Beiruting News

The movie, which tells the story of the apocalyptic flood, has been banned in Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reported, because it "contradicts the teachings of Islam," a Paramount Pictures representative said. Meanwhile, in Egypt a Sunni Muslim organization has issued a fatwa over the film, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Despite the fatwa, however, Egyptian law says no religious institution can censor a film from theaters, The Los Angeles Times added. Noah's story is part of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, with an entire chapter of the Koran devoted to the epic tale.

But a Paramount spokesman said: "The censors for Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE officially confirmed the film will not release in their countries.

"The official statement they offered in confirming this news is because 'it contradicts the teachings of Islam'," he added, saying it was "assumed the film will ultimately not be shown in Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait."

Egypt's top Islamic body, the Al-Azhar institute, said last week that the big budget film violated Islam by portraying a prophet and should not be screened in the country.

Having an actor play a prophet "contradicts the stature of prophets and messengers... and antagonizes the faithful," it said in a statement. Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet and was not crucified.

"The film was made for believers and non-believers," director Darren Aronofsky told Variety. "I'm more concerned about getting non-believers into the theater or people who are less religious."