A statue of Maharana Pratap was vandalized by three unidentified persons in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district and the police registered an FIR into the matter, a police official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred near Purani Sabji Mandi, Kailaras locality in the district at around 11:30 pm on Wednesday. The incident has been captured in the CCTV camera installed near the spot.
On getting the information about the matter the police reached the spot and got the statue repaired in the night itself. Nonetheless, local people are in fury and they demand immediate arrest of the accused.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP, Morena), Arvind Thakur said, “A statue of Maharana Pratap was installed near Purani Sabji Mandi in Kailaras locality in the district which was vandalised by three known persons last night between 11:30 pm to 12 am. The Police registered an FIR against 3 unknown people in the matter.”
The whole incident was captured in a CCTV camera. The police will identify the accused on the basis of CCTV footage and will arrest them soon, Thakur said.
When asked about there is a lot of resentment among the local people, Additional SP replied, “As soon as the matter came to the notice of the police, they immediately got the statue of Maharana Pratap repaired. It is true that this is a matter of anger but soon the accused will be identified and arrested.”
Meanwhile, the District President of Rajput Mahapanchayat Morena, Hanumant Singh Tomar said, “We got information that last night at around 11:30 some anti-social elements vandalized the statue of Maharana Pratap. The administration has repaired it overnight but we demand the administration to arrest the accused immediately. Also, the administration should take strict action against the accused so that such an incident would not repeat in future. If the accused are not arrested, then we will stage an agitation.”
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Former Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal has advised Pakistani bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf to take tips from the latter’s Indian counterpart Hardik Pandya. This comes after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced squads for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 as well as the three-game ODI series against Afghanistan, which includes Ashraf despite his recent unimpressive performances.
“The Indian white-ball team is never complete without Hardik Pandya. He is there every time an Indian team is announced in white-ball cricket. You look at his record, he has won matches for his team with both, bat and ball. It is time Faheem Ashraf also starts to perform like him,” Akmal said on his YouTube channel.
Akmal added, “It has been so long now, he has to show some maturity. I want Faheem Ashraf to be a surety in Pakistan’s white-ball team whenever it’s announced yet. He has to develop himself as an all-rounder. He has to show that responsibility.”
A critical Akmal said that Ashraf should not let go to waste the support he has received with his inclusion in the squad and should do justice to the faith shown in him. Faheem Ashraf has turned out to be a surprise pick for both tournaments considering that his performance in the last ODI and T20I games has been disappointing for Pakistan.
Ashraf played his last ODI in Birmingham against England in July 2021. He was dropped from the Pakistan cricket team due to poor performances when he claimed merely four wickets in his last ten matches. Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq is reportedly of the view that Ashraf deserves another chance given his efforts on the field.
Meanwhile, on 8th August, Akmal was all praises for Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav who heroically scored 83 runs in 44 balls during the third T20 match against West Indies at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
On Wednesday, August 9, the Uttar Pradesh police filed an FIR against one individual identified as Hanif Ladku for intoxicating a girl with drugs and raping her. The accused also threatened the girl and forced her to convert her religion to Islam.
According to the reports, the incident is said to have happened in the Nichlaul region of Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj. The girl knew the accused for around 5 years who deceptively fed her drugs before raping her. The accused is also said to have shot the incident on his phone which he used to blackmail the girl for additional sexual favors.
The accused knew the family of the girl as well. He approached to help the girl when she was ill recently. He fed the girl with drugs under the guise of providing her with medicines.
He then raped her and forced her to convert her religion to Islam. He also wanted the girl’s family members to convert their religion to Islam. The scared family members then filed a police complaint against the accused who has now been booked under the relevant sections of the law.
The boy reportedly sexually assaulted the girl several times in the past 5 years using a derogatory video of her which he had shot after raping her for the first time. The police have taken cognizance of the event and began investigating the case.
On 31st July, a Muslim mob in Nuh of Mewat, Haryana, attacked thousands of Hindu devotees attending the Jalabhishek Yatra on Shravan Somvar. OpIndia accessed several FIRs registered in the case. One of the FIRs in the case was registered on the complaint of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shiv Kumar Arya under Sections 148, 149, 379B, 435, 427 and 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). As per the complaint, Arya’s oil mill was burnt to ashes, and he suffered a loss of around Rs 1,53,18,000 due to the arson.
