Persepolis banned in Lebanon

After the Da Vinci Code in 2006, Persepolis became the latest movie to be banned by the interior ministry's renegade censorship department. Ironically, while the first one was banned on grounds it offends Catholic sensitivities, Persepolis, which portrays life in Iran before and after the "revolution", was banned because it offends Hizbullah's sponsor.

While I have no doubt in my mind that the Directorate of General Security, which controls the country's human and cultural imports and exports, would have also banned a movie critical of life in Saudi Arabia, it is particularly disturbing to see its head, Hizbullah sympathizer Wafiq Jizzini, banning a film because Nasrallah and Ahmadinejd didn't approve of it. 

Here are excerpts from the AFP story that confirmed the ban:

The Oscar-nominated film "Persepolis", which has annoyed authorities in Iran for its critical portrayal of the Islamic revolution, has been banned in Lebanon, an official said on Wednesday. The official, from the interior ministry's general security department, would not say why the French animated film would not be shown in Lebanon, even though it has been screened in Iran.

But another official said the film had displeased the head of security services, who he claimed is close to the militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran. "It is clear that ... General Wafiq Jizzini is close to Hezbollah and he doesn't want to allow such a movie, which he believes gives an image of Iran as being worse off than it was before the shah," the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Jizzini could not be reached for comment.

Bassam Eid, production manager at Circuit Empire, the company that was to distribute the film, blasted the banning as ridiculous and unwarranted. "The decision is even more ridiculous when you consider that you can buy for two dollars pirated copies of the film in Hezbollah's stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut," Eid told AFP.

"I purchased two copies of the film from the suburbs and from the Sabra and Shatila Palestinian refugee camp and handed one over to Culture Minister Tareq Mitri," he added.

The film, which shows its young heroine's brushes with the authorities in the early days of the Islamic revolution in the 1980s, was screened in Iran last month but is not expected to be shown at mainstream cinemas. A success in the United States and France, "Persepolis" has been condemned by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government as Islamophobic and anti-Iranian...

Maria Chakhtoura, culture editor at Lebanon's French language daily L'Orient-Le Jour, said she feared the banning of might be a sign of worse to come. "Does this mean that Lebanon has become a small suburb of Tehran," she asked in a commentary piece Wednesday.

"This is part of an effort to eat away at people's liberties in order to plunge the country into darkness, to isolate it and to impose on it a culture it rejects." (AFP)

Unfortunately, and given the precedents Lebanon has in banning films and books, it will be hard to stop Hizbullah from arguing "why not this", and from having their way once again. We have let them set conditions for the election of a president and occupy the heart of the city. We have allowed them to import weapons and start wars. This Jizzini guy is infamous for disobeying his superiors, preferring instead to answer to Hizbullah. Banning a movie might seem like a minor offense compared to the above. Unfortunately, we all know that it isn't. I know that the heart of every culture-loving Lebanese breaks with every ban, especially one reportedly initiated by an entity that's rocking our faults and turning them into permanent divisions.

However, how do you fight this cultural and political invasion with such a faulty defense system in place? It seems, more than ever, that to win this battle for Lebanon, there should be a serious evaluation of what Lebanese values are.

If open society, cultural diversity and freedom of speech are at stake here, then this ban should serve as a reminder that Lebanese culture has been under attack for a long time now. Hizbullah is the latest offender, spreading a culture of death, laying siege to democratic institutions, and turning a cosmopolitan city into a sewage of expired values.

Update. Jizzini "changed his mind".

Lebanese authorities on Thursday went back on their decision to ban the prize-winning animated film "Persepolis," following an outcry and accusations that the censorship was aimed at pleasing Iran and Shia clerics.

"We have given the green light for the film 'Persepolis’ to be seen in cinemas across Lebanon," one official from the censorship bureau said on condition of anonymity without elaborating.

On Wednesday, General Wafik Jizzini, head of General Security at the Interior Ministry, which handles censorship, said he had decided to ban the film after Shia officials expressed concern that its content was offensive to Muslims and to Iran.

"The office that handles censorship matters informed me in their report that the film attacks Islam and the Iranian regime, and this could spark tension with Iran," Jizzini said.

"I can go back on my decision, I respect freedom of expression," he said. "But given the current political crisis in Lebanon, this is not the time to add fuel to the fire."

General Jizzini could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday on why he had changed his mind.

 

Comments

[Jay]

Just like the evil Syrian regime and its hegemony is collapsing before our eyes so is HA's culture of darkness.

What I find real peculiar is HA's deafening silence regarding the upcoming summit in Syria or something is amiss between these two? Maybe the rumors floating around of a possible Syrian hand in eliminating HA's leading terrorist deserve some merit!

