Egyptian journalist Wajdi Al Hakim, who is on the organizing committee for the Arab Music Festival in Egypt, revealed that diplomatic negotiations are currently taking place to remove the ban on Algerian singer Fula and allow her to enter Egypt and take part in the festival. Wajdi stated that calls are currently being made to an anonymous political figure, who was behind Fula’s ban to convince him to change his mind.
According t the internet website MBC.net, it is expected that the ordeal will be resolved in the upcoming few days and Fula will be permitted to enter Egypt. Wajdi stated that the organizers of the festival are very optimistic about the outcome of the negotiations and have made all the necessary preparations for Fula’s participation.
Wajdi had noted that the festival had gotten the approval of airport security officials before they sent out the invitation to Fula and were surprised when she was deported upon her arrival to Cairo Airport. The Secretary General of the Festival Rita Al Hanfi had expressed her disappointment for the way Fula was treated at the airport. Rita said that it is very inappropriate to detain an artist for several hours at the airport then send them back to their country, which was what had happened to Fula.
