Arab Countries Ask Netflix to Remove Content That Offends Islamic Values

Netflix, banned from showing content that offends Islam. (photo: doc. pixabay)

JAKARTA - Gulf Arab states have demanded that US streaming giant Netflix remove content deemed offensive to "Islamic and social values" in the region. This was revealed in a Saudi Arabian state media report, Tuesday, September 6.

They didn't specify any specific content, but did mention that it includes content aimed at children. Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya TV, in a program addressing the issue, showed a blurry animated clip showing two girls embracing.

A statement by the Riyadh-based General Commission for Audiovisual Media said the content violated media regulations at the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.

If Netflix continues to broadcast the content then "necessary legal action will be taken", the report said without elaborating. While Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters on the report.

The UAE issued a similarly worded statement regarding Netflix content last Tuesday. They will follow up on what the platform broadcasts in the coming days and "assess its commitment to broadcast control" in the country.

Same-sex relationships are still highly taboo and banned in many Muslim-majority countries and films featuring such relationships have in the past been banned by regulators in those countries. Likewise, films featuring profanity or drug use are sometimes strictly censored.

The UAE and other Muslim countries earlier this year banned the Walt Disney-Pixar animated film "Lightyear" from screening in theaters because it featured characters in same-sex relationships.