Amid mounting controversy over the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster film Noah, three Arab countries have now banned the movie even before its worldwide premiere, with expectations of more Muslim countries following in the trio's footsteps. “The censors for Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates officially confirmed this week that the film will not be released in their countries,” a representative of Paramount Pictures, which produced the $125 million film, told Reuters. In Egypt, though an official decision is yet to be taken on whether or not to screen the movie, a controversy between Al-Azhar clerics and intellectuals was ignited after the latter criticised a fatwa, or religious ruling, issued last week by Al-Azhar, the highest authority of Sunni Islam and a main centre of Islamic teaching, ruling that screening the biblical production was prohibited in Islam. “Al-Azhar prohibits the screening of a film that characterises Noah,” read the title of a statement issued last Thursday by Al-Azhar. “Al-Azhar renews its rejection of the screening of any production that characterises Allah's prophets and messengers and the companions of the Prophet [Mohamed],” the Al-Azhar statement said, arguing that the film contained “personal characterisation” of Noah which is “prohibited in Islamic Sharia… and constitutes a clear violation of the principles of Islamic law.” “Therefore, Al-Azhar announces the prohibition of the upcoming film about Allah's messenger Noah, peace be upon him. Al-Azhar as a reference in Islamic affairs urges the authorities to ban the film,” the statement said. Ten years ago, and despite a flurry of objections by Muslim clerics, the film The Passion of the Christ was screened in Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon — countries that are home to large Christian populations — and drew enthusiastic crowds and was widely screened in the Arab world. In 2006, the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed in a Danish newspaper touched off riots in the Middle East, Africa and Asia in which at least 50 people died. In 1976, the film The Message starring the actor Anthony Quinn was banned in Egypt for chronicling the life and times of the Prophet Mohamed. Meanwhile, a secularist organisation in Cairo called the Front for Creativity has lambasted the Al-Azhar ruling, arguing that “Al-Azhar has overstepped its authority since it is not within its rights to demand the domestic banning of the film.” However, the Front said that Al-Azhar could condemn the film or warn those who may want to see it that they will be committing a sin in doing so. The Front added that the prohibition on depicting prophets in images “is a matter of clerical interpretation on which there is not complete consensus and for which no explicit Quranic or other scriptural text exists. We are also past the days when such images can practically be banned, since the film will circulate on the Internet in any case.” “Noah is a prophet who is not only accepted by Islam but also by Christianity and Judaism. The latter two religions do not forbid depictions of prophets in artistic works. Thus, Al-Azhar has to respect the difference in vision between the different religions,” the statement by the Front reads. The Front has also asked Al-Azhar clerics to hold a debate with its members in order to reach a consensus on the film. However, Abbas Shuman, the Al-Azhar under-secretary, responded to the Front's statement by saying that “Al-Azhar does not wait for the words of any Front in deciding what it should or should not do. The request for a debate in itself indicates the Front's ignorance of the real conditions of debates because they should be conducted between counterparts equal in specialisation. I do not think that this condition is met by the Front.” Noah, scheduled to be released on 28 March, is directed by Darren Aronofsky and stars Oscar winner Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, and Anthony Hopkins. In it, the Biblical figure of Noah suffers visions of an apocalyptic flood and moves to protect his family from the anticipated catastrophe. “The film is inspired by the story of Noah. While artistic license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values, and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide. The biblical story of Noah can be found in the book of Genesis,” reads the film's disclaimer. Waseem Adel, director of the company responsible for domestically distributing the film, said that the movie was still under review by the Egyptian censorship authorities. “I still don't know whether or not the movie will be screened,” Adel said, adding that he was awaiting approval. The movie has generated little controversy among Christians.