BJP leader Shiv Kumar Arya’s shop was burnt to ashes. Source: OpIndia Hindi
Details of the FIR
In his complaint, Arya said he owns an edible oil mill at Badkali crossing on Punhana Road in the village Nagina under the Nagina police station area, district Nuh, Haryana. On 31st July, Arya was at his shop when around 2 PM, Muslim rioters started damaging and burning shops in the market. Arya closed the shop and rushed back home for his safety. At around 3 PM, Muslims reached his shop and broke down the locks and shutter.
Source: Haryana Police/OpIndia Hindi
They looted oil cans from the shop and burnt down one pickup truck, motorbike and swift car parked outside the mill. Then, they burnt his oil mill. 250 bags of mustard seeds, 100 quintals of mustard cakes, 20 quintals of wheat bran, and 170 quintals of oil were destroyed in the fire. The whole building suffered severe damage due to the arson.
Source: Haryana Police/OpIndia Hindi
At around 7 PM, the fire brigade reached the spot and controlled the fire by 8 PM. Arya suffered losses of over Rs 1.5 crore due to the arson. He accused Muslim rioters of burning his shop because he is a BJP leader and demanded strict action against the accused behind it.
Nuh Shobhayatra attack
On 31st July, a mob of hundreds of Muslim rioters attacked Hindu devotees participating in the Brijmandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Nuh, Mewat of Haryana. At least six people were killed as a result of the riots.
During the investigation into the riots, OpIndia accessed over 25 FIRs and complaints that provided a clearer picture of what happened during the violence. Based on information available via FIRs, complaints and witnesses, it appeared that the attack was pre-planned. OpIndia came across several videos posted two days before the Jalabhishek Yatra instigating Muslims against Hindus.
Muslims have claimed the riots happened because of Bajrang Dal activist and Gau Rakshak Monu Manesar. Old videos of Manesar were circulated to instigate Muslims saying he was going to Nuh on that day. The video that was mostly circulated was from October 2022. Detailed reports can be checked here.
Furthermore, a cyber crime police station was attacked in Nuh. Police officials were injured. Home guards were killed. The rioters first shot one of the Bajrang Dal activists Abhishek, then his throat was slit and his head was crushed leading to his death.
OpIndia’s complete coverage of the Mewat Shobha Yatra Attack can be checked here.
Amidst the debate over the No Confidence Motion against the Narendra Modi government in the parliament, Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, August 10 said that the Modi government is clearing the mess created in the banking sector by the previous Congress-led governments. Sitharaman emphasized how the Modi government has taken significant measures to boost India’s banking sector.
“We realised that the banking sector needs to be healthy and therefore we took a lot of measures. Banks are able to work without political interference, they are working with professional integrity. ‘Banks mein failaya hua aapka raita hum saaf kar rahe hai’,” Minister Sitharaman said.
Furthermore, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized a substantial shift in India’s economic standing.
She cited Morgan Stanley’s classification of India as one of the world’s five most vulnerable economies in 2013. She did, however, underline that Morgan Stanley had just raised India’s rating and positioned it in an enhanced position. She added that, despite the COVID pandemic, the Indian economy has risen and enjoyed significant economic growth in just 9 years, which she credited primarily to government measures.
No Confidence Motion discussion | Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman says, "In 2013, Morgan Stanley had included India in the list of five fragile economies of the world. India was declared a fragile economy. Today, the same Morgan Stanley upgraded India and gave it a higher rating. In… pic.twitter.com/u2kzwG2LTY
According to Sitharaman, India now has the reputation of having the world’s fastest-growing economy. “So, India is in a rare position of being optimistic and positive about its future growth,” Sitharaman said.
"So, India is in a rare position of being optimistic and positive about its future growth," Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says. #NoConfidenceMotionpic.twitter.com/MK3EWl4cdR
The finance minister informed the Lok Sabha that the world economy grew by slightly more than 3% in 2022, but the World Bank now forecasts a 2.1 percent fall in 2023.
