Middle East Focus: Egyptian Courts and Humor: More of the Same Old………….

Arabia Deserta

Egyptian Courts and Humor: More of the Same Old………….

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF

“The Egyptian film star and the Arab world’s most famous comedian, Adel Imam, received a three-month jail term with hard labor for his portrayal of Muslim characters on stage and screen, a newspaper reported on Thursday. Al-Ahram online reported that Imam has been given the sentence in addition to a fine of approximately $166 for “defaming Islam” in some of the roles he has played. Imam, who is considered to be one of the Arab world’s biggest film stars, with 40 years of box office hits in and plays under his belt, was sentenced in absentia. “I will appeal the ruling,” Imam said. “Some people seeking fame filed a suit against me over works I have done which they consider insulting to Islam, and this is of course not true,” he said, according to AFP. “All the works in which I have starred went through the censors. Had they been found to be defamatory, the censors would have banned them.” The 71-year-old celebrity said that among the works criticized are the 1994 production al-Irhabi (The Terrorist), in which he portrays an Islamic fundamentalist………..”

Egyptian courts used to rule in favor of Mubarak policies with a tint of Islamic fundamentalism (probably reflecting some Saudi and some Muslim Brother influence). Now, with the Salafi-Muslim Brothers in power, the courts are following the current, again. The courts used to claim ‘Islamic’ sensitivities under Mubarak to sentence people, fine them, even force them to divorce their spouses. Now it is getting more strict: the Islamists that this actor used to mock may be out for revenge. No doubt, they will ban much of his films. Some things never change in the Arab world, even after a revolution. (Personally, I was never a great fan of Adel Imam).
On the other hand, Adel Imam is lucky he faces a court that is Egyptian, which means at least some of the judges appreciate some sense of humor. Now if he were to be tried by a Jordanian court, in a country where humor is totally unknown.......
One thing I would have loved to see by Adel Imam: a film about Mr. Mubarak's great War on Pigs in 2009-10. It is not yet clear who won that war: maybe both sides lost.
Cheers
mhg

m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com