39 organizations urged Netflix to reinstate at least 19 Palestinian films that the company had deleted
Netflix has faced a global wave of negative media coverage after a coalition of 39 organizations criticized the media company for deleting 19 or more films by or about Palestinians.
In our October 25th letter, Freedom Forward and signing organizations called on Netflix to reinstate the Palestinian films and answer seven key questions about the company’s behavior. The 39 groups include organizations representing Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities, as well as peace and human rights groups.
MEDIA ROUNDUP:
U.S.A.
Deadline: “Netflix Rejects Claims It Deleted Collection of Palestinian Films, Saying Licensing Agreement Is Coming To End,” October 25, 2024.
- “Contacted by Deadline, with Netflix’s explanation as to why the titles had been removed, Sunjeev Bery, Executive Director of Freedom Forward said the platform should still reinstate the titles. ‘I suspected that licensing issues may be at play. At a time of such significant pain and suffering for Palestinians, it seems clear that Netflix should be doing everything in its power to maintain global public access to Palestinian films,’ wrote Bery, who is a foreign policy analyst and human rights advocate.”
The Hollywood Reporter: “Netflix Responds to Activists Criticizing Palestinian Films Removal: ‘Those Licenses Have Now Expired’,” October 25, 2024.
- “A coalition led by Freedom Forward called on Netflix to reinstate 19 films by or about Palestinians that were part of a three-year content licensing deal that has not been renewed.”
The Intercept: “Netflix Wiped Most of Its “Palestinian Stories” Collection — and Erased the Whole Thing in Israel,” October 27, 2024.
- “‘This erasure of Palestinian voices by Netflix follows many ugly decades of suppression of Palestinian viewpoints and narratives by Western news and entertainment media companies,’ said a letter calling for reinstatement of the films from 30 pro-Palestinian organizations, including Freedom Forward where Bery, an Intercept contributor, is executive director.”
The A.V. Club: “Petition calls for Netflix to reinstate 19 Palestinian films,” October 25, 2024.
- “Over 30 organizations are “deeply concerned” about the removal of “at least 19 films by Palestinian filmmakers or about Palestinian stories” from Netflix’s platform, a new petition states. In a letter signed by groups like Freedom Forward, Arab American Action Network (AAAN), U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), and more …”
Variety: “Netflix Sparks Outcry After Non-Renewal of ‘Palestinian Stories Collection’ Launched in 2021,” Oct 25, 2024.
- “The Freedom Forward letter is also signed by Arab American Action Network, Council on American Islamic Relations, Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, National Network for Arab American Communities and U.S. Palestinian Community Network, among many others.”
Soap Central: “Did Netflix delete its collection of Palestinian films? Details of outcry over non-renewal explored,” Oct 26, 2024.
- “However, Freedom Forward is not convinced by the clarification and reaffirmed that the platform should have renewed the deal. Sunjeev Bery, the Executive Director of Freedom Forward, said in a statement: ‘Netflix is a 300 billion dollar company that can afford to renew the licenses for the movies and films that it cares about. Palestinians are experiencing extraordinary suffering, and Netflix should be doing everything it can to share Palestinian stories with the world.’”
The Progressive Magazine: “Netflix Removes Palestinian Stories From Its Library,” Samer Badawi, November 13, 2024.
- “‘Instead of deleting Palestinian content, Netflix should be promoting Palestinian stories,’ Sunjeev Bery, executive director of the nonprofit organization Freedom Forward, said in an email to The Progressive. Bery’s organization was one of more than three dozen signatories on an October 25 letter to Netflix executives that said the platform’s move ‘will further marginalize Palestinian voices at a time when over two million Palestinians in Gaza are being subjected to genocide by the Israeli military.’”
MIDDLE EAST:
Middle East Monitor: “Netflix slammed for removing films on Palestine,” October 26, 2024.
- “Rights group Freedom Forward said: ‘Netflix has deleted almost all of its Palestinian films.’”
The New Arab: ‘A genocide is not the time to be silent about Palestine’: Calls for boycott grow following Netflix’s poor response to erasure of Palestinian Stories collection,” November 14, 2024.
