Egypt Independent: Culture-Main news

This Day in History, 25 May 2005: Mubarak thugs sexually assault journalist Nawal Ali

Egypt Independent — Sat, 25 May 2013 11:41:00 +0000

On 25 May 2005, the regime of former tyrant Hosni Mubarak committed one of its most notorious crimes when some of his loyalists sexually assaulted female protesters, including late journalist Nawal Ali.

On that day, dozens of Kefaya Movement activists staged a demonstration against Mubarak-backed constitutional amendments that would supposedly pave the way for multi-party presidential elections. The protest took place at the Journalists' Syndicate in downtown Cairo.

During one of the tamest protests that day, pro-Mubarak thugs attacked Ali. She was dragged in the street and thrown on the sidewalk.

Ali later filed a complaint, but prosecutors did not take serious measures against the culprits. A few months later, on 27 December 2005, former top prosecutor Abdel Meguid Mahmoud dismissed the case after "failing to identify the perpetrator."

After the incident, Ali courageously recounted the details of her scandalous assault by pro-Mubarak "rent-a-thugs." Meanwhile, pro-Mubarak newspapers, including state-run Al-Ahram and Rose al-Youssef, conducted an unprecedented and fierce smear campaign against her. Ali, however, was above such shameful rhetoric, and took a stand in exposing the depravity of the regime.

Ali did not live to witness the fall of Mubarak. The brave journalist passed away in 2009 after a short battle with cancer.

This Day in History, 23 May 1975: Lahkdar-Hamina first Arab award-winner in Cannes

Egypt Independent — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:09:00 +0000

In 1975, Algerian director Mohamed Lakhdar-Hamina became the first Arab to win an award at the Cannes International Film Festival.

Lahkdar-Hamina was awarded the Palme d'Or for his movie "Sanawat al-Jamr" (Chronicle of the Years of Ember), crowning a long career in movie-making.

Lakhdar-Hamina was born in Algeria in 1934. He immigrated to France and then Tunisia, where his cinematic inclinations started to emerge. At the beginning of his career, he directed several documentaries about the Algerian War, including "Yasmina," "The People's Voice," and "The Guns of Freedom."

In 1966, Lakhdar-Hamina continued his ascent in the cinema world with his movie "Riyah Aures" (The Winds of Aures), and his play, "Hassan Terro," which was made into a movie in 1967. Both works also portray the Algerian revolution and the liberation struggle. He adopted the same theme in "December" (1972) and in "Chronicle of the Years of Ember" (1975). The latter, his award-winning film that was nominated for an Oscar in 1976, told of the Algerian struggle against the colonial establishment. In its portrayal, 11 November 1954 is depicted as the end date of Algerians' long stuggle against French colonialism, which had begun in 1830.

Economic crisis hits Egyptian TV series industry

Al-Masry Al-Youm,Hassan Abou al Ela,Amira Atef — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:38:00 +0000

Television series producers are facing numerous challenges with the approach of the holy month of Ramadan, traditionally a lucrative season that has brought them millions in profits over the past two decades.

A sudden recession has hit the industry, affecting thousands of artists and professionals. Indeed, the industry has not been immune to the economic crisis that has affected all aspects of life in Egypt. A decrease from 70 TV series produced in 2012 to only 33 this year indicates a grave setback for the industry. Several actors are now unemployed, and some technicians who operate behind the cameras now have no source of income.

Next Ramadan will, therefore, represent a matter of life and death for the television industry, with production companies forced to face the reality that satellite channels are no longer able to afford buying the rights to new series, and state television's tendency to leave the matter of series production up to incumbent Information Minister Salah Abdel Maqsoud.

According to those who work in this field, there are other alarming omens, such as the presence of several Syrian actors in series currently being produced, the use of the same sets for most productions, and the casting and hiring of the same actors and directors for multiple series.

“Financial straits have caused a fall in production this year. The security situation and other issues the country is currently facing have naturally affected drama production,” said producer Essam Shaaban.

Safwat Ghattas, a TV producer, also blamed financial hardships. “The reason behind the TV series crisis is that satellite channels do not possess the money to purchase them,” he said. “State TV has collapsed and is now avoiding producing drama series. They still owe me LE20 million! Unfortunately, I, along with other fellow producers, have decided to steer clear of the Egyptian market until the situation stabilizes both politically and economically,” Ghattas added that the future of art in Egypt remains uncertain, indicating that producers will understandably be reluctant to risk their funds here.

Ahmed al-Gabri, another series producer, said he would “take a seat in the audience” next Ramadan. Gabri said TV drama production is facing a real crisis, which he blamed on “market haphazardness.” He predicted that the industry would suffer further losses, especially as state TV’s share of production purchases recently dropped from 30 percent to seven percent.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

This Day in History, 22 May 1986: Brotherhood leader Omar Telmissany dies

Egypt Independent — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Omar Abdel Fattah Abdel Qader Mostafa al-Telmissany (4 November 1904- 22 May 1986) was the Muslim Brotherhood’s third Supreme Guide. Famous for his public speaking skills and flexibility, Telmissany was credited for reinvigorating and reorganizing the group after former president Anwar al-Sadat freed its members from detention.

Telmissany joined the Muslim Brotherhood through its founder, Sheikh Hassan al-Banna, in 1933. He succeeded the second guide, Hassan al-Hodeiby, who took office from 1949 to 1973. Telmissany was close to Sadat, even though the latter had previously sent him into detention. In the early 1980s, he called on the political opposition to unite with Sadat’s successor, Hosni Mubarak, arguing that his era “bid good fortune”.

“Mubarak’s start gives a good sign that he is going to provide freedoms for all Egyptians,” he said. “I have known President Mubarak since he was a deputy to the late president. I met with him a couple of times. He is very frank, kind, and intelligent. He knows what he wants, and judges people according to their actions, not by what he hears about them.”

But Mubarak's rule was marked by a clash with the Muslim Brotherhood, and the group contributed to the 2011 uprising that forced him down.

Telmissany died aged 82, after a long battle with illness. His funeral in Cairo was attended by hundreds of thousands, including ministers and ambassadors.