[danny]

Nassralla declared an open war...then...he declared that Israel has had an open war...then...he declared that there is no fear of war!!!All in 40 day span. Now I praise his sheeple for following this 360 degree turnaround LOL...
As for the HA culture, Lebanon has always been under some kind of censorship. Nothing new here...I'm afraid an open society is not in the cards, as the leaders of Sunnis and Shias alike in Lebanon are more "conservative". The "open" part had been the Christian influence that is slowly setting on the horizon.
I do not see any alternative vision from the Future movement(let's leave the druse and Christians out)...What's their definition of freedom and democracy??

On another note, IT is almost here! I can't wait to see the first indictments handed out by the prosecutors.

...On a somber note, I feel that assasinations and bombings are due soon. Syria will take out its revenge for their miserable AL "do"...Tanked before it started. I guess a few African states and Iran can come out with some kind of toilet paper for declaration (I'm sure it is already prepared).

[Bad Vilbel]

"Maria Chakhtoura, culture editor at Lebanon's French language daily L'Orient-Le Jour, said she feared the banning of might be a sign of worse to come. "Does this mean that Lebanon has become a small suburb of Tehran," she asked in a commentary piece Wednesday."

Indeed, Maria, indeed.
Excellent question.

But don't expect any of the imbeciles running the country to answer it anytime soon. They're too busy boycotting bookfares and banning movies, and arresting people for posting on Facebook, and begging people not to fire in the air (instead of arresting them) to do their jobs.

"Reading Lolita in Tehran" is also a must read for those interested in finding out more about life under the mullahs. It is a gem of a book, you learn about post-revolutionary Tehran and Engligh literature at the same time. The author should be interviewed on one of the Lebanese media outlets, e.g. Kalam-El-Nass. It would be quite an eye opener for the die-hard leftists enamored of the current Iranian model, as they would be its first victims.

I doubt our politicians are going to do anything against this sort of censorship. This is their cheapest way to suck-up to religious authorities; examples include:
-DaVinci code to calm Bkirke's outrage
-Persepolis to calm
-Marcel Khalife (Youssouf) to calm the mufti's outrage, etc...

When we have mountains of problems to solve they find time to ban comic books that you can buy at any street corner. Pathetic....

[JoseyWales]

"This Jizzini guy is infamous for disobeying his superiors, preferring instead to answer to Hizbullah."

If I were Jizzini I would listen to Hezbollah over wuss Saniora (better protection).

If I were Saniora I would have fired Jizzini a long long time ago.

Thank God I am neither.

[Bad Vilbel]

Has ANYONE ever gotten fired in Lebanon for not doing their job / being incompetent?
EVER?

[Riemer Brouwer]

So what you're saying is Lebanon should separate culture from politics? As in: Fairuz can play in Iran or, oh, let's say, Damascus, and the Lebanese can watch an Iranian movie? Couldn't agree more.

BTW, according to Wikipedia , the movie was shown in Teheran, so that makes the Lebanese boycott even less intelligent.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis_%28film%29#Reaction_of_Iranian_government

[AK]

Nice try Riemer. Nobody said Syrians should be denied watching a Fairuz performance. However, and as you unsuccessfully tried to argue, "culture" should not be held hostage by thugs, and in this case, our objection to Fairuz going there was based on the fact she was being used as government propaganda. Banning a film and prostituting a singer are the same thing, if you think about it.

[marillionlb]

All of you are outraged by yet another aspect of Lebanese hypocracy. Censorship (especially on movies) was always applied in Lebanon even before the civil war.
I am against all forms of censorship and do understand your shock, what I don't understand is why doesn't any of you revolt against more dangerous forms of censorship, that of advertising billboards for example.
AK you ask in your post "how do you fight this cultural and political invasion ", I suggest the following:
Let us gather and march towards Dahiyeh the women either topless or braless and men with an open container of alcohol in each hand.
Every time I cross the old dividing line I feel like I should have applied for a Iranian visa. Screw the Hizb, Dawlet Al Fakih, Al Karkammeh al 3arabieh, Michel Aoun, Saniora,....etc
Enough is enough I REFUSE TO LIVE WITH THOSE THUGS, I SAY KICK THEM ALL OUT before they poison MY country even further.

[Marillionlb]

According to AFP it looks like the ban has been lifted.

[Ano]

Another recent censorship case is the french l'express that was censored last week because it mentioned the french that helped the Jews during WW2.

http://jeanmarcmorandini.tele7.fr/article-13634.html

[Meghwar]

"The office that handles censorship matters informed me in their report that the film attacks Islam and the Iranian regime, and this could spark tension with Iran," Jizzini said.