VIDEO | "Global economy grew just over 3 per cent in 2022 and the World Bank is now forecasting that it will decline to 2.1 per cent in 2023," says Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha. #NoConfidenceMotion
She went on to say that real GDP growth had reached 7.2 percent in the fiscal year 2022-23 and was expected to rise to 6.5 percent in the fiscal year 2023-24. These estimates were said to be in line with expectations from many international bodies, as well as their own RBI projection.
VIDEO | "Our real GDP growth in 2022-23 stood at 7.2 per cent. It is projected to grow at 6.5 per cent in 2023-24. These projections are given by several global agencies, and our own RBI projection is also the same," says Union Finance minister @nsitharaman in Lok Sabha.… pic.twitter.com/sel5dwi2Mf
Finance minister takes a dig at the I.N.D.I.A. alliance
The Union Finance Minister took a swipe at the I.N.D.I.A. alliance, asking if they were fighting among themselves rather than fighting for unity. She used the instance of Karnataka’s health minister, a Congress leader, who was ‘not impressed’ after visiting the AAP-led Delhi government’s mohalla clinics.
No Confidence Motion discussion | Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman takes on I.N.D.I.A. alliance; says, "Karnataka's Health Minister came to Delhi to see the mohalla clinics here. He came and said that there is nothing special in them and we are disappointed. This is one… pic.twitter.com/j3c18eAMqY
“The Health Minister of Karnataka visited Delhi to see the mohalla clinics.” He walked in and stated there was nothing special in them, and we were disappointed. This is one of the examples of their fight.”
Finance Minister highlights the shift from ‘Milega’ to ‘Mil Gaya’
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slammed the previous UPA government, asserting that while they were simply launching initiatives, the NDA government ensured that such promises were fulfilled.
She said that promises on electricity, gas connections, toilets, and airports have been fulfilled in the nine years since the BJP came to power in center.
“Words like ‘banega, milega’ are not in use anymore. What is everyone using these days? ‘Ban gaye, mil gaye, aa gaye,’ they say. People used to say ‘Bijli aayegi’ during the UPA era; today they say ‘Bijli aa gayi’. They said ‘gas connection milega’, now they said ‘gas connection mil gaya’…They said airport ‘banega,’ now airport ‘ban gaya,’ she stated in Lok Sabha.
Words from the time of UPA – 'Banega', 'Milega', 'Aayega'.
Nirmala Sitharaman slams DMK over women’s safety issue, reminds of Jayalalitha’s saree
In response to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi’s Wednesday speech wherein she compared the women paraded naked and raped in Manipur with queen Draupadi of Mahabharat, minister Sitharaman reminded the DMK leader of March 1989 incident in the Tamil Nadu state assembly when Tamil Nadu’s former CM and AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha was disrespected and DMK MPs back then were laughing.
On Wednesday, Kanimozhi raised the issue of Manipur women equating them with Draupadi and said that like Draupadi those women must also have prayed to some god, however, neither god nor the government came to their rescue.
Responding to this, Minister Sitharaman today said that politics should not be done over the issue of women’s safety. She also recalled the 1989 incident wherein the AIADMK chief and the then Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jayalalitha’s saree was pulled and she was humiliated. She further reminded the house of Jayalalitha’s vow never to return to the assembly unless she becomes the Chief Minister of the state.
#WATCH | FM says, "I agree that women suffering anywhere – Manipur, Delhi, Rajasthan – will have to be taken seriously. No politics played. But I want to remind this entire House of one incident which happened on 25th March 1989 in Tamil Nadu Assembly. Then she hadn't become CM… pic.twitter.com/DRUTV4qeIg
“I agree that women suffering anywhere – Manipur, Delhi, Rajasthan – will have to be taken seriously. No politics played. But I want to remind this entire House of one incident which happened on 25th March 1989 in Tamil Nadu Assembly. Then she hadn’t become CM Jayalalithaa’s saree was pulled in Tamil Nadu in the Assembly. She was the LoP. The DMK members who were seated there heckled her and laughed at her…Has DMK forgotten Jayalalithaa? You pulled her saree, you demeaned her. That day Jayalalithaa took an oath that she will never come to the House unless she becomes the CM. Two years later, she returned as the CM of Tamil Nadu,” Sitharaman said.
On Thursday, 10th August 2023, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the merger of Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE) and Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI). The tribunal also dismissed all objections regarding the merger, which was first announced in September 2021.
