Prominent Egyptian director Yousif Shahin held a press conference in Algeria after the screening of his latest film “Alexandria…New York” in which he openly attacked American president George W. Bush stressing that his vocabulary consists of only two words “Terrorism” and “We Will Win”. Shahin criticized the US president and his policies in Iraq and Palestine calling him ridiculous and a hypocrite, who calls for democracy but practices the complete opposite.
According to the London based Elaph, Yousif added that Bush’s actions are all in favor of Israel and that he pities the Arab world that should be united as one and working for a common goal which is protecting Arab interests. He added that Arab leaders are forgetting that their turn is coming and what has happened in Palestine and Iraq will sooner or later happen to them.
Yousif stressed that democracy is not something that is imposed from the outside, but on the contrary people of a certain land or region should work together to achieve democracy. The director also criticized Arab leaders who inherit their presidency to their sons like Egyptian president Husni Mubarak who intends on passing the presidency to his son Jamal, as well as is the case with Libyan president Mua’mar Qadafi.
With regards to his film “Alexandria…New York”, Yousif is sending out a message to Arabs to stop dreaming of the possibility of joining the hands of America and working together with them, because his personal experience for the past 60 years proves that America will never care for the interest of Arabs.
Shahin also criticized the so-called freedom of press America claims and says that none of his films are permitted to be screened in any cinema. On the other hand France, which he feels practices democracy, allows the screening of foreign films of which are Arabic ones.
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
