Algeria bans 'Barbie' after successful local release

author: FutureCar Staff    

The movie "Barbie" has been pulled from theaters in Algeria, one month after its release in the country. The Ministry of Culture and Arts notified cinemas in Algiers, Oran, and Constantine to immediately stop screening the film. However, no official explanation has been given for this directive.

Previously, the film had opened in some Algerian cinemas, but now the distributors have removed it from their screening schedules. This decision follows the ban of the movie in Kuwait and Lebanon, where it was accused of threatening conservative values.

There has been a mixed response to the cancellation on social media in Algeria. Some people have protested the decision using the hashtag "#IAmBarbie," while others have criticized it as censorship and bigotry. Writer Leila Belkacem questioned the morality behind the decision and accused the censors of hypocrisy.

One disappointed moviegoer, Fatima Ait Kaci, had planned to take her granddaughters to see the film but was unaware of its cancellation until they arrived at the cinema. She expressed her frustration at the lack of accountability from Algerian authorities regarding this act of censorship.

This incident of censorship comes after the temporary suspension of programming by private TV channel Es Salam for allegedly broadcasting content contrary to the precepts of Islam and Algerian society. The movie "Barbie" has faced criticism not for its explicit content, but rather for its flamboyance and message of inclusion and gender equality, which challenges the prevailing norms in the region.

Despite the controversy, "Barbie" has been a commercial success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide since its release by Warner Bros.

FutureCar Staff