Saudi Culture and religion stresses for gender separation- men and women should not be together, the reason behind screening of films gradually died here, as it is the strong belief of the Saudis that cinema is shunning religious demand for gender segregation.
Even though Saudi Arabia actually has no law, which forbids cinema or is against cinema but still cinema culture died here during 1970s and 1980s due to the high influence of ultra-conservative and conventional clerics.
However, things have changed during these years and even the ideology of people especially due to the entry of television in day-to-day life of Saudi people.
Environment has changed but still the conservatism rule clearly evident as although the first Saudi Arabian film festival is all set to start this week, but the word cinema has no place in the title.
Cinema is a big taboo here in Saudi Arabia, even the Ministry of Information and Culture said :
Let’s not call it cinema that could imply God knows what — let’s say ‘visual shows’
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