Taroudant, Morocco - The upcoming Paramount Pictures movie Noah has already created a polemic in Muslim countries before it has been released in theaters.
While Morocco’s High Council of Religious Scholars has not yet issued any official statement banning the film, a heated debate is going on social media over the American film, and some news websites wonder whether Morocco will ban Noah.
According to Reuters, a representative of Paramount Pictures said, “Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) officially confirmed this week that the film will not release in their countries" because “it contradicts the teachings of Islam," adding that “the studio expected a similar ban in Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait.”
Directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Oscar winner Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Noah, the film is inspired by the Biblical story of Noah's ark, who is revered by Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
The Quran mentioned the prophet Nuh many times, and it devotes its 71st Chapter to his story in “Surah Nuh.”
According to Islam, Noah's mission was to deliver the message of god to his people, plunged in depravity and sin.
“Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, [saying], "Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment," “Surah Nuh,” 71.1
Cairo’s Al Azhar, the highest authority of Sunni Islam in Egypt, issued a fatwa against the film on Thursday.
“Al-Azhar renews its rejection to the screening of any production that characterizes Allah’s prophets and messengers and the companions of the Prophet [Mohammad],” the Azhar statement said, according to Reuters.
According to Al Arabiya, the Creativity Front, a grouping of Egypt’s top filmmakers and writers, has criticized Al Azhar’s fatwa (edict) against “Noah,” saying, “That barring the film was nearly impossible as people could find it online after its release.”
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