Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 08, 2009 Cheshvan 21, 5770 | | Israel Time: 14:48 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
American pop diva Beyonce performing in Japan last month.
(Getty Images)
Share |
Last update - 21:26 05/11/2009
Islamic critics blast Beyonce Egypt show as 'insolent sex party'
By The Associated Press
Tags: Israel news, Egypt, Beyonce

As Egypt gears for pop diva Beyonce Knowles' first performance in North Africa, Islamic conservatives are branding her show an "insolent sex party" that threatens the Muslim nation's social peace and stability.

On giant posters plastered across the Egyptian capital advertising the Friday evening concert, Beyonce sports a revealing, flame-covered outfit and grips a set of motorcycle handlebars extending from her hips - a sharp contrast to Cairo streets, where most women wear the traditional Muslim headscarves.

TV ads promoting the show, part of Beyonce's "I Am ..." world tour, have run on Egyptian and Arab satellite stations. The tour, which took Beoynce to the United Arab Emirates last week, has grossed $53.5 million as of October, according to Billboard magazine.
Advertisement

But in Egypt, Islamic lawmakers and their supporters have waged campaigns on social networking Web sites, accusing the government of encouraging debauchery and calling for the concert's cancellation.

"Why are you encouraging this insolent sex party?" lawmaker Hamdi Hassan from the opposition Muslim Brotherhood wrote in a letter to the government. "You are accused of disturbing social peace and stability, encouraging vice and debauchery."

Another Islamic lawmaker, Ali Laban, called for banning the "nudity concert." A Facebook campaign against Beyonce's concert collected nearly 10,000 supporters.

But the war of words has not derailed the glitzy concert, due hundreds of miles south of Cairo in the luxury Red Sea resort of Port Ghalib. Organizers said ultra security will be deployed to protect the thousands of concertgoers.

Beyonce canceled her stop in Malaysia last month following opposition from a conservative Islamic party. Malaysia requires female artists to cover up from the shoulders to the knees and bans any showing of cleavage.

Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country, is torn between a growing secular and economically prosperous class and a large mainly conservative, poor population. The government has been squeezing Islamic conservatives with security crackdowns and administrative measures aimed at curbing outward manifestations of conservatism.

Beoynce's event organizer Ahmed Beltagi said tourism and police officials cooperated to make the concert happen because they believe it's a way to promote Egypt as a center of culture, entertainment and art.

"We are Muslims too ... this will not stop Egypt from hosting an award-winning, first class artist," Beltagi said.

"We should salute her instead of criticizing her," he said of the diva.
PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Folkie fights demolition
Pete Seeger uses 'Turn, Turn, Turn' to help end Israeli razing of Palestinian homes.
Coach Hitler
U.K. children believe the Fuhrer managed Germany's national soccer team, a poll shows.
  1.   It doesn`t take much to tempt them 21:43  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/09
  2.   I would like to have a second opinion. 21:59  |  zmogus 05/11/09
  3.   When will the Islamic world enter the 21st century? 22:10  |  just wondering 05/11/09
  4.   And how do you call covering, stoning and raping woman? 23:45  |  Western 05/11/09
  5.   how sad... beyonce is the queen of my generation 00:06  |  Krista 06/11/09
  6.   Where is the "nice" Egyptian culture minister? 00:17  |  fo realz 06/11/09
  7.   Maybe she can sing with a burqa on?! : ) 00:59  |  syrian opinion 06/11/09
  8.   great then it must be good hope cant wait to see the show 09:04  |  SJ 06/11/09
  9.   to # 3 just wondering 09:43  |  Steve the Pals. 06/11/09
  10.   Reminds me of those Bar posters in Jerusalem 10:20  |  ramin 06/11/09
  11.   Gotta hand it to ya guys...Ramin & Steve the Pals 16:09  |  Ishai 06/11/09
  12.   They`re frightened 21:55  |  utagawa 06/11/09
  13.   Duh, Yeah! 23:28  |  bobo 06/11/09
  14.   Speaking strictly for me... 23:48  |  mjf 06/11/09
  15.   Nobody 12:35  |  Serge 07/11/09
Special Offers
Advertisement
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Date Local Jewish Singles
Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
More Headlines
12:45 Mofaz: Talk to Hamas, Palestinian state in a year
11:21 Obama cancels Jewish Communities GA address
08:45 Report: Hezbollah rearming for imminent conflict with Israel
14:18 Goldstone criticizes 'lukewarm' U.S. response to Gaza report
07:24 U.S. top brass: Nuclear Iran is existential threat to Israel
12:51 Report: Suspected Fort Hood shooter prayed at same mosque as 9/11 terrorists
14:01 Hitler bypasses Apple censors: Mein Kampf for your iPhone
23:50 TV ROUND-UP: Leaders speak at Rabin memorial; parachuter crashes
12:43 PM heads to U.S. under threat of Palestinian statehood declaration
10:24 Netanyahu, stop being afraid and sowing fear
09:59 Israel's apartheid is worse than South Africa's
12:30 Settler women cry sexual harassment by Israel Police
07:17 Abbas expected to stay, despite retirement announcement
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
| Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved