DUBAI: Lebanese authorities are reportedly mulling over whether to ban new Hollywood horror flick “Annabelle 2: Creation” from being screened in the country, newspaper Annahar reported this week.
According to the Lebanese daily, movie theaters have been asked to put the film on hold until further notice.
The film, which revolves around an evil doll, was reportedly screened for the General Security’s Censorship Bureau this month and was then passed on to a censorship committee which convened to review the film on Thursday, the day it was supposed to be released.
Annahar reported that two members of the Christian media committee were present during the screening for the censorship committee.
The newspaper reported one of the members requested that the film not be released in cinemas due to scenes that could be considered offensive to the Christian faith.
However, the General Security’s Censorship Bureau is yet to make an official statement.
In the meantime, Lebanese social media users have taken to Twitter to vent.
“What a shame! God have mercy on art. The country is dragging us backwards,” one user said.
يا عيب الشوم... والله يرحم الفن... ببلد عم يرجعنا لورا...https://t.co/ZeH3RVWSjU
— Min Jami3o (@MinJami3o) August 18, 2017
“Once again, Lebanese religious figures meddle with what does not concern them.”
ًمرة جديدة يتدخل رجال دين لبنانيون في ما لا يعنيهم" #Annabelle #AnnabelleCreation https://t.co/EdBUOw0TDf
— Abbas (@abs_a93) August 18, 2017
The film, which is the prequel to 2014 horror flick Annabelle, currently holds a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 100 percent — which is exceedingly rare.
Earlier this year, DC Comics superhero film “Wonder Woman” was banned in Lebanon over its Israeli lead actress Gal Gadot.