The merger is poised to establish a media powerhouse, amassing a collective audience exceeding 700 million viewers in India. The resultant entity will possess an array of well-liked television channels such as Zee TV, Sony TV, Colors, and SAB TV. Additionally, its digital dominance will extend through two streaming platforms, ZEE5 and SonyLIV.
Anticipated to bolster competitive strength against contenders such as Disney+ Hotstar and Amazon Prime Video, the merger aims to enhance market presence and secure a larger slice of the advertising sector. The green light from the NCLT marks a significant advancement in the merger process, paving the way for its impending closure in the upcoming months.
It’s worth highlighting that the Zee-Sony merger was declared in September 2021, and the approval from NCLT has materialised after more than a year. This extended timeline owes itself to various factors, encompassing shareholder objections and regulatory setbacks faced by Zee. However, the NCLT’s endorsement signifies a pivotal stride toward the merger’s realisation, with the anticipated conclusion set in the months ahead. On 4th October 2022, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the merger of Zee Entertainment Enterprises and Sony Pictures Networks, but with conditions.
The merger has evoked a range of responses from industry experts. While some applaud the prospect of a more competitive market, others voice apprehensions regarding potential job cuts and consolidation. The ultimate implications for the Indian media and entertainment landscape remain uncertain, but the undeniable fact is that this significant development will exert a considerable influence on the industry.
The Modi administration is scheduled to table a bill that would establish how the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners would be appointed. Arjun Ram Meghwal, the union law minister, would present the “Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023” in the Rajya Sabha on 10 August.
According to the proposed legislation, the officials shall be selected by the president of India on the recommendation of a committee which is set to be comprised of the prime minister as chairman, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a union cabinet minister that the prime minister would nominate.
However, the opposition and its allies in the media have once again engaged in disseminating false information in connection to the ordinance. Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan and general secretary of the Congress party K C Venugopal claimed, “Blatant attempt at making the Election Commission a total puppet in the hands of the PM.” He termed the bill as “unconstitutional, arbitrary and unfair” and pledged to “oppose this on every forum.”
Blatant attempt at making the Election Commission a total puppet in the hands of the PM.
What about the Supreme Court’s existing ruling which requires an impartial panel?
Why does the PM feel the need to appoint a biased Election Commissioner?
Trinamool Congress member and Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhle who is infamous for swindling money in the name of donations also expressed his objection to the legislation and charged, “BJP is rigging the 2024 elections openly. Modi Govt has again brazenly trampled upon an SC judgment & is making the Election Commission its own bunch of stooges.”
Shocking:
BJP is RIGGING the 2024 elections openly.
Modi Govt has again brazenly trampled upon an SC judgment & is making the Election Commission its own bunch of stooges.
In a Bill being tabled in Rajya Sabha today, the Chief Justice of India has been replaced by a Union…
Journalist Arvind Gunesakar commented, “Centre moves to dilute another Constitution bench judgment of SC, Bill on the appointment of CEC and ECs states that Selection Committee will comprise of PM, LoP in Lok Sabha and a Cabinet Minister.” He also attached a screenshot of the incomplete order in an effort to peddle his agenda.
Centre moves to dilute another Constitution bench judgment of SC, Bill on appointment of CEC and ECs states that that Selection Committee will comprise of PM, LoP in Lok Sabha and a Cabinet Minister.
Another journalist named Mirza Asif Beg mocked the move saying, “This will make the Election Commission of India, already an epitome of independence, the most independent institution in the world dedicated to protecting democracy. I think this deserves an accolade from the UN.”
This will make the Election Commission of India, already an epitome of independence, the most independent institution in the world dedicated to protecting democracy. I think this deserves an accolade from the UN. https://t.co/JZ68SEc3LV
Journalist Sheela Bhatt accused the government of creating controversies. She wrote, “Even though Supreme Court had itself suggested that the current arrangement will continue till the relevant law to appoint CEC and EC is formulated but when Parliament is having a debate on the No Confidence Motion Gov opens Pandora’s box.”
