tweet featured the hashtags “#CancelNetflix” and “#BoycottNetflix.”

Netflix has not responded to the accusations. However lots of its customers within the U.S. and Europe have celebrated the that includes of LGBTQ+ characters and content material on the streaming platform, saying it units a constructive instance for inclusivity and illustration. Netflix nonetheless boasts the best variety of customers of any paid-subscription streaming service, with some 220 million subscribers worldwide as of final June.

A YouGov survey from September 2021 discovered Netflix to be the preferred streaming service in Saudi Arabia, with 37% of residents within the kingdom saying they use it.

That is removed from the primary time authorities within the oil-rich Arab Gulf states have clashed with Western media on the subject of gay content material. In June, the Gulf nations, together with a number of others in East and South Asia, banned the cinematic release of Disney Pixar’s animated movie “Lightyear” over its featuring of a same-sex relationship and a brief same-sex kiss.