The Caretaker Minister of Culture, Mohammad Mortada, criticized MTV’s campaign supporting Lebanon’s LGBTQ+ community in a tweet on Sunday.

The campaign carries a message stating, “In line with the words of His Holiness Pope Francis… Homosexuality is not a crime.”

Thus, MTV marked its support for the abolishment of the Lebanese law that criminalizes homosexuality, with the channel declaring, “Yes to abolishing Article 534 of the Penal Code that criminalizes homosexuality.”

In response to MTV’s campaign, Mortada, who is affiliated with Hezbollah, tweeted “manipulating noble media messages to incite components against each other and sow division among the Lebanese is a crime.” He further characterized creating an atmosphere resembling civil war and promoting the concept of federalism as offenses.

Mortada hinted at the deliberate nature of these actions, suggesting that individuals involved are doing so with forethought and determination, possibly in exchange for undisclosed incentives to advance Israeli agendas and interests. He described such a collaboration as “the most dangerous form of collaboration and the most despicable.” He also stated that “abnormal relationships will remain a crime.”

Additionally, Mortada’s tweet included a stark warning regarding the promotion of homosexuality, indicating that “promoting deviation will soon result in the harshest penalties.” He also said that involvement in such activities would lead the perpetrator to the “lowest of the low.”

The controversy surrounding religious values and public freedoms arose this summer with the screening of the Barbie movie. Mortada had previously called on the General Security to ban the film, contending that it contradicted “well-established moral and religious values in Lebanon by promoting homosexuality and sex change.” However, a film censorship committee, composed of representatives from General Security and the Ministry of Economy, reviewed the movie and found no justifications for a ban. Consequently, Lebanese authorities approved the screening of the Barbie movie in all cinemas, scheduled for September 7.

However, this did not mark the end of the dispute, as the debate extended to encompass the underlying motives behind screening or banning the film. Two opposing groups emerged: one represented by Hezbollah, accused of imposing their cultural values, and the other represented by the opposition bloc, advocating for the defense of public freedoms.