Sara Alkhalifah ENG Zachary Villegas In the current world, there is a lot of improvement in technology, and as well every industry is using this technology to ensure that it doesn’t remain outdated. In the field of media, several contents are produced some of which pose a significant threat to the society or particular group of people and thus there is a need for censorship. Censorship is a widely used method for controlling media content. The reason why some words, videos or images are censored is to ensure that the audience does not hear or listen the exactly used words by the characters. In history, various films have been censored for their controversial reasons (e.g. encouraging racism), the level of violence, sexual content, and Blasphemy themes. Other films have been banned as they aim to depict prophets and others advocate killing and shedding of blood which creates a mentality of war among the communities. Censorship may also apply when the words used ought to only be heard by adults and there is the presence of children among the audience. As well, when the language employed by the characters is not appropriate for the general audience or when the words used target a particular group of people. However, the standards of censorship vary from one country or community to the other. The discussion below explores why the South Part (2010) film was banned and the reasons why the ban should be the last step. The show is a comedy film which has several episodes of which most of them has raised moral issues upon many religion. The film disrespected God by portraying him in a very negative way against the beliefs of the people. In this case, the film depicted God as a gap-toothed rhinoceros-monkey, Jesus was described as a superhero and Satan was shown as a grimacing character. In this way, the show mocked Catholics, Mormon, and Jews among other religious groups (Todd, 2010). The banning of South Part is a good example and illustration of why words may be censored in a film. However, in the case of South Park, the censoring tactic did not work for the audience; the entire episode had to be banned implying that it was affecting the entire community. There are certain rights that each and every individual or groups of people are entitled. Freedom of religion is one of the rights where contents conflicting to some peoples’ believe may be banned. The law protects each and every religion. According to Muslim belief, Mohammad was a prophet who was used by God to communicate to His people (Caso, 2008). Mohammad is respected and adored by the Muslim community the same way as the Christian community respects Jesus. There is no religion which is powerful than the other, and thus the law views them as equal. In Quran, a holy prophet of God should be respected, and not even his name should be disrespected (Steele, 2000). South Park producers crossed the line when they depicted Mohammad in the episode. In the South Park (2010), Mohammed is one of .

1. Sara Alkhalifah
ENG
Zachary Villegas
In the current world, there is a lot of improvement in
technology, and as well every industry is using this technology
to ensure that it doesn’t remain outdated. In the field of media,
several contents are produced some of which pose a significant
threat to the society or particular group of people and thus there
is a need for censorship. Censorship is a widely used method for
controlling media content. The reason why some words, videos
or images are censored is to ensure that the audience does not
hear or listen the exactly used words by the characters. In
history, various films have been censored for their controversial
reasons (e.g. encouraging racism), the level of violence, sexual
content, and Blasphemy themes. Other films have been banned
as they aim to depict prophets and others advocate killing and
shedding of blood which creates a mentality of war among the
communities. Censorship may also apply when the words used
ought to only be heard by adults and there is the presence of
children among the audience. As well, when the language
employed by the characters is not appropriate for the general
audience or when the words used target a particular group of
people. However, the standards of censorship vary from one
country or community to the other. The discussion below
explores why the South Part (2010) film was banned and the
reasons why the ban should be the last step.
The show is a comedy film which has several episodes of which
most of them has raised moral issues upon many religion. The
film disrespected God by portraying him in a very negative way
against the beliefs of the people. In this case, the film depicted

