A Bahraini criminal court released 10 citizens who were being held in prison for holding riots over Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram’s concert. Protests were held by individuals who are against having Nancy sing in their country stressing that she should not have been allowed to enter.
Police forces had captivated dozens of citizens between the ages of 16 and 25, who were holding protests right before Nancy’s concert in Manama. Protesters also attempted to block all streets that lead to the arena where Nancy was performing trying to stop people from going, but they were faced with tear gas thrown at them by Bahraini police.
According to the Qatar based daily, Al Raya, the riots occurred after a Bahraini parliament official with the support of his colleagues submitted an urgent request to be presented at their next session calling for the banning of Ajram. The request specifically stated that Nancy should be forbidden from entering Bahrain and disqualified from participating in a musical event.
The parliament official, who belongs to an Islamists party, revealed that he had contacted the Ministry of Information, which is responsible for giving permission to companies wishing to hold entertainment activities, specifically stating that Parliament will not allow for the company to hold its scheduled activities unless they disallow Nancy to take part in their events.
Recently, Egyptian female parliament members joined hands with Islamist members and ordered that a new law be formed to ban the airing of Ajram’s music videos on all local and satellite Egyptian channels. The members also called for the banning of any music video that displays women dancing with barely any clothes as an attempt to seduce and attract viewers.
The women in parliament feel that these types of music videos are a negative influence on viewers especially the young males. It was also suggested that a restriction be placed on the production of music videos making sure that what is being produced is appropriate for the Arab audience. It was added that numerous complaints from women and men were sent to parliament demanding that immediate action be taken with regards to the extent that some music videos have gone.
Female parliament members also noted that these types of videos that only strive to arouse audience sexually loose the true value of art and music. They added that numerous family disputes have occurred due to these clips, which have caused for jealousy to appear on women due to their husbands’ concentration on the women dancing in them.
Previously it was rumored that an official request by the Egyptian Parliament had been released demanding the ban of Ajram’s songs. The Parliament has ordered that all satellite and local TV stations stop the airing of Nancy’s songs, especially “Akhasmak Aah” (I’ll Upset You Yes), due to the nature of its content and the manner in which the music video is shot. –Albawaba.com
