No decision taken yet on screenings of 'Wonder Woman' in Jordan — media commission

AMMAN — The Jordan Media Commission has not yet allowed the screening of the newly released “Wonder Woman” film in Jordan, the commission’s director Mohammad Quteishat said on Friday. 

Quteishat said the commission had received the film and will review its scenes to check if it complies with local standards and legislation, adding that cinemas that screen the film before the commission approves it will be closed, as this would be considered a violation of the law, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Rumours circulated on social media and media outlets about screenings of the film in cinemas in Amman and Irbid are “not true”, he said, adding that, if a cinema screens it before the commission’s approval, it will be considered a violation of the law, according to the commission.

Activists across Jordan voiced their disapproval of the film due to the fact that the lead actor, Gal Gadot, is an Israeli citizen who was enlisted in the Israeli army for two years after high school as part of Israel’s conscription. 

Gadot’s family moved to Palestine as Jewish immigrants from Belarus, Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany, while Gal’s husband is an Israeli businessperson of Turkish Jewish ancestry, according to online sources

The movie’s plot revolves around Wonder Woman, who is informed by an American pilot about the conflicts outside of her isolated island home, subsequently leaving the island to fight in wars with the male fighters.

Nineteen-year-old Ammar Jumaa said the movie “should be banned”, as the main character supports the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

“Regardless of the message of the film — regardless of its background... The lead character supports the killing of children and we should boycott the movie, even if it was allowed in cinemas,” she told The Jordan Times.

“I’ve read that the movie aims to spread the message of women’s empowerment; however, how can we trust this message when we know that she [Gadot] supports Israel’s crimes against humanity?” Amman resident Lara Shobaki asked.

The “Etharrak” anti-normalisation campaign sent a statement to The Jordan Times saying that Gadot was chosen to be the ambassador of many media campaigns by Israeli forces, to show her as a model Israeli soldier.

The anti-normalisation campaign said watching the film will “contribute to increasing its proceeds and supporting an actress that represents the crimes of Israel”.

“We remind Jordanians of their duty to boycott the film. We refuse to be accomplices to the crimes of Zionists and to increase the profits earned from this film. The Arab audience will not be involved with projects representing Zionism and the Israeli army,” the statement explained.

The actor previously appeared in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” in 2016, as well as in the fourth, fifth and sixth films of “The Fast and the Furious” series.

Gadot had previously stated that her military background had helped her to get roles. 

"I think the main reason was that [the director] Justin Lin really liked that I was in the military, and he wanted to use my knowledge of weapons,” she said, speaking to a reporter about her role in the "Fast and the Furious" movie.

In July 2014, Gadot had posted a picture with her daughter on her social media accounts about the 2014 Israeli aggression on Gaza, supporting the occupation forces that caused controversy.

“I am sending my love and prayers to my fellow Israeli citizens. Especially to all the boys and girls who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas, who are hiding like cowards behind women and children,” she tweeted.

“We shall overcome!!! Shabbat Shalom! #weareright #freegazafromhamas #stopterror #coexistance #loveidf,” Gadot continued.

During the 2014 Israeli aggression on Gaza, at least 2,104 Palestinian were killed by Israeli soldiers, including 495 children and 253 women, according to the UN.

The movie was banned from being screened in Lebanon last week, following a campaign dubbed “Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israe in Lebanon”.