Egypt: Row over song which allegedly insults Islam
On 1 November 2012, Egypt’s Ministry of Culture censored a scene with a song in a popular new film, after Islamists claimed the song insulted Islam, reported Egypt Independent and Al Bawaba. The film ‘Abdu Mouta’ which is playing in cinemas across Egypt, recorded the highest one-day revenue in the history of Egyptian cinema, making [...]
Maldives: President rejects ministry’s ban on mixed-gender dance events
According to the Maldives’ presidential spokesman, the government has rejected a ban on dancing in public between men and women which was initially called by its own Islamic Affairs Ministry. At first, according to the private newspaper Minivan, the Islamic Affairs Ministry sent a circular to all government institutions “banning the holding of any mixed-gender [...]
Egypt: Belly dancing equated to prostitution, tv broadcaster arrested
On 17 May 2012, the owner of a satellite tv station, Baleegh Hamdi, was arrested in his appartment by Giza Security Forces on charges of encouraging prostitution and “incitement to immorality” by broadcasting a show on belly dancers. Baleegh Hamdi’s channel, Al Taat, broadcasts videos of belly dancers throughout the day giving performances to live [...]
Singapore Dance Theatre denied permit to perform
The Malaysian government has denied a permit to a Singapore Dance Theatre days before they were slated to perform in the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur. While no official reason was given, local media has claimed that the denial of the permit was due to the troupe’s “indecent” costumes, including classical tutus that have [...]
