Cinema is a crime in Somalia

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) -- On the eve of the Toronto International Film Festival, Canadian filmmakers lament that it’s suddenly a crime to watch a movie in Somalia -- a movie, a video, or a television show. Even music is now forbidden in this East African country. Over the last few weeks the international media has reported several instances of United Islamic Courts (UIC) gunmen storming into full movie houses and arresting everyone, including women and children. Hundreds of people, sitting quietly watching a movie are rounded up forcibly and severely punished or even killed. The UIC, who control the capitol and much of Somalia, have decreed entertainment activities such as going to the movies or watching soccer on TV to be prohibited.For the last 15 years Somalia has suffered through drought, floods, famine and warlords. Day to day life meant violence, fear and bribing gunmen high on quat, (an amphetamine-like leaf that is chewed). So, when the UIC seized military control of Somalia this summer, there was hope for a better life. But this seems to come at a cost in the form of strict controls and restrictions on the Somali people. As reported on SomaliNet as well as other news agencies, the UIC has announced a series of decrees for the local population, -- including one forbidding movies, music, films and television shows.Storytelling has always been an ancient custom with the Somali people who have a vivid oral history of stories, song and poems. Their love of cinema is simply a modern continuation of their tradition of storytelling. But storytelling via celluloid is now strictly forbidden. This whole situation doesn’t sit well with documentary filmmakers Laura J. Forth and James A . Smith, whose newly released film, ‘Leopards in the Snow,’ a documentary about Somalia.“We thought a screening in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu would be a way of honoring them -- we’ve grown to love them so much as a people, says director Laura J. Forth.“'Leopards in the Snow' features Somalis telling in their own words what they’ve been through in terms of the civil war and the personal suffering they’ve endured. It gives a message of hope and also peace. We support peace in Somalia. We don't believe in violence. We’ve been invited all over the world to show this movie – from Sweden to Minneapolis. Finland TV is considering it, as are the BBC and PBS, but no one in Somalia is allowed to watch it. They’d be given 40 lashes or worse.”From her Toronto production office Forth adds, ‘I find it incredibly ironic that on the eve of the Toronto International Film Festival nobody here in Toronto seems to care. Innocent people are being hurt and persecuted just for going to the movies. How sad is that?”
‘Leopards in the Snow’ was exclusively funded through OMNI's Independent Producers Initiative. This seven-year funding commitment by OMNI was initiated and made available for independent producers to create third-language/ethnocultural programming. The documentaries are broadcast in their original language and transcribed into English as well as a range of other languages.Rogers OMNI Television is a free over-the-air system consisting of four regional broadcasters covering nine markets in: British Columbia (Victoria, Vancouver, and Fraser Valley), Manitoba (Winnipeg), and Ontario (Ottawa-Gatineau, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area). All Rogers OMNI Television stations are owned and operated by Rogers Communications in the Rogers Media division, and have the collective mandate to reflect Canada’s diversity through the airing of inclusive and accessible programming. In addition to specializing in Canadian multicultural, multilingual and multi-faith programming, OMNI TV also carries well-known American and International series and films.

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FredSep 7th, 2006 - 10:54:51

It is very sad to see this type of article published. The information presented about the legality of film and television in Somalia has obviously not been researched and is incorrect.

The article here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5153800.stm - gives quite a different perspective on the issue.

I did a quick google on the 'Leopards in the Snow' film, and it appears to me that the people involved are more interested in making sweeping statements that make good drama and promote their agenda than they are in presenting the truth of the matter.

