The movie Barbie was pulled from theaters in Algeria this week almost one month after its release in the North African country, AP reports.
Online news outlet 24H Algerie said Algeria’s Ministry of Culture and Arts notified cinemas in Algiers, Oran and Constantine to “immediately” pull the movie.
Neither the ministry nor the Algerian Audiovisual Regulatory Authority commented on the reported directive or provided a rationale for it.
“Barbie” opened in some Algerian cinemas last month. The film’s distributors removed the Hollywood blockbuster from their screening schedules starting this week..
Algerian authorities “don’t have the courage to take responsibility for this shameful act of censorship,” she said.
Last week, the Audiovisual Regulatory Authority announced its decision to “temporarily” suspend all programming by private TV channel Es Salam for allegedly broadcasting “in an irresponsible and unprofessional manner, a program containing scenes contrary to the precepts of Islam and the way of life of Algerian society.”
“Barbie” contains no overt sexuality or references to LGBTQ+ rights. But it seems to have drawn fire because of its sheer flamboyance and broad message of inclusion and gender equality in a region where homosexuality is widely seen as taboo.
The Warner Bros. film has grossed over $1 billion worldwide since it’s release.