Lebanon's Culture Minister Calls for Ban on 'Barbie' Film Under Pressure from Religious Groups and Hezbollah

Lebanon's Culture Minister on Wednesday called for a ban on the screening of the film 'Barbie' in the country due to its promotion of 'homosexuality' and its contradiction with religious values. According to Reuters, Mohammad Mortada, the Culture Minister of Lebanon, is supported by extremist groups including Hezbollah. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of this Shiite armed group, has recently intensified his verbal attacks against the LGBTQ+ community in Lebanon. In his speeches, he has called for the death penalty for them, referencing Islamic texts. According to the Culture Minister, the film 'Barbie' promotes 'homosexuality and gender transformation' and contradicts 'belief and moral values' by undermining the importance of the family unit. This statement from the Culture Minister prompted Bassam Mawlawi, the Interior Minister, to also request the Public Security Censorship Committee, which traditionally oversees censorship under the Ministry of Interior, to announce its recommendations after reviewing the film. Lebanon was the first Arab country to hold a Gay Pride week in 2017 and is generally seen as a safe haven for sexual and gender minorities in the conservative Middle East. However, this issue has recently gained more attention and has created tensions in Lebanon. Last year, Bassam Mawlawi decided to ban events promoting 'sexual deviation' in Lebanon, referring to friendly gatherings of LGBTQ+ individuals. In his speech last month, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah urged Lebanese officials to prohibit what he perceives as the promotion of homosexuality. He stated that homosexuality is an 'imminent danger' to Lebanon and must be 'confronted.' The leader of Hezbollah has explicitly called for the execution of these individuals. The Lebanese cabinet on Tuesday, after meeting with Beshara Boutros al-Rahi, the senior Christian cleric of the country, urged citizens to adhere to family values, although there was no specific mention of sexual and gender minorities. Ayman Mahanna, the executive director of the non-profit civil foundation Samir Kassir, told Reuters that Mohammad Mortada's action comes amid a rising 'wave of bigotry' in Lebanon. Mahanna stated, 'This is part of a broader campaign that brings together Hezbollah, the Christian far-right, and other senior religious leaders in a focused campaign against LGBTQ+ individuals.' The film 'Barbie,' starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, has grossed over a billion dollars worldwide since its global release on July 21 and has gained significant popularity. The United Arab Emirates has agreed to screen the film 'Barbie,' while its release in Japan has faced difficulties. The global box office is dominated by 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer.' Even Elon Musk mocked the 'Barbie' film; conservative attacks have arisen due to a perceived 'lack of masculinity' in the film.