Media watchdogs at the the Saudi and Gulf Co-Operation Council warned that some of Netflix’s recently released material contravenes their regulations, without providing any further details.
“[Netflix] was contacted to remove this content, including content directed at children, and to ensure adherence to the laws,” the joint statement from the Saudi General Commission for Audiovisual Media and the GCC Committee of Electronic Media Officials said.
Beware: two girls kiss in Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous 2020 ‧ Adventure ‧ 5 seasons Image: Netflix/Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous
“In the event that the infringing content continues to be broadcast,” the statement continued, “the necessary legal measures will be taken.”
It appears that the depiction of homosexuality is the value that most upsets the authorities.
Saudi state TV blurred clips from the animated show Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, where two teenage girls kiss.
Another video, this time posted on Al Ekhbariya’s website, alleged that Netflix was “promoting homosexuality by focusing excessively on homosexuals”.
Under the Saudi Arabian state’s strict Islamic law, consensual same-sex sexual conduct can be punishable by death.
Already this year, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was not screened in Saudi Arabia due to its “LGBTQ references”, while Lightyear, which featured a same-sex kiss, was banned in the United Arab Emirates in June.