*************************

allow me to quote Walter Lippmann :"When all men think alike, no one thinks very much".

Freedom of press, of speech, actually freedom of freedom (itself) is threatened in this asylum of a country, by a bunch of loony thugs, but more so by a bunch of incompetent idiots ( supposedly statesmen ) being in the position of responsibility and ACCOUNTABILITY, nevertheless are incapable of questioning their employees’ output and of punishing the dishonest and disloyal perpetrator(s)…of such shame ! I wonder what Tarek Mitri is doing????

Hey Jizzini Asshat,
If freedom of speech means anything at all, it is the freedom to say things that people DO NOT fancy to hear, read ...or see...freedom as much as patriotism are like "Truth", it is unique and doesn't support more than one version. ( I think it is George Orwell who said that) Got it you Jurassic snail?
And whether you lifted the ban or not, you are a danger to Lebanon's freedom or what's left of it and need to be suspended !

Jizzini is an asshat and should be given the sack,( as much as Saniora who doesn't have the balls to do just that)! This censorship’s "horror shop" should be closed, and the key shoved in Berry's rear !

I approve very much Marillion’s suggestions; and mind you, it is fun to see the turbaned outraged concocting themselves a seizure - we should bring our cell-phones and cameras to take some shots– ( beside the vodka’s )!

I also suggest to PLAY This movie ( among other banned movies in Lebanon) free entry for all to see, on Giant Screens Preferably in the "tent city" or near :D
I guess it is a “PEACEFUL” way at hand, among many, not as much, to vaccinate the “society's” immunity against such Jurassic mind-set !

“Minds are like parachutes they only work when they are open “ (John Dewars) yes the one and same who created the Whiskey and he is so damn right!

Let’s have a toast to the death of "Scissors", open our minds and spit a full gulp of alcohol in the face of the petty Jizzini proclaiming being apprehensive that an animated film might corrupt the Iranian “Ashraff annass” and their Iranian Pasdaran in Lebanon, let alone that those WHO reported to him that this movie Attacks ISLAM ( Iranian Regime ??? ) SHOULD BE FIRED (AT) LITERALY!

Lebanese should promise JIZZINI and the likes a “Cultural victory” this one Made of FREEDOM and OF KNOWLEDGE; BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE!

It is the only way, we cannot rely but on ourselves as individuals to fight this cancer( smuggle books and movies and everything that is banned in Lebanon …to people), besides, the internet is DOING GREAT Job thank Gates!
It works the same in every country. All you have to do is tell the people they are being attacked in their RIGHT to Information, freedom, free-will, choice whatever…and denounce the backers biased to a specific Party.
The broad masses of a population are more amenable to the appeal of rhetoric than to any other force. (Proof? American presidential Elections)
We all should remember (Forever) this Gem of
Benjamin Franklin " Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”

Cheers everyone .... Salute...

[Marillionlb]

Yalla Meghwar let us organize ! I will even take my eleven years old son with me (he will be drinking non alcoholic beer though).

[Meghwar]

Marillion,
Sir, I commend your free spirit, your patriotism and loyalty to Lebanon, distilling these qualities and values into your son’s blooming youth is to your honor.
Alas, unlike you, I left Lebanon last year, ( thinking I can forget about this bloody land) nevertheless, I found out, I am still addicted to her toxic “milk & honey” !

But in case the plan would be carried out, I vow I will book myself in the first flight back, to take part in the “Festivities” and help anyway I can; bringing many friends with me, (who BTW having the experience of many “parades”), are not afraid to show their “TALENTS”…to Jizzini & Co. :D

On the same issue, a must read article in L’Orient le Jour.

Police perse
L'article de Michel HAJJI GEORGIOU
http://www.lorientlejour.com/page.aspx?page=article&id=368115

[theCourtFool]

This story perplexes me. I mean in Lebanon? We tend to be the most liberal and democratic nation in the Middle East. It being Francophone animation with a Cannes award, should be a fervent excuse to massively promote it and not lead in Banning it }:-(

[Bad Vilbel]

Nothing about Lebanon should be perplexing anymore.
And there's very little about Lebanon that's "liberal and democratic" these days. Just because someone slaps a "Kosher/Halal" sticker on a package of Pork meat doesn't make it so. Ditto labels of "liberal and democratic".

[Marillionlb]

@Meghwar,
You left and I came back, many times I wished I didn't. I have had my fair share of demonstrating here and abroad, but would actually "put my money where my mouth is" and participate in such a fiesta. Any takers?

[alice]

i just saw persepolis in a beirut cinema. but apparently the censors cut some scenes! does anyone know what was cut?