Gulf state Bahrain has joined other Middle Eastern countries in striking a cinema ban on the fourth instalment of superhero saga Thor, a Hollywood blockbuster featuring gay characters.
“The ministry of information has decided to halt projection of one of the films showing in cinema halls for the sake of preserving and safeguarding society’s moral values,” the ministry said in a momentary declaration late Thursday.
The ministry did not require the name of the film banned, but screenings of “Thor: Love and Thunder” have halted.
The film sees “Valkyrie”, played by Tessa Thompson, prompt clear romantic feelings towards alternative female character.
Kuwait has also banned the film, permitting to local media which cited its information ministry as attributing the decision to “scenes involving homosexual characters”.
In current months, major film production companies have experienced related restrictions in the oil-rich but conservative Gulf region.
The UAE is the only Gulf nation that is still showing Thor, while in June it had banned the animated Disney-Pixar’s “Lightyear”, a film that features two women kissing.
In April, Saudi Arabia demanded cuts to “LGBTQ references” in Disney’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, which was eventually not screened in the country.
The topic of sexual freedom residues highly taboo in Gulf countries, even as they pursue to modernize their images through major communication campaigns.