Watching a film, a video or a TV show in Somalia has suddenly become a crime.

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.

Since the country fell apart in 1991, day to day life has meant violence, fear and bribing gunmen high on quat. Not surprisingly then, when the UIC seized military control of Somalia this summer there was hope in the country for a better life. Unfortunately, this has not turned out to be the case and 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.

According to director Laura J. Forth whose Leopards in the Snow eatures Somalis telling in their own words what they’ve been through in terms of the civil war and the personal suffering they’ve endured: “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?”

(via The Movie Blog)

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