Broadcasting Council orders Netflix to block “Cuties” movie

The Turkish Broadcasting Corporation announced Thursday that it would order Netflix to block local access to the upcoming film “Cuties” on the grounds that it contained images of child exploitation.

The decision was announced ahead of the worldwide release, on September 9, of the French film on the US online streaming service. The decision was made after recent reports that the Turkish government intervened in a scheduled Netflix series. separately with a gay character.

The “Cuties” case centers on an 11-year-old Muslim woman who “begins to rebel against the traditions of her conservative family when she is fascinated by a free-spirited dance group,” according to Netflix.

“It was unanimously decided that the station should remove the film from its list,” the Supreme Broadcasting Council (RTUK) said after a board meeting.

Reuters was unable to reach Netflix for comment on the decision.

Turkey’s Minister of Family Affairs said last month that the film “may expose children to neglect and abuse, as well as negatively affect their psychosocial development,” noting that “Cuties” appears as a children’s film. , but has an indication “. Suitable for over 18”.

The film had previously been criticized internationally for its billboard for the alleged sexualization of 11-year-old girls. Netflix later apologized for what it called “inappropriate works of art.”