January 29, 2005
AS THE HIJAB TURNS
EGYPTIAN ACTOR AHMED AL-FISHAWY & HIND EL-HINNAWY
Egypt has been rocked by a real-life soap opera, in which a pious soap star has been hit with a very public paternity suit. Hind el-Hinnawy says she & Ahmed al-Fishawy met on a TV set & had an urfi marriage, an unregistered contract often used as cover for affairs.
In a Sharia court, Hinnawy's testimony would only count for ½ that of Fishawy's. Instead, she's taken him to civil court & asked for a DNA test (he's so far refused). The case is remarkable for Egypt because of Hinnawy's shocking candor, & the fact that Fishawy is a public moralist & follower of Amr Khaled, a charismatic Muslim televangelist. The cast:
Ahmed al-Fishawy.
24yo actor known for public piety. Son of actor
Farouq al-Fishawy. Famous for role in soap
Amma Nour
(Auntie Nour), sitcom
Shabab Online (Arab Friends, which he left for religious
reasons; first-ever Arab sitcom), & host of
Yalla Ya Shabab (Let's Go,
Kids), in which he dispensed advice to Muslim youth.
On his faith: "It doesn't mean that I won't play someone who smokes, drinks, steals or does drugs. I can play someone who does all of that as long as the plot shows that those actions will lead to harm."
Hind el-Hinnawy. 27yo costume designer.
Daughter of university professors. Says met on set of sitcom Baba Geh
(When Daddy Returned). Refused to have abortion. "I am trying to say to
other people, not only girls, to try to have the courage to be
responsible for what you do. People prefer that a woman live a
psychologically troubled life; that doesn't matter as long as it doesn't
become a scandal."
Amr Khaled.
36yo 'neofundamentalist' televangelist sensation, popular in elite society.
Criticized as Rasputin of Egypt, 'sheikh of chic'. Enemies include
both Egyptian govt &
militant Islamic groups. Embraced by educated youth as alternative to
Saudi Wahabism. Driven from Egypt due to popularity (rumored to
have embarrassed
unveiled First
Lady Suzanne Mubarak when daughter-in-law took up hijab
after hearing Khaled's tapes).
Khaled parable: "2 young women head to the mall, but the more religious insists on visiting the mosque first. As they listen to the sermon, the unveiled woman starts to cry, & asks for a head scarf. Later that day, she is killed by a car. Fortunately, she has renewed her commitment to Islam."
See also Human Rights Watch report on women in Egypt. Farouq al-Fishawy Refuses Role of Homosexual Journalist. From Amr Diab to Amr Khaled. Via Big Pharoah
Posted by Jeff at January 29, 2005 11:55 AM
Comments
I can't begin to tell you how heartening it is to see Egypt moving in a westwardly fashion. Or perhaps it's just that the trailer people existed there before but we never heard about them.
In all seriousness however, I do admire the apparent courage of Hind el-Hinnawy choosing to keep her baby. Now if she and the baby will survive beatings in the mosque and public executions (more progressive islamofascists call these "postnatal abortions"), they'll have it made.
Posted by: Martin at Blogbat at January 29, 2005 06:45 PM
Is that Sinead O'Connor?
Posted by: Frank Gibbons at January 29, 2005 08:11 PM
Ahmed al-Fishawy is "pious" yet he grooms himself to look like Sinead O'Connor?
Posted by: scottm at January 29, 2005 08:11 PM
You made this completely up. It is too wierd/Americanlike/stupid to be be real.
Posted by: Rightwingsparkle at January 30, 2005 08:33 AM
As an Arab guy, i totally applaud Hind's courage and honesty.
She will have a name in history as a freedom fighter.
I hope more egyptian women have the same caourage.
Posted by: abbas at March 5, 2005 10:00 PM
Very interested to know every thing about,in first time the reazon
to be independient each other.
Posted by: Alex at December 14, 2005 02:16 AM