More lawsuits demanding the banning of Laila Elwi’s new film

Once more, lawsuits are being filed against the film “Bahib El Cima” (I Love the Cinema) starring Egyptian actress Laila Elwi. The film was screened during the summer film season. The film had failed to achieve the desired profit levels due to the controversy it caused and criticism it attracted.  

According to the London based Elaph, the most recent lawsuit has been filed by Coptic lawyer Nabil Gabriel Natheer, a founding member of Egypt’s Lawyers Association. Gabriel is demanding that the film be banned from screening at any film festivals as it deals with Christian issues that have not ben approved by the church. The lawyer is also demanding financial compensation of 10 million Egyptian pounds and an official apology from the makers of the film to the Egyptian Coptic Church. 

Gabriel presented precedents from the Egyptian law that state offenders to any religions should be prosecuted. 

Recently, the court of urgent matters in Abdeen, Cairo, had decided not to rule in the case against the makers of the movie, which was filed by 15 Coptic clergymen and 10 lawyers and advisors demanding the immediate banning of the movie. 

The verdict stated that the court does not appose the case, but on the contrary, they feel with the Coptic clergymen and everyone who filed the lawsuit, however stressed that they cannot rule in the case because it is not within their legal jurisdiction. The judge stressed that the court of urgent matters does not normally accept cases that deal with such sensitive and divisive issues as the one presented before them.  

The lawyers representing the Coptic Christians have not accepted the court order and are appealing to a higher court until the desired verdict is achieved. The lawsuit was filed against Hani Fawzi (the author) and Hani Girges (the producer) in addition to the actors in the movie - Laila Elwi, Mahmoud Hamida, Aidi Abdul Aziz and Muna Shalabi. – Albawaba.com