Jordan Bans Screening of ‘Wonder Woman’ Film Over Controversy

Jordan has not allowed the screening of newly released “Wonder Woman” film in the Kingdom and warned any cinema halls from screening it before a decision is taken.

In a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, this week, Jordan Media Commission director Mohammad Quteishat said the commission had received the film and will review its scenes to check if it complies with local standards and legislation.

“Cinemas that screen the film before the commission approves it will be closed, as this would be considered a violation of the law,” he said.

Several campaigns were launched online in Jordan calling for boycotting the film and banning its screening in Jordan as the leading actress, Gal Gadot, is an Israeli citizen who was enlisted in the Israeli army for two years after high school as part of Israel’s conscription.

The movie’s plot revolves around Wonder Woman, who is informed by an American pilot about the conflicts outside of her isolated island home, subsequently leaving the island to fight in wars with the male fighters.

“If we watch the movie, this means we will support this Israeli actor…I am against this movie and I call for banning it in Jordan as well as in the rest of the Arab world,” Mohammad Ali, part of the online campaign to boycott the movie, told Xinhua.

The Anti-Normalisation Commission in Jordan issued a statement this week, calling for not watching the film and banning it in Jordan.

In Jordan, which was the second Arab country to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1994, there are active online and offline movements and forces that lobby against having normal ties with Israel in light of its aggression against the Palestinians and the continued occupation.

The movie was banned from being screened in Lebanon last week, following a campaign dubbed “Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel in Lebanon.”

According to reports, Gal Gadot had previously stated that her military background had helped her to get the role in the “Fast and the Furious” movie which made her world-famous.

In July 2014, Gadot had posted a picture with her daughter on her social media accounts about the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts on Gaza, supporting the Israeli Defense Army, which caused controversy. (Xinhua)