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Egypt Islamists blast Beyonce 'sex party'

By Samer al-Atrush
CAIRO - R and B singer Beyonce, who put off a gig in Malaysia following Islamist outrage over her "gyrating moves" and "sexy outfits," has brought her world tour to Egypt and more hostility.

Hamdi Hassan, a lawmaker from the Muslim Brotherhood, has written to the speaker of the house and the interior minister labeling her planned Friday night show a "sex party" and demanding to know why she was allowed to perform.

He said the concert advertisement, in which the comely diva wears a leotard fitted with motorbike handlebars extending from her crotch and a headlight nestled in her cleavage, "threatens social peace and security."

"I do not know who agreed to this sinful, unacceptable advertisement, or indeed who agreed to these blatant sex parties," Hassan wrote, accusing the government of encouraging "sin and debauchery."

Meanwhile, a group on social networking site Facebook opposing her concert has attracted nearly 10,000 members.

One poster displayed on the site, showing the silhouette of a curvacious woman with a diagonal red line through it, was entitled "This is not Egypt."

Beyonce, who once told an interviewer that she "likes to dress sexy," has so far drawn about 50 million dollars on her "I Am..." world tour, and there's no word yet on what she will be wearing.

Last month, Beyonce postponed a concert outside Kuala Lumpur after an official of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic party expressed sharp disapproval.

"We are not against entertainment, but it's the way she performs -- her gyrating moves on stage and her sexy outfits. It will erode the moral values of our young people," PAS youth chief Nasruddin Hassan Tantawi told AFP.

Marctensia, organiser of the Malaysian concert, had said Beyonce would tone down her attire.

It insisted the postponement was "solely the decision of the artiste and has nothing to do with other external reasons" and that a new date would be announced.

In Egypt, the concert is still set to go ahead, under tight security, at the Red Sea resort of Port Ghalib.

The best tickets are going for Egyptian 2,000 pounds (366 dollars, 246 euros), well above the means of most Egyptians.

The banned party Muslim Brotherhood is effectively Egypt's main opposition party and is widely popular for its social work. It runs candidates as independents in parliamentary elections to get around the ban.

The party, which calls for the establishment of an Islamic state by peaceful means, normally focuses its flak on government corruption and foreign policy but has campaigned against what it considers prurient literature and art.

Most Egyptian Muslim women wear head scarves in accordance with Islamic custom, and the poverty-ridden country has lurched towards religious conservativism.

But the country is arguably the capital of the Arab world's film and music industries, and satellite channels with Arab pop stars in sometimes racy music videos have a wide audience.

And Western singers regularly perform in Egypt. In February, pop singer Akon, famous for his hit single "Smack That," peeled off his shirt and dove into the crowd.

It is still to be seen what sexy outfits and gyrating moves Beyonce offers the crowds on Friday night. But long after she is gone, nightclubs will still have plenty of both on offer -- as belly dancers delight both Egyptian and foreign audiences.

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AFP
User Comments
aj
Nov 11, 2009 at 19:00
Dear Mr Riyal,

Try watching some videos or live performances of Haifa Wehbe.

You'll be surprised at the skin that is seen...
MKR
Nov 08, 2009 at 20:27
You are right Mr. Hamzah, you don't need to have her in your house as I am sure she did not come all the way to see you personally, so please we are all aware of show off religious statement as a true believer religion is in the heart and not of what you picture in your won head. It is an open invitation, you are welcome to attend or feel free not to come but do not act God's protector guardian please. Before you are throwing accusation all over the place, ask yourself a question, do you think she is the one who asked to come over to do a show or higher authorities gave her the permission. You better contact them instead and strike against their decision if you dare and not stand against a performer where she does not have a clue what you are talking about.
Voice of logic
Nov 08, 2009 at 15:41
If you don't like the artist don't got to see her. Nobody will drag anyone to the concert. Nobody will force you lose your moral values. Moral values are not lost by seeing something you DISAPPROVE of.

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