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Saudi Is Changing - No. 358

Saudi Is Changing - No. 358

Old Dec 22nd 2008, 3:15 am
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Default Saudi Is Changing - No. 358

Saudi Arabia 'may allow' cinemas after three-decade ban

The chief of Saudi Arabia's powerful religious police has said some movies may be acceptable in the kingdom, despite a three-decade ban on cinemas, local press reported on Sunday.

Sheikh Ibrahim al-Gaith, head of the feared Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, made the concession after last week's breakthrough public showings in Jeddah of the comedy feature "Manahi".

"A movie could possibly be acceptable if it serves good and is suitable under Islam," Sheikh Gaith said.

Gaith pulled back from comments he made two days earlier branding movies "an absolute evil" in the wake of screenings in the Red Sea port city.

"I did not say that we reject all cinema, but I said that we were not consulted during the organisation of these movie showings," he explained.

For more than a week from Dec 9, the Rotana entertainment group, controlled by Saudi tycoon Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, showed "Manahi" to rapturous audiences in Jeddah and nearby Taif.

The screenings, approved by the provincial governor, Prince Khalid al-Faisal, sparked hopes that Saudi Arabia would soon allow public cinemas.

Before the first projection of the film, local religious police inspected the facility, a 1,200 seat conference hall, to make sure that men and women would remain separated, adhering to the country's strict laws on separation of unrelated members of the opposite sexes.

For the three showings daily, women sat in the balcony of the hall while men and boys were on the ground floor.

There are no cinemas in Saudi Arabia, but some coffee shops surreptitiously put on movies for customers and many Saudis enjoy films at home on DVD and satellite television.

To experience a cinema, they have to travel to nearby Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates or other countries.
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Old Dec 22nd 2008, 3:46 am
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Default Re: Saudi Is Changing - No. 358

Pushing the boundaries... I heard the King has already been consulted about plans to build one...
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Old Dec 22nd 2008, 3:56 am
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Default Re: Saudi Is Changing - No. 358

Originally Posted by typical
Pushing the boundaries... I heard the King has already been consulted about plans to build one...
A cinema was burned to the ground in Dubai yesterday.
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Old Dec 22nd 2008, 4:52 am
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Default Re: Saudi Is Changing - No. 358

Originally Posted by The Dean
Saudi Arabia 'may allow' cinemas after three-decade ban

The chief of Saudi Arabia's powerful religious police has said some movies may be acceptable in the kingdom, despite a three-decade ban on cinemas, local press reported on Sunday.

Sheikh Ibrahim al-Gaith, head of the feared Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, made the concession after last week's breakthrough public showings in Jeddah of the comedy feature "Manahi".

"A movie could possibly be acceptable if it serves good and is suitable under Islam," Sheikh Gaith said.

Gaith pulled back from comments he made two days earlier branding movies "an absolute evil" in the wake of screenings in the Red Sea port city.

"I did not say that we reject all cinema, but I said that we were not consulted during the organisation of these movie showings," he explained.

For more than a week from Dec 9, the Rotana entertainment group, controlled by Saudi tycoon Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, showed "Manahi" to rapturous audiences in Jeddah and nearby Taif.

The screenings, approved by the provincial governor, Prince Khalid al-Faisal, sparked hopes that Saudi Arabia would soon allow public cinemas.

Before the first projection of the film, local religious police inspected the facility, a 1,200 seat conference hall, to make sure that men and women would remain separated, adhering to the country's strict laws on separation of unrelated members of the opposite sexes.

For the three showings daily, women sat in the balcony of the hall while men and boys were on the ground floor.

There are no cinemas in Saudi Arabia, but some coffee shops surreptitiously put on movies for customers and many Saudis enjoy films at home on DVD and satellite television.

To experience a cinema, they have to travel to nearby Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates or other countries.
there's no cinemas over there either?!?!
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Old Dec 22nd 2008, 4:53 am
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Default Re: Saudi Is Changing - No. 358

Originally Posted by lionheart
A cinema was burned to the ground in Dubai yesterday.
was the new hugh grant film on?
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Old Dec 22nd 2008, 5:43 am
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Default Re: Saudi Is Changing - No. 358

Originally Posted by Spugsy
there's no cinemas over there either?!?!
its a proper laugh a minute place by the sounds of it..
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Old Dec 22nd 2008, 5:59 am
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Default Re: Saudi Is Changing - No. 358

Originally Posted by admon
its a proper laugh a minute place by the sounds of it..
I really should go for a mad weekend, it sounds non stop crazy...
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Old Dec 22nd 2008, 6:16 am
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Default Re: Saudi Is Changing - No. 358

Originally Posted by Spugsy
I really should go for a mad weekend, it sounds non stop crazy...
Don't think there aren't young people having fun in Saudi - there's a lot of desert to play in...
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Old Dec 22nd 2008, 6:55 am
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Default Re: Saudi Is Changing - No. 358

Originally Posted by typical
Don't think there aren't young people having fun in Saudi - there's a lot of desert to play in...
actualy I'd rather iron my sack than go there. Sounds like the worst place on earth.
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Old Dec 22nd 2008, 3:03 pm
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Default Re: Saudi Is Changing - No. 358

Iron my sack.lol

(Classic, ill use that one)
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