The Modi Government is having infinite energy to create controversies. Here is one more. Even though Supreme Court had itself suggested that the current arrangement will continue till the relevant law to appointCEC and EC is formulated but when Parliament is having debate on No… https://t.co/9j8CCuUb0h
Media houses like NDTV weren’t far behind from proclaiming, “The fresh Bill sets up another confrontation between the Supreme Court and the Centre,” in its report titled “Centre’s Bill Drops Chief Justice From Poll Officers’ Selection Process” while completely ignoring the fact that there is no contradiction in the supreme court’s order and the ordinance. It also invoked former points of contention between the two to assert the point.
Source: Centre’s Bill Drops Chief Justice From Poll Officers’ Selection Process
What did the Supreme Court actually say
Notably, a constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled in March of this year that until the parliament passes legislation to outline the selection procedure, the prime minister, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the chief justice of India shall serve on the panel that chooses the chief election commissioner as well as other election commissioners.
It issued a set of guidelines on page no. 377 of the judgment and clearly mentioned that until the time the parliament makes a law in consonance with Article 324(2) of the Constitution, “We declare that the appointment of the chief election commissioner and the election commissioners shall be made on the recommendations made by a three-member committee comprising of the prime minister, leader of the opposition of the Lok Sabha and in case no leader of opposition is available, the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha in terms of numerical strength and the chief justice of India.”
(Source: Screen-shot of the Supreme Court Judgement)
The directive to ensure the independence of the election commissioners was passed by the bench headed by Justice KM Joseph. It further stated that in accordance with Article 324(2) of the constitution, no parliamentary law existed that prescribed the process to elect election commissioners as it passed the order. Hence, it was clearly mentioned that the order, which included the CJI in the selection committee, was valid only till the parliament brings a law in this regard.
Interestingly, it appeared that neither the opposition nor its supporters read the entire measure, or they very conveniently disregarded the portion where the highest court established “until the parliament passes legislation” in the matter.
Veteran actor Rajinikanth, often addressed as ‘Thalaiva’ (leader) by his fans enjoys a massive fan following not only limited to India but across the world. The superstar’s much-awaited Tamil film Jailer, with which the actor has made a comeback after two years, hit the theatres across the country Thursday (August 10) and one such diehard fan of Rajinikanth, Yasuda Hidetoshi along with his wife, has travelled all the way from Japan to Chennai to catch the first-day-first-show of the film.
Yasuda Hidetoshi is said to be the Rajinikanth fan club leader in Japan.
In a video going viral on social media, the Japanese couple was seen wearing matching Rajinikanth-themed T-shirts while holding fans with Rajinikanth and Tamannaah Bhatia’s photo from Kaavaalaa printed on it. Talking to the news agency PTI in Tamil, Yasuda revealed he has been a fan of the superstar for almost 20 years now.
VIDEO | A Japanese couple has travelled from Osaka to Chennai, Tamil Nadu to watch Rajinikanth's new film 'Jailer'.
"To see the Jailer movie, we have come from Japan to Chennai," says Yasuda Hidetoshi, Rajinikanth fan club leader, Japan. pic.twitter.com/04ACrc4Q5c
“To see ‘Jailer’, we have come from Japan to Chennai. His first Rajinikanth films were Muthu (1995) and Baashha (1995),” he said, while enthusiastically delivering lines from the movie Jailer and older Rajinikanth films.
Notably, this is not the first time that Yasuda Hidetoshi travelled to Chennai. Previously he has visited the city to see Rajinikanth starrer ‘Darbar’ and ‘Kabali’.
Born as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad in a Marathi family from Bengalur, Rajnikanth has emerged as the biggest superstar of the film industry. Each time his film is announced, fans wait for its release and ensure that it is a blockbuster hit. It only requires a film to have a Rajinikanth name to be a blockbuster hit. A Rajinikanth name is all that’s needed for a movie to be a smash hit. Considered to be the undisputed king of the box office he is a ruler of the hearts of thousands of his fans who fondly call him ‘Thalaiva’ meaning the leader.
Rajnikanth’s acting career spans over five decades. With the movie Jailer, which hit the theatres on Thursday, August 10, the actor has made a comeback on the silver screen after his two years of hiatus. He was last seen in Annaatthe. Besides the superstar, the ensemble cast of Jailer also includes Ramya Krishnan, Jackie Shroff, Vasant Ravi, Yogi Babu, and Reding Kingsley. The song Kaavaalaa in the movie, performed by Tamannaah Bhatia has already swept the internet.
