A prominent human rights activist has blasted Samoa's film censors for banning Sean Penn's Oscar-winning movie Milk.
Samoa's Censorship Board has rejected an application for DVDs of the movie -- which is based on the life of gay activist Harvey Milk -- to be distributed in stores.
Principal Censor Leiataua Niuapu Faaui says, "There are rules and guidelines for these things."
But the move has prompted outrage, with leading Samoan human rights activist Ken Moala angrily questioning the decision.
He says, "I do not think it should be banned. It is basically a documentary about the human endeavor to conquer something that people tend to discriminate against.
"It's really harmless; I don't know how it would affect Samoan lifestyle. It is totally different and not applicable to here -- it is pretty tame, really. Some of the movies that have been here are violent and horrific. When it comes to documentaries like this, I think it is all about the human story as opposed to the slaughter that goes on in some of these movies."
Penn won an Academy Award in February for his portrayal of Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California.
(c) 2009 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.
MORE NEWS: Jonas Has Lunch Date with Ex-Girlfriend Cyrus
Photo(s) © 2008- Focus Features- All Rights Reserved