June 1, 2012 (TSR) – The Dictator is making waves in Central Asia again where Sacha Baron Cohen’s provocative comedy has been removed from movie theaters in the former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The Kazakh premier of The Dictator took place on May 17, the day after the British star of Borat and Bruno turned up in the French Riviera, at Cannes, dressed as his fictional character Aladeen. The flamboyant actor was escorted by a camel, as well as a pair of sexy brunettes wearing military berets and carrying fake Kalashnikovs.
The Dictator features Baron Cohen as Admiral General Aladeen, supreme leader of the fictional North African nation of Wadiya. The title character is a fusion of Muammar Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein, Hugo Chavez, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad… the list goes on.
Earlier, in May, the film directed by Larry Charles was censored in Uzbekistan where the comedy was chopped by twelve minutes.
Movie theaters in the neighboring Central Asian republic of Tajikistan also announced they wouldn’t be showing The Dictator for fear it could conflict with the “local mentality.”
Turkmenistan and Belarus confirmed they wouldn’t be playing The Dictator either.
Here is a snapshot of the movie trailer to understand the reaction of Arabs and Muslims:
NOTE: This is a typical example of Hollywood movies that are used to shape the consciousness of Americans into creating a PHANTOM ENEMY. Many analysts even concur with us that they’ve done this even in cartoons like Disney’s Aladdin and other movies that stereotype many ethnicities. But the Arab-Muslim stereotype proliferated since Sept 11, 2001 – part of creating Islamophobia. We also do not support nor recommend this film because this little excerpt alone, due to our involvement with Libya and Muammar Gaddafi, with our colleagues, friends and staff killed, are insulting, insensitive and another propaganda aimed to distort truth and facts. These “enemies” of Washington are demonized for one mere reason: They want to be treated as equals, become self-sufficient and independent from American dictatorship. Everything you see in this movie is the OPPOSITE of EVERYTHING that has happened, and what these leaders stand for. It’s Hollywood being used as a tool again to mindprogram the masses to ignorance, hatred and prejudice. We do not find this healthy humor at all, but further dumbing down of Humanity, something that Washington has been doing since 1960s through the tactics and techniques from Marxist-Leninist agents they imported. – TSR
granted that film is at times offensive however the way ‘dictator’ was depicted is not far off how some ‘muslim’ leaders/ dictators live and act with all due respect to late Col. Gaddafi.
So as far as film targets this creed, i dont think there is anything wrong, where it targets Muslims or islamic faith that is questionable.
But I make a note as Muslims we are *not* above criticism, as long as its done constructively and not just to offend.