Qatar school bans 'Snow White' from library over sexual innuendos

Ban comes following parent's complaint the illustrations and text in the book are culturally inappropriate


News Desk January 22, 2016
PHOTO: APIC

Disney-based fairy tale story book 'Snow White and the seven dwarfs' has been removed from a school library in Qatar amid complaints that it is full of sexual innuendos.

‘Snow White and the seven dwarfs' is based on the story of a young woman who eats a poisonous apple and is later revived by a kiss from a handsome young prince.

'Bachelor ban': Qatar mulls family-only mall days

A parent at the SEK International School Qatar voiced concerns that the illustrations and text in the book were culturally inappropriate, after which Qatar's Supreme Education Council (SEC) ordered its removal from the school's library.

"SEK International School Qatar is proud to be established in this country and presents its formal apologies for any offense that this unintended situation may have caused," the school's principal, Vivian Arif, said in an official statement. The principal quickly moved to ensure no child would ever read it there again.

Censorship of sexual or obscene content is not uncommon in Qatar, which recently banned all showings of "The Danish Girl," a British film that features a transgender protagonist, for supposedly depraved content.

Muslim teacher fired after showing Malala video

Schools in Qatar must adhere to the rules set out by the SEC, which posted excerpts of SEK International School Qatar's apology on its Arabic Twitter account. According to its own website, the SEC aims to observe "international best practices, while preserving and taking into account the Islamic values and local traditions."

Many took to Twitter in shock over the lifting of the book from the school library.



https://twitter.com/teymoornabili/status/690335433746583552

https://twitter.com/misscasfan/status/689874538973106178

https://twitter.com/pro2rat/status/687951950323699712



This article originally appeared on Huffington Post.

COMMENTS (4)

cautious | 8 years ago | Reply And you wonder why you have a problem with religious extremism? You teach it in schools/madrassas at the same time your battling in N Waziristan - not the smartest way to fight the problem.
Ay Jay | 8 years ago | Reply @Saad D.: Man, that is called informed consent. But do you know that if a patient is unconscious and no one is around, it is agreed that the doctor can do help the patient without his/her consent? That is called implied consent. That's the situation in the Snow White. How would she give consent when she's sleeping/unconscious and not able to get up? She DOES need help. On your second point that prince never met her before, but how do you know she was not willing to receive a kiss? She didn't sue him later. Lol. Hope you do not 'fail to understand' now. Cheers.
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