Persian Gulf nations say no to Brokeback

Originally at http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid29827.asp

Filmgoers in the Persian Gulf region will not be seeing Brokeback Mountain any time soon, since the region's film distributor rejected the film over its gay content, BBC News reported Tuesday.

Beirut-based distributor Italia Films said it is not taking on the movie because of negative feedback it received from Gulf country government ministries over the film's gay plot. The Gulf area typically includes Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.

"We asked whether a film with such a subject would be approved," said Jean Shaheen of Italia Films. "They told us they would rather not deal with it."

Homosexuality is a serious offense—with punishments including flogging and imprisonment—in the Persian Gulf region. (The Advocate)