DUBAI (AlArabiya.net)
Egyptian Coptic billionaire Naguib Sawiris dismissed charges he launched two satellite channels to fight the spread of Hijab (Islamic veil) in Egyptian society, insisting he was just expressing his concern Egypt was becoming more like Iran.
"This is not what I meant, and what I said was not a statement: it was just a casual chit-chat about the changes that took place lately in the Egyptian society and which made the difference very obvious between Christians and Muslims. This was never the case before. People could not know your religion from your appearance," the telecom tycoon told AlArabiya.net.
"Muslims and Christians in Egypt are one people. What is happening is a social deterioration. This undermines national unity."
"I get worried when I see more veiled women in the Egyptian street. I feel I am in Iran. I feel like a stranger."
Sawiris was referring to the loose-fitting, usually black, long gown called Al-Shadour, commonly worn by women in Iran.
"I am against radicalism, whether Muslim or Christian. Now we involve religion in everything. Excess eventually leads to crises."
Sawiris, however, rejected the charge that he uses his OTV channels to counter the spread of veil, dubbing the accusation as “nonsense."
"When you watch old Egyptian movies, you see colorful dresses and convertible cars. People were more liberal."
"This is my personal point of view and doesn't aim at criticizing anyone. Clothes are a personal freedom, and I can't scoff at that."
"That my channels are aimed at countering the veil or religious conservatism is nonsense."
"I am a secular man who is totally opposed to a religious state. We are not waiting for the Muslim Brotherhood's permission to run for presidency. We know our rights as citizens very well."
Speaking at a dinner for journalists late on Monday, Sawiris said he was disturbed by the rising number of women wearing the hijab or headscarf.
"I am not against the headscarf because then I would be against personal freedoms," he said. "But when I walk in the street now I feel like I am in Iran... I feel like a stranger."
Sawiris, who says he opposes radical Muslims and Christians alike, said his OTV channel has sought to counter the "high dosage" of religious and conservative programming on other channels by offering light shows targeting young people, along with uncensored Arab and foreign movies.
Most television channels in Egypt and the Arab world cut sexual scenes in movies and restrict offensive language. |
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Religion and stability Sawiris' statements drew strong criticism from conservatives. Brotherhood MP Sayed Askar expressed his indignation: "Religiosity is what grants Egypt its stability, and countering that triggers terrorism and jeopardizes security."
"Piety and the veil are something that should be applauded. Whoever does otherwise is harming all Egyptians, Muslims and Christians. Sawiris is wreaking sedition. He has no right to interfere in Muslims' affairs."
Judge Mursi Al-Sheikh, Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Center for Justice, Democracy, and Human Rights told AlArabiya.net that everyone has the right to express his own points of view: "Sawiris thinks the Egyptian street is becoming like Iran, and I agree with him. Women done the veil and know nothing about the morals or rituals of Islam. Many veiled women are indecent."
"The veil is becoming a tradition. With a headscarf, a girl just wants to pretend she's Muslim."
"I would only blame Sawiris if he said his channels will counter the veil because this might hurt the feelings of Muslims, especially that he is a Copt."
Naguib Gabriel, Legal Advisor of Coptic Pope Shenouda III, stressed that wearing a headscarf or a cross or any other religious symbol is personal freedom: "Dedicating a TV channel for changing religious trends is wrong. There should be supervision on all kinds of channels to make sure religion is not used for assaulting others or displaying any kind of extremism."
Mohamed Al-Sayed, head of the Electronic Resistance Movement, which led many campaigns defending Hijab, said he will start a new one to stop such channels from fighting the Islamic symbol in the Egyptian street.
"Egyptians, by nature, are religious -- Muslims and Christians alike. We have to support that. Nuns are also veiled. I hope Sawiris will reconsider launching these channels and abstain from airing uncut movies that violate our traditions."
(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid) |
