• 08:22
  • Friday ,16 November 2012
العربية

Egypt's belly dancer mocks Islamist politicians in online video

By-Ahram

Copts and Poliltical Islam

00:11

Friday ,16 November 2012

Egypt's belly dancer mocks Islamist politicians in online video

 An Egyptian belly dancer performed a song with anti-Muslim Brotherhood innuendos in a home-made video that has spread across different websites and social networks on Wednesday.

Sama Al-Masri told Ahram Online, on Thursday, in short phone interview that she does not usually give concerns to politics in Egypt even since last year’s uprisings. However, she was seriously provoked by the clashes on 12 October, also called "Accountability Friday," when pro-Muslim Brotherhood protesters attacked liberal and leftist groups in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
 
Using Egyptian slang words, Al-Masri criticized President Mohamed Morsi's failure to keep his promise to implement the Al-Nahda project (Renaissance project) since he took office.
 
In part of the clip, she holds mangos and mocks Morsi's comments in his first TV interview about making the price of fruit and other foods affordable in his first 100 days as president.
 
As a way of indirectly pointing the Muslim Brotherhood leaders, Al-Masri referred to specific Islamist politicians by playing with the letters in their names, such as Arrion and Haggoza.
 
“The song lyrics are not mine, but I heard liberal protesters saying it in their chants and slogans during the 'Egypt for All Egyptians' Friday demonstration," Al-Masri said.
 
“I am endorsing the lyrics too,” she added.
 
The dancing clip circulated among Egyptian activists’ on Twitter and Facebook, as some of them saw it as an ironic expression of opinion, meanwhile, many of them felt disappointed to watch a ‘belly dancer’ speak politics.
 
“Everyone has the right to express their opinion in his or her way,” Al-Masri replied.
 
Al-Masri confirmed bravely that she does not fear to be pursued by anyone from the Muslim Brotherhood. “I did not mention any of their names; it’s all about hints,” she commented.
 
Strangely, the belly dancer said that she had voted for the Morsi in the first phase of the presidential elections, but she switched to be pro-Ahmed Shafiq, the ex-presidential candidate, during the run-off.
 
“I voted Morsi because I am from the same birth place as him, the Nile Delta governorate Al-Shaqiya. Then, in the run-off I recognised who is the Muslim Brotherhood,” she said in a regrettable tone.
 
When asked about current events in the Arab region, such as the Israeli raids in theGaza strip and the ongoing discussions between the Egyptian government and The International Monetary Fund over a $4.8 billion loan, Al-Masri said that she does not follow what is happening.
 
“We used to see Gaza under Israeli fire. It is not new and as for the foreign loan I think Egypt’s shoulder would not be able to carry more debt,” she answered.
 
Al-Masri recently rose to fame when she claimed to be the wife of an Islamist ex-MP Anwar Al-Balkimy, who is notorious for a nose job scandal he denied.
 
It was reported in March that Al-Masri filed for divorce from the Islamist MP, saying she received threats of exposing her secret marriage.