Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, others threaten Netflix over anti-Islamic content

SAUDI Arabia and five other Gulf Arab countries have issued a joint statement demanding that streaming giant, Netflix, remove content they say “violates Islamic and societal values and principles.”

The statement said that Netflix’s material was in breach of government regulations, though it did not make specific reference to which topics or shows broke those rules.

It is widely believed, however, and voiced by local media and officials, that Netflix shows featuring homosexual characters, same-sex kissing and children portrayed in a sexual light are the targets of the directive.

The move was taken “in light of the recent observation that the platform was broadcasting visual material and content which violates content controls in [Gulf Cooperation Council] GCC countries,” the statement by the Saudi General Commission for Audiovisual Media and the GCC Committee of Electronic Media Officials said.

It said the content “violates Islamic and societal values and principles. As such, the platform was contacted to remove this content, including content directed at children, and to ensure adherence to the laws.”

The GCC is comprised of the largely conservative, Muslim-majority states of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Homosexuality is criminalised in these countries and can be punished by fines, prison time or even the death penalty.

The authorities also threatened legal action if Netflix fails to adhere to their demand.

“All legal measures will be taken to protect the Kingdom’s sovereignty, citizens and residents from any intellectual attack aimed at affecting its societies, values, safety of upbringing their generations and protecting them from harmful content,” Esra Assery, CEO of the Saudi General Commission for Audiovisual Media, told Saudi outlet, Arab News.