Comedian Adel Imam found guilty of 'offending' Islam

[Winged Isis]

Worrying times, whether you like him and his films or not. As the thin end of the wedge is inserted, the cancer of State censorship spreads.....


Comedian Adel Imam found guilty of 'offending' Islam
An Egyptian court on Tuesday upheld a conviction against one of the Arab world's most famous comedians, sentencing him to jail for 'offending' Islam in some of his most popular films
AP, Wednesday 25 Apr 2012

The case against Adel Imam and others like it have raised concerns among some Egyptians that ultraconservative Muslims who made gains in recent elections after Hosni Mubarak's ouster last year are trying to foist their religious views on the entire country. Critics say the trend threatens to curb Egypt's vibrant film industry and freedom of speech.

Imam was sentenced to three months in jail and fined around $170 for insulting Islam in roles he played in movies such as "The Terrorist", in which he acted the role of a wanted terrorist who found refuge with a middle class, moderate family, and the film "Terrorism and Kabab. "

The actor was also found guilty for his 2007 role in "Morgan Ahmed Morgan," in which Imam played a corrupt businessman who tries to buy a university diploma. The film included a scene parodying bearded Muslim men wearing traditional Islamic clothing.

Author Alaa al-Aswany, whose best-seller "The Yacoubian Building" was turned into a film costarring Imam, said the court ruling sets Egypt back to the "darkness of the Middle Ages."
"This is an unimaginable crime of principle in developed nations," he said in remarks posted on his Twitter account Tuesday.

The case is one of many brought by conservative lawyers in recent months seeking to punish individuals they deem as having offended Islam. Earlier this year, two courts rejected blasphemy cases against Christian media mogul, Naguib Sawiris, after he relayed a cartoon online of Mickey Mouse with a beard and Minnie in a face veil.

The cases highlight the newfound sense of empowerment among followers of the ultraconservative Salafi trend of Islam in Egypt after Mubarak was toppled in a popular uprising. Their newly formed Al-Nour party won 25 percent of seats in parliament, emerging as the second most powerful group in Egypt after the more moderate Muslim Brotherhood.

The mere filing of such blasphemy cases by Salafi lawyers has raised concern among rights groups and liberals about attempts to curb freedom of speech.

Egyptian entertainment reporter Tarek el-Shinnawi said the case against Imam is a setback for Cairo's famed film industry, which has produced the region's most popular films.

"It will make any writer, director or actor think before considering the role of a Muslim figure," el-Shinnawi said.

Imam was initially found guilty in February in a case brought by an ultraconservative Islamist lawyer. He was given a retrial since he was first tried in absentia. He did not appear in court Tuesday but his lawyers did. Imam has the right to appeal.

Under Mubarak, government censors controlled what could be shown in theaters or filmed by major studios. The films Imam starred in were approved by the censors.

El-Shinnawi argued that a legally sound case would involve the writers and directors, and the censors who approved the movies, not just the star of the films.
Imam, 71, has acted in dozens of films in a career that spans nearly 50 years.

Long a beloved figured in Egypt, Imam lost popularity among Egyptian protesters for supporting Mubarak during last year's 18-day revolt.

In one of his most popular roles, Imam played an Arab dictator in a 1998 satirical play called el-Zaeem. The play has since been aired on satellite television across the Arab world, bypassing state censors and gaining popularity through its comedic take of a tyrannical figure.


http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent ... Islam.aspx

[A-Four]

As Winged Isis says here,......worrying times.

It was 18 months ago now that I realised that my time in Egypt was coming to an end, I remember that many of the ex-pats who live in Luxor were becoming very concurned about inflation, new taxes, etc, but most were not aware of the great pressure brought upon the ordinary Egyptian, who at that time saw themselves as prisoners in their own nation.

Now after more than a year since the so called revolution, we see almost on a daily basis new crazy laws, standard basic needs not being met, lawlessness,.........yet every one seems to think when we get a new president every thing will smell of roses, but for some of us we know it will still smell of ****.

As for Adel Imam 'offending', well thats what Adel has been doing all his life, but not just Islam, but to think you would have sent the likes of Micheal Palin to jail today for his work on 'The Life of Brian' here in Britain, I am sorry to say I would be afraid for my own future.

The thing about ex-pats is that everything is OK while it OK, but boy, Oh boy are they glad of the old country when the rough, gets rough. .

[TonyC]

At least one zealous lawyer going after the likes of Adel Imam seems to have come unstuck today...

Court dismisses religious contempt case against Adel Imam and colleagues

Agouza Misdemeanor Court dismissed Thursday a lawsuit filed against actor Adel Imam, writer Linen al-Ramley, writer Wahid Hamed, director Mohamed Fadel, director Sherif Arafa, actor Yasser Galal and other directors affiliated with Imam's films, accusing them of showing contempt for religion in their works. The court fined the lawyer who filed the lawsuit LE50 for the defendants' court fee.

After hearing the verdict, a number of artists and actors gathered outside the court chanted "Freedom, freedom, down with the rule of the supreme guide."

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/co ... colleagues

[A-Four]

Thanks for that great news TonyC,...........there might be hope for Egypt yet. .

[Winged Isis]

The latest from Ahram Online...

Egyptian artists, actors rally in support of comedian Adel Imam
'Front for Creativity' stages rally outside Agouza courtroom against iconic comedian's 3-year jail sentence – since overturned – for 'defaming religion'
Menna Taher, Thursday 26 Apr 2012

Head of Egypt Actors' Syndicate not threatened by Adel Imam case

Egyptian film star Adel Imam sentenced to 3 months in jail for 'defaming Islam'
A handful of Egyptian artists, actors and filmmakers gathered outside an Agouza court Thursday to protest a three-month jail sentence given to prominent Egyptian comedian Adel Imam for "defaming religion" and to show solidarity with filmmakers facing similar charges.
The case against Imam had initially stoked fears about the future of creative freedoms in Egypt, before being thrown out following an appeal by the actor.

Outside the court building, members of Egypt’s "Front for Creativity" held banners condemning the sentence against Imam and supporting artistic freedoms.

"This is a joke," said film editor and front member Wallaa Saada. "It's the result of the ruling military council's allowing religious movements to form political parties.”

Islam El-Rifai, creator of a Facebook page launched in solidarity with Imam, called the sentence "an insult to Egyptian public opinion."

One student of fine arts, also present at the protest, chimed in: "I'm against the sentence [against Imam], but I believe Egypt is facing far more pressing problems."