A series broadcast by Ennahar TV has been suspended for a scene deemed too suggestive, while a Samira TV program has been accused of sexism and racism.
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accusation of racism, sexism or immorality: the soap operas of Ramadan 2022 will have carried their share of controversies in Algeria. Like every year, millions of viewers have rushed to the programs offered during fasting evenings. The viewing of satirical comedies, dramatic soap operas, gastronomic or cultural shows is a tradition of the holy month. But this year, the Audiovisual Regulatory Authority (ARAV) had to react several times to try to defuse controversies.
April 12, the Algerian-Tunisian production Hob El Moulouk (“Cerises”) was suspended for a period of a week. The soap opera, proposed by the private Arabic -speaking chain Ennahar TV, had raised indignation after the broadcast of a scene showing an office employee who tries to seduce her manager by taking poses deemed too suggestive. In a press release published the day before, the ARAV had indicated that it had warned the television channels of “the imperative to observe moral values and good manners and to control their various programs beforehand” during the month of Ramadan.
If some have defended a necessary regulatory work, others denounce such a reminder to order. “Yes, there is a form of censorship which does not say its name but which is there,” says a producer and director who wishes to keep anonymity. He recalls that productions have been cut in the past, as in 2021 the sitcom Achour El Acher, which parodies Algerian political life. During its broadcast, actors had denounced the disappearance of certain scenes.
Lately, the directors of two other private Arabic -speaking channels, Samira TV and Echourouk, who had to explain the regulatory authority. In the case of Samira TV, a chain specializing in culinary content, the program “Tourath Bladi” (“The heritage of my country”) has been denounced several times by Internet users who accuse him of conveying degrading messages for the Woman.
Apology of slavery?
In question: the words of several guests on the set, surprising that some women buy bread outside or take frozen products for Ramadan. “Foyer women send their husbands to make the channel to buy bread, it’s strange. I don’t understand how you can leave someone fasting, whether it is his son or daughter, wait half an hour to buy Bread. They can’t learn [to do it]? “Said actress Bahia Rachedi, who later defended himself from all sexism:” Where is the evil in the words I made? I only said that homemade bread is better! “
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