- “Netflix hasn’t responded to the coalition letter that Freedom Forward sent along with over 30 other organisations,” Freedom Forward co-founder Sunjeev Bery tells The New Arab. “It only sent their generic statement, which does not answer any of our seven questions in that letter.” After activists alerted Sunjeev to Netflix’s removal of Palestinian titles, he swiftly rallied concerned groups to sign a joint letter to petition for their reinstatement. “Bad foreign policy is often incubated by biased narratives in the media. When Netflix or other major entertainment or news media remove or silence Palestinian voices, it enables Western governments to continue supporting the oppression of Palestinians and other communities in the Middle East,” Sunjeev adds.
BroadcastPro ME (U.A.E.): “Rights organisations demand Netflix reinstate Palestinian films deleted from its catalogue,” October 25, 2024.
- “Speaking on the release of the letter, Sunjeev Bery, Freedom Forward Executive Director, said: ‘At a time when Israel is committing a genocide against Palestinians, it is shocking that Netflix would delete nearly its entire library of Palestinian films and films featuring Palestinian stories. Netflix must end its silence, explain why it took this action, and commit to bringing all 19 deleted films back online immediately. Instead of deleting Palestinian content, Netflix should be promoting Palestinian stories.’”
Israel Hayom (Israel): “What’s behind Netflix’s latest Israel controversy?” Oct 27, 2024.
- “Sunjeev Bery, executive director of Freedom Forward, challenged Netflix’s decision not to renew the licensing agreement. “Netflix is a 300 billion dollar company that can afford to renew the licenses for the movies and films that it cares about,” Bery stated to The Hollywood Reporter … The letter received support from various organizations, including the Arab American Action Network, Council on American Islamic Relations, Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, National Network for Arab American Communities, and US Palestinian Community Network, among others.”
The Jerusalem Post (Israel): “Netflix defends its decision to remove Palestinian films from platform,” October 27, 2024.
- “Freedom Forward … released an open letter as well as a petition, asking for an explanation from the international streamer on why these films would no longer be on the platform.”
Al Bawaba (Jordan): “Netflix sparks outrage over removal of Palestinian film collection amid Gaza crisis,” October 26, 2024.
- “Freedom Forward, a rights group, sent a letter to Netflix asking, “How does Netflix justify the removal of so many films by or about Palestinians, one of the world’s most politically marginalized communities, especially at a time when Palestinians are facing genocide in Gaza?” The letter also raised questions about the possible involvement of “pro-Israel lobbying or advocacy organizations” in influencing Netflix’s controversial decision.”
TRT World (Turkey): “Netflix faces backlash over removal of Palestinian movie collection, Oct 25, 2024.
- ““How does Netflix justify the removal of so many films by or about Palestinians, one of the world’s most politically marginalised communities, especially at a time when Palestinians are facing genocide in Gaza?” the rights group Freedom Forward asked in a letter, further questioning the potential role of “pro-Israel lobbying or advocacy organisations” in pushing Netflix to its controversial move.”
Türkiye Today (Turkey): “Netflix faces backlash in Türkiye for removing ‘Palestinian Stories,’” Oct 27, 2024.
- “This decision has sparked outrage among Turkish users, who are now canceling their subscriptions in response. Many have taken to social media to voice their disapproval, with comments writing, “It is unacceptable for Netflix, as a global platform, to silence productions that represent the voice of Palestine.’”
Al Jazeera Mubasher (Qatar) (Youtube): “ نتفليكس تحذف 19 فيلما فلسطينيا”.. ماذا حدث؟” (“Netflix deletes 19 Palestinian films. What happened?”), October 26, 2024.
Latin America:
Cultura Colectiva (Mexico) (500K Twitter followers): “Netflix Faces Backlash Over Removal of 19 Palestinian Films Amid Global Outcry,” October 28, 2024.
