Joyland banned from release in Pakistan

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has banned the screening of the world award-winning film Joyland in cinemas across the country after receiving several complaints.

Maria B, in her message on social media, demanded a ban on the release of the film Joyland in Pakistan, saying that Saim Sadiq’s film is not for the rights of transgenders but to promote homosexuality in Islamic society.

Earlier, after the trailer of the film came out, Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan also demanded a ban on the film, claiming in his tweet that the film tried to promote homosexuality and such films were planned to attack the social values of Pakistan.

The story of the film revolves around a young man and a transgender who fall in love with each other while working in a dance club. The film was awarded the ‘Cannes: Queer Palm’ award at the Cannes Film Festival, which is specially given to films based on the stories of gay or transgender people.

However, after receiving several complaints, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has banned the screening of the film joyland in cinemas across the country and canceled the censor board’s certificate issued to the film.