Killing Comedy in the New Egypt

Salafists have taken de facto control of Egypt.

Subtitle: There is no humor in Islam.

So goes Egypt to the Salafists and Muslim Britherhood, so goes all the Arab Spring countries.

FROM FRONTPAGEMAG.COM:

Killing Comedy in the New Egypt

Posted By Stephen Brown On February 22, 2012 @ 12:36 am In Daily Mailer,FrontPage

The new Egypt of the Arab Spring is looking more and more like the Egypt of old – at least as far as freedom of expression goes.

In what appears to be a settling of scores, an Egyptian court sentenced earlier this month 72-year-old Adel Imam, one of the Arab world’s most famous comedian-actors, for allegedly “defaming” Islam in productions he took part in years ago. The lawsuit against Imam, a stage and film performer for 40 years, had been brought before the court by a lawyer described as having “ties to Islamist groups.” And since the verdict came only a few weeks after the Muslim Brotherhood won the final round of Egypt’s elections, Imam’s supporters are questioning its timing.

“I will appeal the ruling,” said Imam, who did not attend the proceedings. “Some people seeking fame have filed a suit against me over works I have done which they consider insulting to Islam, and this of course is not true.”

Imam’s renown is not just restricted to Egypt. For his work on stage and screen, he was internationally recognized in 2000 with an appointment as a United Nations goodwill ambassador for refugees along with such luminaries as Angelina Jolie and Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani. But Imam’s international profile and his recognized life-long battle on behalf of human rights could not save the Egyptian thespian from the Islamists’ vindictiveness. Imam says his past works the religious hardliners dislike the most are a comedy called “The Leader” and “The Terrorist.”

“All the works in which I have starred went through the censors,” said Imam after the verdict. “Had they been found to be defamatory, the censors would have banned them.”

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