‘Spring of Sex’ fury at show
by mahmood on 10/03/07 at 9:33 pm · email · print
AN Islamist MP is calling for a ban on depictions of anything related to sex in events being held as part of the Spring of Culture festival.
Shaikh Mohammed Khalid called the event the “Spring of Foolishness” and condemned as immoral an opening performance by Lebanese singer Marcel Khalifa, which he said included dancers portraying intimate acts as part of a story depiction.
Shaikh Mohammed said he was outraged when he watched the show at the Cultural Hall and claimed that the story, Laila Wal Majnoon (Laila and the Madman) was against Islam, because it depicted adultery between the two main characters, Laila and Qais.
“The actions of the dancers was clearly meant to depict a sexual act between a man and a woman,” said Shaikh Mohammed.
“I am not against the Spring of Culture festival itself, but no Muslim, be he Shi’ite or Sunni, can accept this kind of behaviour masquerading as art.
“The female dancer opened the male dancer’s shirt and what followed was like a sex movie, only without the nudity.”
Shaikh Mohammed said that he had already called Information Minister Dr Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar to complain against the show.
He said he was also going to call on fellow members in the parliament’s Al Menbar bloc to “investigate” the festival, to ensure that there are no similar events on its calendar.
Shaikh Mohammed suggested that the Spring of Culture should instead consist of poetry recitals and lectures, like the cultural events held in Saudi Arabia.
“The events should conform to our Islamic and Arab values,” he added.
The Spring of Culture, which continues until the end of April, includes concerts, dance performances, art exhibitions and other events, including poetry recitals and lectures.
It is being organised by the Information Ministry’s Culture and Heritage department with the support of the Economic Development Board.
A spokeswoman for the department dismissed Shaikh Mohammed’s remarks, saying that the response to Mr Khalifa’s show was overwhelmingly positive.
“It was excellent and very well attended. The people that were there all seemed to like it,” she said.
GDN :: Tariq Khonji :: 9 Mar, ’07
