14 DAY TRIAL // A number of Islamic countries from the Middle East have informed Paramount that they won't be showing the religious epic “Noah” because it comes into contradiction with Islamic law over the depiction of a prophet.
It's already the second scandal the movie inspired by the story in the Bible has sparked, after Christian groups asked the studio to warn viewers the movie wasn't based on facts as presented in the Holy Book, but was rather a fantasy with a religious theme.
The Islamic countries are taking further steps and having the movie banned from their countries, with the censorship boars in Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates informing Paramount Studios they won't allow distribution of the film.
The Hollywood Reporter indicates that a similar position might be taken by other countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait, based on information from Paramount insiders.
The official statement goes as follows, “Al-Azhar renews its rejection to the screening of any production that characterizes Allah’s prophets and messengers and the companions of the Prophet [Muhammad]. Therefore, Al-Azhar announces the prohibition of the upcoming film about the Allah’s messenger Noah -- peace be upon him.”
It also adds that such a film that is “contrary to faith and to the fundamentals of the Islamic Sharia [law],” is bound to antagonize the “feelings of the faithful.”
Darren Aronofsky's “Noah” was scheduled to be released in Egypt on March 26, two days before the official launch in the United States, but now those plans will have to be reviewed, pending on the position of the local censorship board.