2. God as a gap-toothed rhinoceros-monkey, Jesus was described
as a superhero and Satan was shown as a grimacing character. In
this way, the show mocked Catholics, Mormon, and Jews among
other religious groups (Todd, 2010).
The banning of South Part is a good example and
illustration of why words may be censored in a film. However,
in the case of South Park, the censoring tactic did not work for
the audience; the entire episode had to be banned implying that
it was affecting the entire community. There are certain rights
that each and every individual or groups of people are entitled.
Freedom of religion is one of the rights where contents
conflicting to some peoples’ believe may be banned. The law
protects each and every religion. According to Muslim belief,
Mohammad was a prophet who was used by God to
communicate to His people (Caso, 2008). Mohammad is
respected and adored by the Muslim community the same way
as the Christian community respects Jesus. There is no religion
which is powerful than the other, and thus the law views them
as equal. In Quran, a holy prophet of God should be respected,
and not even his name should be disrespected (Steele, 2000).
South Park producers crossed the line when they depicted
Mohammad in the episode. In the South Park (2010),
Mohammed is one of the characters and is featured (pictured)
initially behind a black censored bar and also shown in a bear
suit. This was against the beliefs of the Muslims who were
against Mohammed’s portrayal. According to the traditions of
the Muslims, any visual depiction of Mohammed is prohibited.
The South Park (2010) portrayed Islamic prophet, Mohammed
as a cartoon. The Revolution Muslim view the same as insulting
and as a Blasphemy. They posted on their website issuing a
warning to Trey and Matt and described them as stupid. It
means that they were infuriated with the producers and
somehow issuing threats to them, “they will soon disappear like
Theo van Gogh.” Theo van Gogh was a filmmaker and was
assassinated by an extremist from the Muslim community for
disrespecting their culture. Therefore, the show depicts a bad

3. intention against the Muslim religion and depiction of
Mohammed is extremely provocative. As well, the show creates
a religious tension among the society (Todd, 2010).
The move of this show did not go down well with the Muslim
community. Though after realizing that the film had offended
the Muslim community the directors tried to censor some words
and visual content that were offensive to the Muslim
community. In this way, they produced another show which
depicted Mohammed as super-best. However, the Muslims
objected the same referring to it as satirical. The producers of
the South Park had already caused a lot of damage to the
Muslim community, and there was no other choice but for the
film to be banned ((Looper Staff, 2016)
In my opinion, the South Park show crossed the boundary of
Muslim culture and beliefs by disrespecting Mohammed.
However, I would not support the banning of the whole episode
but I would the changing and edition of the show since the
producers may not have had any ill intention or they did the
same because of lack of knowledge that the show would cause
such harm to the Muslims. We are all human beings, and we are
never perfect. We may act and talk in a way that is not pleasing
to the others without our knowledge since our cultures,
emotions, and values among others are different. What I would
recommend is to come together as the affected people and
enlighten the producers the reasons why they should not have
acted the way they did. At the same time, I would not advocate
the killing and issuing threats towards the people producing
irritating films or shows. There should be campaigns all over
the world with the aim of enlightening film producers, actors,
authors, and poets the reasons why they should avoid speaking,
acting or writing contents which are against the society
standards and may eventually cause violence. We should seek to
come up with a proper forum where the producers would
communicate their issues rather than tabling them in a show
which can otherwise affect the whole society. The ban should
only happen if the concerned producers fail to edit their various

4. shows and writings after a warning or a request by the affected
people (Buckle, 2004).
I have in most cases experienced problems among the authors
and bloggers who have been charged with ineffective
communication in their speech or writing. One blogger who is
my closest friend was arrested for posting explicit content in his
blogs which were posing a threat to the children and students.
The blogger was arrested and charged because of violating the
law. Despite the court ruling, I am for the idea that such people
should be educated on the repercussions of such postings since
my later interactions with the Blogger revealed that he had little
knowledge about his blog and he had no any bad intention.
In conclusion, the banning of articles, shows, and other media
content is necessary since it straightens the moral standards of
the producers, actors, and authors. However, the banning should
be a step by step process but should not be immediate. It is
because of many producers, writers, and authors have little
knowledge about their actions and need to be enlightened the
reasons why they should avoid acting or behaving in such a
way. Such enlightenment should be followed with a warning
whereby if the producers or authors continue with their original
status and fail to edit their films and other works, a banning,
and punishment should follow. In so doing, we will straighten
the moral standards of the society, and everyone will feel as
part of the community.
References

5. Looper Staff. (2016). Banned Episodes from Popular TV Shows.
Retrieved from: http://www.looper.com/3478/banned-episodes-
popular-tv-shows/Steele, P. (2000). Censorship. Ohio: Kent
State University. Caso, F. (2008). Censorship. Colorado:
InfoBase Publishing.
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Buckle, S. (2004). Hume's Enlightenment Tract: The Unity and
Purpose of An inquiry concerning human understanding.
Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Todd (April 21, 2010). Has 'South Park' gone too far this time?
Retrieved from:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/21/south.park.rel
igion/
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