Egypt’s highest Islamic body demanded on September 3 that a television show centering on belly-dancing be banned. The opposition came only two days after the first episode of the hit show went on air. The state-run Islamic organization Dar Al Ifta, which advises Muslims on spiritual issues, described the show titled “The Dancer” as a “corruption of morals.” The privately owned television channel Al Qahira Wal Nas, that translates as Cairo and People, started broadcasting the contentious program in the beginning of September and its makers say the show aims to discover new talent.
“This program can be understood as being part of a campaign aimed at undermining the moral system of Egyptian people,” Dar Al Ifta said in a statement.
According to the organization, the show would provide militants the opportunity to take advantage of such issues as a pretext to promote their own radical ideologies.
Belly-dancing has been a popular dance form with Egyptians for decades, though recently, several Muslim countries have frowned upon it, with many clerics referring to the art as un-Islamic. After the show made its debut, a number of clergymen filed lawsuits, demanding the show be stopped because it was corrupting audiences morally. The makers of the show however, do not seem surprised with all the criticism that has come their way.
“Those who oppose dance will lash out at the program regardless of its content. This program was a big dream for me. It will show the audience that dance is not easy and that it requires hard training,” said celebrated Egyptian dancer Dina, who is also a member of the show jury.
In recent years, foreign dancers have outdone Egyptians in belly-dancing, with Egypt’s most current sought after dancer being of Armenian descent.
“We are a contradictory society. We assail dance and dancers but at the same time we dance at wedding parties, out on the streets and even during elections. You have the remote-controls and you can simply move to another channel,” said the show’s scriptwriter Tamer Habeeb, another member of the show jury.
Without addressing the show’s critics, Al Qaera Wal Nas owner and advertising mogul Tareq Nour, said that he would call off the show temporarily to mourn the death of 11 Egyptian police officers who died in Sinai on September 2 in an attack sparked by radical Islamists.
“This is an original Egyptian art that shares our joys and good events. It’s an art which the world admires and sets up schools and academies for,” he said before noting that the show would be put off temporarily.
Photo Credit: Amber Horner
