The locally created The 99 comics has been banned in Saudi Arabia for religious reasons and the creator Dr Naif Al Mutawa is also being sued locally.
However, Al Mutawa, the CEO of Teshkeel Media Group has vehemently defended his work, saying that it had won universal praise, including from the Emir of Kuwait and President Barack Obama.
“Those who are attacking men are claiming that I am using the 99 Holy Names of God for my characters,” he said. “However, I never thought they would go as far as accusing me of blasphemy and atheism. I am surprised that this is happening in Kuwait, a country of law that respects the Constitution and freedoms,” he said.
Al Mutawa said that his work was under an Islamic company and funded by an Islamic bank.“We have succeeded in presenting a positive image about the Islamic culture at international events. We had a role in dissipating the negative images of terrorism and killing that people had of Arabs. The series is being shown in 70 countries across the world,” he said. [Article]
The 99 is a comic book featuring a team of superheroes based on Islamic culture and religion that became a worldwide sensation. Dr Naif was featured on the front page of CNN previously as well as being mentioned by Barrak Obama in one of his speeches.
42 replies on “The 99 Banned in Saudi Arabia”
Shame on those suing him. I hope they get theirs on judgement day.
Being mentioned by Obama and CNN doesn’t exonerate him. That’s more of a condemnation. Especially in the eyes of Salafis.
Well with that logic, they should just sue everyone who’s named ‘Kareem’, ‘Jaber’, ‘Noora’, and all the other people we see everyday with names deriving from the 99 names of God, and arrest anyone who displays any of the positive characteristics they represent.
Saudi agrees with you, that’s why they just issued a list of 50 names you can’t name your children (this is not a joke)
https://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/saudi-arabia-bans-50-baby-names-1.1303898
I wish i could express my reaction with an emoji here 🙁
The problem is clear and simple…
A person saw the show, interpreted it based on his own understanding (that those cartoon characters represent pieces of God and that when uniting with each others they become “One” = God). This interpretation was relayed to a well know and reputable religious scholar for his opinion. The scholar response was that it is not OK to represent God in cartoon and in such way and went on talking about such cartoons!
Now, I personally have not watched the 99. But I can see one major problem…. the scholar gave “fatwa” or opinion based on what was relayed to him. I know from experience that if ten people sit at a room and listen to a speaker, most likely about 50% will misunderstand or misinterpret the speaker. You need a depth of knowledge and a level of intellect to understand what is going on… not all people are created equal.
I have suggested to Dr Al-Mutawa, and I don’t know whether he is following on that or not, he should personally seek those scholars who gave their opinion about his work (without actually seeing it objectively) and explain to them his point of view, his objectives and so on. and then get their opinion in writing just like those opposing him did.
Understandable though.
If they banned The 99 comics in KSA, then expect that sooner or later The 99 will become famous worldwide… 🙂
“We had a role in dissipating the negative images of terrorism and killing that people had of Arabs.” Care to explain to us, Dr. Naif, how did you arrive at this conclusion? How exactly did a cartoon series change the horrors people see happening in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan on a daily basis? Muslims killing Muslims. Google it under video.
I think you have to look at that quote in context of what he’s saying:
“We have succeeded in presenting a positive image about the Islamic culture at international events. We had a role in dissipating the negative images of terrorism and killing that people had of Arabs. The series is being shown in 70 countries across the world,” he said”
He’s talking about how people outside of this region generally see Arabs and Muslims. He presented them with a different view of the religion and of the region.
Yes, but he’s making a bold claim without the evidence to back it up like data from audience surveys before and after viewing his program. Without evidence, what he says remains just a pretentious and baseless PR fodder.
Is he supposed to present evidence every time he speaks? Can’t you use it’s popularity and reputation as a basis for that? The fact that it’s doing well can prove that they have succeeded in “presenting a positive image” about Islamic culture.
You can just Google the series to see the praise it gets.
Yes indeed. If you make a bold statement like “We had a role in dissipating the negative images of terrorism and killing that people had of Arabs”, you better back it up or qualify it by saying something like “I believe” or “I think”. That makes it an opinion and not a statement of fact. Here he’s mentioning it as a fact, as something which actually happened. That’s not true, it’s just grandiose and defensive posturing.
Critical readers see through the B.S. People in these parts apparently don’t and they use Google to make up their minds for them. Either that or they are members of his PR team.
Why is my comment being moderated? Oh wait, you are disagreeing with the brother of the president. That’s a no, no in these parts. Hello Syria!
lol +1
My comment was being moderated too. Has nothing to do with who you’re disagreeing with lol
Now that’s a pretentious comment if I’ve ever read one.
You have to look at how the information was presented. If you read the article you’ll see that it doesn’t really delve much into the topic. They also pull a quote of his from 2009. That gives me the impression that he wasn’t really interviewed for this article.