As Rajnikanth’s latest release, Jailer hit the theatres today, several videos emerged on social media wherein his fans are seen celebrating.
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu Thalaiva’s fans were seen showering flower petals on the posters of the Rajnikanth starrer movie.
VIDEO | Fans shower flower petals on the posters of Rajnikanth-starrer ‘Jailer’ in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, which is releasing today. pic.twitter.com/IeDoNh74Yn
Another video showed fans gathered outside a theatre in Bengaluru and setting off fireworks as they waited for the doors to open.
Amidst the “Jailer” craze, a company with offices in Chennai and Bengaluru has reportedly declared a holiday on the day the movie opens and has even given away free tickets. The holiday notice is also going viral on social media.
According to reports, certain offices in Chennai and Tamil Nadu have also planned to provide free tickets of ‘Jailer’ to its employees.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi district, a female government inspector slapped a teenage girl after a verbal dispute. The tragedy occurred in the village of Bishampur in Uttar Pradesh. Prachi Kesarwani, a Deputy Tehsildar, went to the village in connection with the illegal utilization of land in the region. Deputy Tehsildar and the teenage girl got into an altercation, and the officer slapped her. The footage of the incident is making the rounds on social media.
According to reports, some locals illegally occupied land in Bhishampur village, Kapsethi police station area of Varanasi. The land was ordered to be vacated by the High Court. On the orders of the High Court, Deputy Tehsildar Prachi Kesarwani arrived at the site to initiate action against the illegal occupation of the land. The individuals present expressed their anger with the action taken against their encroachment.
वाराणसी में जमीन से जुड़े एक मामले में 12वीं की बच्ची ने साल्वी ने नायब तहसीलदार से आदेश की कॉपी मांगी तो उन्होंने थप्पड़ मार दिया।
While the Deputy Tehsildar was taking action against the encroachment, a young girl from the throng approached Prachi Kesarwani and asked her to show her the High Court order copy. The female officer became irritated, and a heated confrontation ensued. After the disagreement, Deputy Tehsildar Prachi Kesarwani became enraged and slapped the girl in public.
The mob became enraged and gheraoed the female officer after she slapped the young girl in public. When the police officers on the scene noticed the ruckus, they grabbed the woman officer from the crowd and took her with them.
The operation against the incursion was called off as the crowd became enraged and began to oppose the female officer. According to sources, the locals have also complained to higher authorities over Deputy Tehsildar Prachi Kesarwani’s actions. The residents are calling for stern punishment against the female officer.
Kuwait has banned the Hollywood film Barbie over its portrayal of a same-sex couple. The movie, directed by Greta Gerwig featuring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, has collected over a Billion dollars worldwide in box office collections. Despite the box office success, many in the Middle East have raised objections to the film’s portrayal of same-sex relationship. The film earlier faced a ban in Vietnam.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Information announced the ban on Barbie, citing its infringement upon the nation’s laws and values. While the precise laws and values weren’t specified, it’s apparent that the depiction of homosexuality likely contributed to the ban. Lafi Al-Subaie, the head of the film censorship committee, has said that it propagates ideas promoting inappropriate conduct and distorting societal values.
Barbie is also feeling the heat in Lebanon, where the culture minister, Mohammad Mortada, said that Barbie “promotes homosexuality” and “contradicts values of faith and morality.” Mortada also said that the film “diminishes the importance of the family unit.”
The film ‘Barbie,’ featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the main roles, premiered in theatres on July 21. Despite receiving varied reviews, the movie has positioned itself among the top-grossing films of 2023. Notably, ‘Barbie’ and its director Greta achieved a significant milestone last weekend, crossing the USD 1 billion mark in global box office earnings. This achievement is historic, marking the first instance of a movie directed by a woman to reach this milestone.
The prohibition of Barbie adds to the trend of banning films in the Middle East due to apprehensions surrounding homosexuality. Within the past few years, films like Call Me by Your Name, Moonlight, and The Danish Girl, have encountered bans in the region. This ban on Barbie exemplifies an escalating lack of tolerance towards homosexuality in the Middle East, a sentiment accentuated by the religious underpinnings prevalent in the predominantly Muslim countries of the region.
