New Developments: Does Algeria Have a Connection to the Film “The Goat Life” That Sparked Major Outrage in Saudi Arabia?

The Indian film “The Goat Life” continues to stir a great deal of controversy and debate due to its portrayal of images and scenes that have angered many Gulf countries. This is due to its focus on the “kafala” (sponsorship) system used to recruit workers from some poor countries.

In light of the significant uproar caused by this film, activists on social media emphasized that such inhumane methods of dealing with foreign workers exist in many forms and cannot be attributed to or generalized about a particular country with the aim of tarnishing its image globally.

In this context, the activists recalled what the French colonial authorities did in Morocco and several African countries, including the enslavement, oppression, and mistreatment of workers and citizens, alongside various inhumane methods used by colonial powers against the people of many vulnerable countries. These methods remain far more atrocious than what occurs in some Gulf countries due to the “kafala” system.

However, the intriguing aspect of this matter, according to the same activists, is that after some research, it became evident that there might be a party behind it aiming to tarnish the image of “Saudi Arabia” specifically, in what seems like settling narrow political scores. Here, the talk is about the Algerian regime, which hosted this film from the beginning of its production. The film was promoted and celebrated at the time, and its director even received an official reception by an advisor to the Minister of Culture, as confirmed by the “Awras” website, which is aligned with the military regime.