- “Freedom Forward’s Executive Director Sunjeev Bery took to social media, tagging Netflix in a post that gained massive traction, viewed by over 1.3 million people worldwide. With over 20,000 likes and thousands of reshares, this post has brought heightened visibility to the issue, pressuring Netflix to respond more substantively.”
Asia:
Tech in Asia (Singapore): “Netflix removes ‘Palestinian Stories’ films, sparks backlash,” Oct 28, 2024.
- “Activist groups, including Freedom Forward, oppose Netflix’s decision and argue it suppresses Palestinian narratives. Netflix had previously stressed its commitment to artistic freedom and diversity in response to criticism. However, the recent reduction in films indicates a possible change in approach.”
Maktoob Media (India): “Netflix faces criticism over removal of Palestinian movie collections,” Oct 26, 2024.
- “A letter signed by 30 organisations including Freedom forward, CAIR National, Arabs American action network , and U.S Palestinian Community network urged Netflix to give explanation and to reinstate the films.In a letter addressed to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, Freedom Forward stated, ‘The systemic suppression of Palestinian voices and censorship of content prevent U.S. and Western societies from being aware of and understanding the reality of Western governments’ support for Israel’s brutal policies of occupation, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and now, genocide of Palestinians.’”
The Siasat Daily (India): “Netlfix faces backlash over removal of Palestinian films,” Oct 27, 2024.
- “The Netflix decision has been criticised by human rights advocates and social media users as it may hinder Palestinian representation amid Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, causing infrastructure damage and over 42,000 civilian deaths. On Thursday, October 24, Freedom Forward, along with 35 other human rights organizations have written an open letter to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, requesting an explanation and reinstatement of every Palestinian film removed from its platform.”
Dawn Images (Pakistan): “Netflix denies deleting Palestinian films, says Palestine Stories collection removed due to license expiry,” October 26, 2024.
- “Sunjeev Bery, executive director of Freedom Forward, told Deadline that the platform should still reinstate the titles. “I suspected that licensing issues may be at play. At a time of such significant pain and suffering for Palestinians, it seems clear that Netflix should be doing everything in its power to maintain global public access to Palestinian films,” he said. “It is surprising that Netflix has kept silent about the removal of these films, and that Netflix appears not to have put in the effort necessary to renew the licenses involved.”
The Express Tribune (Pakistan): “Netflix ends ‘Palestinian Stories’ Collection: Rights expire amid global outcry,” October 26, 2024.
- “Freedom Forward, a human rights organization, criticized Netflix in an open letter, expressing concern over the removal of almost all films from the collection. “We are deeply concerned by Netflix’s decision to delete at least 19 films by Palestinian filmmakers or about Palestinian stories from your platform last week,” the group wrote, highlighting that only one film currently remains on the “Palestinian Stories” page. This sentiment is echoed by other organizations, including the Council on American Islamic Relations, the National Network for Arab American Communities, and the U.S. Palestinian Community Network.”
Aaj TV (Pakistan): “Palestinian films removed due to licence expiry, not censorship, says Netflix,” Oct 26, 2024.
- “Sunjeev Bery, executive director of Freedom Forward, emphasised the importance of reinstating such titles. ‘While I understand that licensing issues may be involved, it is crucial for Netflix to ensure global access to Palestinian films, especially during such a challenging time for Palestinians,’ he stated in an interview with Deadline.”
The Current (Pakistan): “‘Palestinian films removed due to expired license, not deletion,’ Netflix clarifies,” Oct 26, 2024.
- “Sunjeev Bery, Freedom Forward’s executive director, urged Netflix to reconsider its decision. “While licensing may be a factor, Netflix should work to maintain global access to Palestinian films, especially given the current situation,” he told Deadline.”
INSTAGRAM:
@Muslim (6 million followers): “Netflix silently removes over 19 Palestinian films from its streaming service,” October 25, 2024.
- “Why is @Netflix purging so many of its films and content regarding Palestinians and Palestine? Look at all of the Palestinian stories that are ‘leaving soon.’ Israel is already trying to erase Palestinians of Gaza and the West Bank. Why is @Netflix erasing Palestinian media from its platform?” @Sunjeev_Bery