Opening cinemas will act as a catalyst for economic growth and diversification. Salma al-Saud, 24, a Saudi student, said: “I believe that there must be a wall in the beginning. Saudi Arabia’s highest-ranking cleric spoke in January of the “depravity” of cinemas, saying they would corrupt morals, but the authorities appear to be shrugging off the resistance. Even with the decades-long ban on cinemas, Saudi movie buffs were able to circumvent traditional censors by streaming movies online and watching films on satellite TV. The film Wadjda made history in 2013 by becoming the first Academy Award entry for Saudi Arabia, though it was not shortlisted for a prize.

Source: The Guardian December 11, 2017 09:36 UTC