(Manama) Several Arab countries this week banned the screening in cinemas of the fourth installment of the Thor saga, because of gay characters in the film.
Posted at 7:19
Entitled Thor: Love and Thunderthe Marvel blockbuster blasted the North American box office, but, like other recent American blockbusters, has sparked unease and even censorship in some countries due to LGBTQ references.
The film contains more or less explicit allusions to homosexuality, Valkyrie, the character played by Tessa Thompson clearly showing feelings for another woman.
In Bahrain, the Ministry of Information has “decided to stop the screening of a film shown in cinemas for the sake of preserving the virtuous values of society”, according to a press release published Thursday evening.
He did not specify the title of the film in question, but the distribution of Thor was actually interrupted.
Kuwait has also banned it, according to local press. This quotes the Ministry of Information, which explains its decision by the presence of “scenes with homosexual characters”.
In Egypt, the press – even state-run – promoted the film earlier this month. But a day after its release, it was officially banned due to the presence of gay characters.
In contrast, Thor: Love and Thunder is still being screened in the United Arab Emirates, an equally conservative Gulf country that had banned the animated film from Pixar Studios Buzz Lightyearcontaining a kiss scene between two women.
In April, Saudi Arabia asked Disney to remove “LGBTQ references” to the Marvel film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessin order to authorize its projection in the rooms of the ultraconservative kingdom.
Gender and sexual freedom issues are still very taboo in many Arab countries, especially the Gulf monarchies.