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Ali GureySep 7th, 2006 - 16:57:10

i would like to thank the ppl who did the documentary about somalia and the freedom to express the truth and what real somalis want , the person who is claiming to be fred is one of the groups that want to talibanize our country we are muslims living peacefully with our brethren before al-qaida and we will be muslims after this so called extremists from hell are thrown out of the earth please we encorage u to tell the world the truth
thank u very much for all ur effort

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Ali GureySep 7th, 2006 - 16:57:31

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guledSep 7th, 2006 - 19:43:43

thank you for talking about this issue in such a big event. TFF ROCKS>

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Paul RevertiSep 7th, 2006 - 21:46:17

Unfortunately this week, two sensational events (the death of the 'crocodile hunter', and the Austrian story of Natasha) have eclipsed in the news two far more tragic situations:
1-The new rulers in Somalia, by their actions and policies, reminds us sadly of 1990's Afghanistan. Everything that makes culture, that makes one human is now forbidden in this country.
2-The very same day (Sep 7), four Australian kids (the youngest, Matthew Norman and scott Rush, being only 19), previously sentenced in Indonesia to life behind bars for trying to smuggle a few grams of drug, saw a vicious Indonesian supreme court change their previous conviction to the death sentence. Given the history of clemency (or lackthere of) of the Infonesian system, these kids are now sure to be shot (mean of execution in Indonesia)in the next year.

But in the news redactions today, it was assumed by the journalists that talking about people already dead (the crocodile hunter), or people free at last (Natasha) would please more the reader's taste than those other horrible stories happening as we speak... and on which we could help (e.g., boycott of Indonesian products).

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jeilaniSep 9th, 2006 - 11:28:05

Thanks for this short movie , but the reall situation is not against watching movies, its forbidden for Adult movies which islam doesn't allow such bad things to watch it,
It's forbidden for islam and sharia law.Islamic courts has right to ban to watch it, since they took over the capital city in Mogdisho became the most peacefull place in Somalia , they did great job and they against all drug users and porno movies, under islamic sharia law
this movies has nothing to do or to complain it

Thanks
bye

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gio.shangerSep 9th, 2006 - 12:07:31

I have seen 'Leopards in the Snow' and it's an amazin film!!! It's was commissioned by the Canadian Somalian Associations, who gave the filmmakers a free-hand and final edit to document the plight of all the Somalian immigrants in Canada since the civil war & UN forces came to Somalia in the early-90ish's!!! 'Fred' should 'wake up and get a job' and is a racist troll that does us no favour by espoosing his racist policies here!!! Kudo's to everyone here for putting him in his place. KUDO's everyone...

Please watch this great documentary film. I will shock you into a different reality of what really happened to the Somalian immigrants. Who still to this very day, have no government in power any more. AND, that means no civil service, no paperwork, passports, birth certificate's - no nothing folks. What has the UN done about that? See for yourself? 'Leopards in the Snow' is a classic documentary in dee grand tradition of Canadian's as the best dcoumenatry filmmakers in the world. It's because we all have the patience in the world up here folks. See yah, and have fun folks.

Gio. (Toronto)

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gio.shangerSep 9th, 2006 - 12:09:54

I have seen 'Leopards in the Snow' and it's an amazin film!!! It's was commissioned by the Canadian Somalian Association, who gave the filmmakers a free-hand, and the 'final edit' to document the plight of all the Somalian immigrants here in Canada since the civil war & UN forces came to Somalia in the early-90ish's!!! 'Fred' should 'wake up and get a job' and is a racist troll that does us no favour by espousing his racist policies here!!! Kudo's to everyone here for putting him in his place. KUDO's everyone...

Please watch this great documentary film. It will shock you into a different reality of what really happened to the Somalian immigrants. Who still to this very day, have no government in power any more. AND, that means no civil service, no paperwork, no passports, no birth certificate's - no nothing folks. What has the UN done about that? See for yourself? 'Leopards in the Snow' is a classic documentary in dee grand tradition of Canadian's as the best dcoumenatry filmmakers in the world. It's because we all have the patience in the world up here folks. See yah, and have fun folks.

Gio. (Toronto)

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gio.shangerSep 9th, 2006 - 12:12:15

Sorry for that folks.... It's my first posting here!!! I'm used to a 'preview' button!!!

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