Filmmaker cancels ‘Jaber’ amid controversy

AMMAN — Filmmakers of the American movie “Jaber” on Saturday announced the cancellation of the controversial film. 

Mohyeddin Quandour, the movie’s director, said that “Jaber” has been cancelled “to prevent undermining national unity and raising issues that may affect national security”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The Jordanian Artists Association (JAA) last month called on artists involved in the movie “Jaber” to give up their roles, claiming that the movie has a “Zionist agenda”.

The association issued a press release stating that members of the JAA involved in the movie have “confirmed that there will be scenes depicting the Israelis’ right in Petra”.

Actor Ali Elayan,  who recently dropped out of the movie alongside seven of his colleagues, has said that the movie “uses its storyline to spread serious misinformation about the area, particularly the Levant”.  

The movie’s script was approved by the Royal Film Commission, according to the association, who they said should “stop issuing licences to works without fully reading them or consulting with local entities whose interest and reputation they put at risk.”

The commission has also recently been criticised after approving and supporting the filming of the Netflix series “Jinn”.

Prime Minister Omar Razzaz has directed the Media Commission and the Royal Film Commission to form a task force to study and evaluate the film and present its recommendations.

The premier stressed that any cultural or artistic work filmed in the Kingdom must comply with its values and national identity. Minister of State for Media Affairs Jumana Ghunaimat also recently said that the government would take “immediate measures” to oversee the content of the film in view of recent social media controversy.