Take from that what you will. But it looks like your mind was already made up from the start 🙂
It’s not doing well. Unless you mean the PR and Marketing machine, because yeah that’s still running full on and doing all the work in place of an actually decent product.
Read the comic and watch the series. Its a pile of crap that doesn’t hold its own – people in the comics industry are prolly laughing their nuts off at another product from the middle east that is basically all hype no substance.
I’m sure we can all remember some expensive things that seemed like a good idea at the time (anyone remember those spikey things on poles that were all over the streets?)
Look up actual reviews and not what Obama and other famous people who don’t even read comics have to say.
I’m sure I wouldn’t enjoy the comic books and the cartoon series. I’ve seen some reviews here and there and it’s what I would expect.
I wasn’t really debating the quality of the material, but that it’s reaching out to enough people that its at least give a different portrayal of the regions culture and gives kids from the region something to enjoy. How is that a bad thing?
if you mean ppl are getting a different impression of arabs from the PR and Marketing team then I would probably sort of agree and also that some kids in the region might actually be reading this stuff. But even if its creating positive vibes its more in line with ‘hey look, those arabs can try their hand at comic books’ … but also adding ‘hey look, those arabs are paying other ppl to do their comic books and it still sucks – typical!’
“Hey look, those arabs are paying other ppl to do their comic books”
I don’t get that mentality. Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa is the face of the 99, but the names of the writers and co-creators are easily found online. Stuart Moore and John McCrea are the other two behind the 99.
It’s not like he’s going out of his way to hide that fact.
I agree with Patrick. Some people only know Arabs for terrorism. The 99 presented another side of the Islamic & Arabic culture to the outside world.
Patrick, do you believe most Muslims are terrorists?
I don’t believe most muslims are terrorists. But I believe that most terrorists are muslim.
lol this shit cracks me up. I think the comic and show are piss poor, but hey any publicity is good publicity. Thanks Saudi!
my opinion, a courageous step that one would take against the ignorance of those people that are destroying our cultures, is by suing them in return! we have all been sitting in the defense line for so long and i think its time to throw it back to their court.
there are human right courts and civil right movements that are made for such reasons and i say, sue them for violating as the best defense is good offense!
There is no such thing as bad publicity, all publicity is good.
Salaman Rushdi became a knight and made millions after one crazy mulla made a fatwa against him. Listen no one can touch Dr. Almutawa and saudi clerics can kiss a rats a.. for all we care, they are out of touch with reality even the younger generation saudis don’t care for them anymore.
Now if only the series wasn’t really lame and people actually liked it, anywhere, besides the 99 comics PR team. And if only Al Mutawa had anything to do with the comics or the animated series besides taking credit for them. Then this decree would actually mean something.
Al Mutawa told Gulf News in 2009 that “people in our culture try to make thinking and creativity into wrong and harmful things… They are killing our culture”.
What culture ya mama ow the whole thing is being created by western artists?
and don’t forget inhouse staff that came up with more than half the characters!
given how low quality the 99 comics, i highly doubt its being created by westerners. some 14 years ago when me and my friends were in secondary school, we were making some better animation than this.
Why “The 99” he couldn’t find any other names? What gave him the idea to call it “The 99”
On the other hand, Marvel just debuted the new Ms Marvel who is a Muslim superhero and the #00 issue actually went pretty well.
But she’s not even remotely as hot 😛
That being said – i would totally … read… that!
>But she’s not even remotely as hot 😛
A quick google image search will prove you are mistaken.
whaaa ? come on the old ms marvel is waaaay hotter. I mean of course the new one is hotter than anyone in the 99! ANyways im still a poison ivy fan all the way!
She has a good sense of humor. Also, it’s a good way to break the stereotype.
I have yet to find the kids, teens, youth etc endorsing these comics.
Close the damn borders.
I stand by Dr. Naif.
He is an amazing man.
and thereby you prove what most ppl believe – that the 99 is more about being a personality cult than it is a good comic book. Answer the following: How many ppl have seen a talk by him versus actually read the damn comic or watched the show? I’m sure some have read and watched but compare that with the worshipping thousands …
” I am surprised that this is happening in Kuwait, a country of law that respects the Constitution and freedoms,”
Made Me Chuckle.
You know what makes me laugh, Kuwait has everything, in regards to wealth and educated people who have dreams, and can make the Middle East move forward, but these religious extremist don’t want that, but want to bring us 100 years back.
They should mind their own business and fix their own stupidity in problems.
Banned buffets in Saudi Arabia
And Banned Islamic names
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-cleric-issues-religious-edict-banning-allyoucaneat-buffets-9200111.html
https://m.gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/saudi-arabia-bans-50-baby-names-1.1303898
I stand by Dr Al Mutawa and hope his work grows and becomes successful.