Cinemas, song concerts are harmful: Saudi fatwa
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's top religious authority has called cinemas and singing concerts harmful and corrupting, in a move that could complicate government efforts to introduce cultural reforms to the conservative kingdom.
The comments by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, published on his website, said cinemas and round-the-clock entertainment could open the door to "atheistic or rotten" foreign films and encourage the mixing of the sexes.
Cinemas and public concerts are already banned in the kingdom. But the government promised a shake-up of the cultural scene with a set of "Vision 2030" reforms announced by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz last year. The head of the government's General Authority for Entertainment, Amr al-Madani, stirred debate last week when he raised the possibility of opening cinemas and staging concerts this year.
The Saudi Gazette quoted Madani as saying that Saudi singer Mohammed Abdo would perform in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah very soon. Up to now, singers have been limited to performing for private gatherings.
"I hope those in charge of the entertainment authority are guided to turn it from bad to good and not to open doors to evil," Al al-Sheikh said on his weekly television programme, according to a transcript of his comments on his website. "Motion pictures may broadcast shameless, immoral, atheistic or rotten films," Al al-Sheikh said.
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