Malaysia Bans 'Noah' Film, Pope Blesses It

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Malaysia confirmed that it has joined other Islamic countries in banning Hollywood’s biblical epic Noah, starring Russell Crowe, for being irreligious in that it violates Islamic law against depicting prophets. Conservative Christians and Jews also have criticized the controversial film, but the Pope this week gave it a formal blessing.

An official on Saturday confirmed Paramount’s big budget film that’s sparked an outcry among Muslim groups globally, will not be screened in predominantly Muslim Malaysia.

The film also has Christian groups in the United States outraged over Crowe’s portrayal of Noah, regarded as an important figure in Christianity and Islam, AFP reports.

“Yes, I can confirm that it has been banned by the board, the movie can cause quite a lot of anger and distress if it is shown in Malaysia,” said Malaysia’s home ministry’s Film Censorship Board unit chairman Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid, who said the decision was made about two weeks ago.

The main reason for the ban was the portrayal of Noah by Crowe, since Islam forbids visual depictions of any prophet, according to Abdul Halim. Muslims comprise up to 60 percent of multi-ethnic Malaysia’s 30 million population, while Christians account for about nine percent.

Indonesia, Egypt and United Arab Emirates have banned the film due to scenes they say contradict Islam. 

Malaysia has censored other movies on religious grounds in the past, including Brokeback Mountain and The Passion of the Christ. It has also prohibited shows by foreigners artists out of fear of angering conservative Muslims. 

Conservative Muslims, like many Christians, protest concerts when they promote promiscuity, corrupting young people or offending religious sensitivities.

Three Arab countries ban Noah

Three Arab countries also have banned Noah on religious grounds before its worldwide premiere and several others are expected to follow, a Paramount Pictures representative told Reuters on Saturday. Islam frowns upon representing holy figures in art and depictions of Mohammad in European and North American media have repeatedly sparked deadly protests in some Islamic countries, increasing cultural tensions with the West.

“Censors for Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) officially confirmed the film will not released in their countries,” says a representative of Paramount Pictures, that produced the $125 million film starring Oscar-winners Russell Crowe and Anthony Hopkins, told Reuters. ”The official statement they offered in confirming this news is because ‘it contradicts teachings of Islam’,” the representative said, adding the studio expected a similar ban in Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait.

The film premieres in the United States on March 28.

Noah in the Bible’s Book of Genesis built an ark that saved his family and many pairs of animals from a great flood. Noah is revered by Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Koran devotes a chapter to him. 

Cairo’s Al-Azhar, the highest Sunni Islam authority and a main centre of Islamic teaching for over a millennium, issued a fatwa (a religious injunction) against the film Thursday.

“Al-Azhar … renews its objection to any act depicting the messengers and prophets of God and the companions of the Prophet (Mohammad), peace be upon him,” it announced in a statement.

They “provoke the feelings of believers … and are forbidden in Islam and a clear violation of Islamic law,” the fatwa added.

Mel Gibson’s 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ” on Jesus’s crucifixion was screened in the Arab World, despite objections by Muslim clerics. A 2012 Omar, that depicts a seventh century Muslim ruler and companion of the Prophet Mohammad, also managed to defy objections. It aired on a Gulf-based satellite television channel.

Russell Crowe, who plays Noah, met with Pope Francis, who blessed the film. They had a short discussion, according to multi-media entertainment group JustJared.

“it was an incredible privilege to be invited,” Crowe said about his audience with the Pope, ”Given the amount of controversy surrounding this film, and has been surrounding it for a year now, the fact we were invited to the Vatican was extremely kind.” 

Noah met with criticism in test screenings with Jewish and Christian faith members and was blocked from being released in Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE.

Source: Voice of Russia, AFP, Reuters