UAE bans
Brokeback Mountain

The United Arab Emirates has banned Ang Lee's acclaimed film Brokeback Mountain because of Islamic laws against homosexuality, reports the Khaleej Times. "Brokeback Mountain is a film which has nothing positive about it. The portrayal of the sexual behavior of its main character is offensive to Eastern societies, particularly Muslims and the Arabs, since Islam forbids abnormal behaviors like homosexuality," said Abdullah Al Amiri, chairman of the Committee of Financial, Economical, and Industrial Affairs of Sharjah Consultative Council. "The film will upset the people of this culture and tradition." Members of the Sharjah Consultative Council thanked the ministry of information for what the Times called "its efforts in protecting the society from unethical and immoral practices." A member of the ministry told the Times that its censorship department was making a great effort to protect the country from movies that will destroy the values and morals of society.

Nominated for eight Academy Awards, Brokeback Mountain was named Best Picture by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Producers Guild of America, and numerous U.S. and U.K. critics' groups. It is currently the highest-grossing film of the five Best Picture nominees. (Advocate.com)