The Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC) television channel announced it will suspend the Arab version of the controversial reality TV show Big Brother, which caused a public outcry in Bahrain, where it was being filmed. The decision of suspending the production of the show from Bahrain was taken due to the fact that the channel does not want to be the cause of differences of opinion, and in order to evaluate it so that it is compatible with the channel's policy.
It was revealed that the decision was taken "in tandem with the Bahraini information ministry" after the "general outcry" about the program in Bahrain. "By this sacrifice ... MBC does not want to risk, through its programs and broadcasting, being accused of harming Arab traditions and values, because it considers the channel one for the Arab family," said the statement.
according to several news sources, the announcement came three days after some 1000 people, mainly Islamists, protested against the show. Islamist MPs accused the show of violating Islamic traditions. "Stop Sin Brother! No to indecency!" chanted the protesters. Seven of them last week signed a demand to question Information Minister Nabil Al-Hamr in parliament over the program. "It's a good decision which is testament to the channel's wisdom ... especially since the program was neither cultural nor useful," Islamist MP Adel al-Maawda said after the decision was made.
MBC defended the program, arguing that it was "more realistic in reflecting the reality" of young Arabs than the numerous series and films shown by other Arabic television channels. A Bahraini official lamented MBC's decision to suspend the program, the filming of which, according to him, could be transferred to another country. "We respect the decision of those producing the program," the official said, adding that the decision was taken after a meeting on between MBC officials and the information minister.
MBC is producing Big Brother at a villa in a resort called Amwaj on Muharraq Island, the second largest in the Bahrain archipelago. Twelve young men and women from across the Arab world are living in the villa in separate quarters but meet in the lounge, kitchen and garden. Film of their daily life and interaction imitates, in a more restricted way, scenes, which angered traditionalists in the west when the program first appeared in the Netherlands in 1999 and later in Britain, the United States and France. –Albawaba.com
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
