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    I Love the Cinema: Have religious institutions in Egypt become a censorship authority?


    29/7/2004
      I Love the Cinema (Bahebb as-Sima) directed by Osama Fawzy raised important questions about religion, freedom and art. From its first showing the film met with opposition from Muslim and Christian religious figures, intellectuals and public personalities. Their anger is such that they have instigated legal action against it demanding that it be withdrawn from cinemas because, it is alleged, it offends Orthodox Christians. In response nineteen human rights groups have formed a legal committee to defend the film.

      Building on its belief in the right to freedom of thought and creativity, and the need to strongly defend these important rights, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) will be holding a public discussion on the 2nd August 2004 under the title I Love the Cinema: Have religious institutions in Egypt become a censorship authority?
      Intellectuals, cinema critics, religious figures and the author and producer of the film will be participating at the discussion, which will explore the following questions:
        1. Is cinema criticism the domain of religious figures? Do they have the right to involve themselves in artistic creativity issues?
        2. Is there a connection between the demand for the suppression of freedom of thought and creativity on the pretext of protecting religion and the spread of political and religious violence in Egyptian society?
        3. Does I Love the Cinema provide evidence of a crisis in the Egyptian film industry or a crisis in Egyptian society generally?
        4. What are the consequences of the controversy currently surrounding the film?
      The discussion will be held at 7 p.m. in the Helnan Shepherd Hotel, Cairo.

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