GoFuckYourself.com - Adult Webmaster Forum - Arab Muslims Protests Stop the Big Brother Reality TV Show

MANAMA (Reuters) - An Arab television channel said on Monday it was temporarily pulling the plug on its Arabic version of the hit reality show Big Brother after charges of indecency.

But an official of the MBC satellite channel said it would relaunch the show from outside Bahrain, where it was produced. Protesters in the conservative Gulf Arab state had said showing unmarried people living together offended Islam.

"There are many (locations) where it could be produced. We are looking at possible schedules," the official said.

"This decision aims to avoid exposing MBC and its programs to accusations that it offends Arab values, customs and morals, because we consider MBC to be first and foremost a channel that belongs to the Arab world," the popular Saudi-owned channel said in a statement.

Several hundred Islamists chanting "Stop Sin Brother! No to indecency!" protested in Bahrain on Friday against the show, which they deemed un-Islamic.

Some members of Bahrain's parliament demanded to question Information Minister Nabeel al-Hamer about Big Brother.

"We are an Islamic country with our own traditions. This program spoils the morals of our sons," MP Jasim al-Saeedi said.

Yousef Nooh, a doctor, said: "The show was not acceptable, but it's strange to stop it, because it is an internationally accepted program."

The Big Brother formula, in which participants are filmed 24 hours a day, has been copied around the world and draws large audiences.

The program, aired across the Arab world by MBC, had raised eyebrows despite efforts to take into account Muslim sensitivities. Separate living and sleeping quarters for male and female participants were introduced, as well as a prayer room.

"This type of show is no more a challenge or social problem than most films and television serials shown on all channels, in fact it is more faithful in showing reality than the movies and soaps,"the MBC statement said.

The Arab world's first reality TV experiment, a dating show called Al Hawa Sawa (On Air Together), survived its three-month stint, ending earlier on Monday. It was aired from less conservative Lebanon.