Cinema and theatre contrary to Islam, says Saudi grand mufti

Saudi Arabia just keeps tightening the screws on any sort of freedom in the Kingdom. Now cinema and theater are "against Sharia". That's interesting because the Taliban, a radical sect of Islam if ever there was one, is in total agreement with Sunni Saudi Arabia on the cinema issue. This goes to show that even bitter rivals within Islam can cooperate when the alliance furthers the greater Islam. I also think this is a good refutation of the theory that Islamic countries will become more liberal through dealings with the West. Lest anyone forget, Saudi Arabia is not only an absolute monarchy, it is the home of the most repressive, violent and expansive "religion" ever known.

This situation also illustrates the liberating influence the West lifestyle has on younger Muslims, which is exactly why their elders smack down any outside influence.

FROM ASIANEWS.IT:

Cinema and theatre contrary to Islam, says Saudi grand mufti

Such activities distract people from their work and prevent them from achieving professional success. Saudi society is increasingly showing signs of strains between a very conservative religious leadership and youth who want greater openness and freedom. In eight days more than 25,000 Saudis attend screening of Saudi-made comedy.

Riyadh (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Cinema and theatre are “against Sharia” because they distract people from work and weaken their efforts in achieving progress, said Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Shaikh Abdul Aziz Alu Al Sheikh during a conference on leisure, visual arts and literature attended by students at King Saud University.

“Theatrical performance, whether it is a cinema or a song, would generally make an impression that is against Sharia. People need only those (art forms) that are useful to them to change their way of life (in an Islamic manner),” he decreed.
Last year the Grand Mufti issued an edict, in which he slammed Turkish soap operas like ‘Nour’ and ‘The Last Years,’ the hottest shows on Arab TV, describing them as “so much evil” that “they destroy people's ethics and are against our values.”
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