Beyonce Egypt Show Called "Insolent Sex Party" By Islamic Conservatives

CAIRO — As Egypt gears for pop diva Beyonce Knowles' first performance in North Africa, Islamic conservatives are branding her show an "insolent sex party" that threatens the Muslim nation's "social peace and stability."

On giant posters plastered across the Egyptian capital advertising the Friday evening concert, Beyonce sports a revealing, flame-covered outfit and grips a set of motorcycle handlebars extending from her hips – a sharp contrast to Cairo streets, where most women wear the traditional Muslim headscarves.

TV ads promoting the show, part of Beyonce's "I Am ..." world tour, have run on Egyptian and Arab satellite stations. The tour, which also took Beyonce to the United Arab Emirates last week, had grossed $53.5 million as of October, according to Billboard magazine.

But in Egypt, Islamic lawmakers and their supporters have waged campaigns on social networking Web sites, accusing the government of encouraging debauchery and calling for the concert's cancellation.

"Why are you encouraging this insolent sex party?" lawmaker Hamdi Hassan from the opposition Muslim Brotherhood wrote in a letter to the government. "You are accused of disturbing social peace and stability, encouraging vice and debauchery."

Another Islamic lawmaker, Ali Laban, called for banning the "nudity concert." A Facebook campaign against Beyonce's concert collected nearly 10,000 supporters.

But the war of words has not derailed the glitzy concert, due hundreds of miles south of Cairo in the luxury Red Sea resort of Port Ghalib. Organizers said "ultra" security will be deployed to protect the thousands of concertgoers.

Beyonce canceled her stop in Malaysia last month following opposition from a conservative Islamic party. Malaysia requires female artists to cover up from the shoulders to the knees and bans any showing of cleavage.

Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country, is torn between a growing secular and economically prosperous class and a large mainly conservative, poor population. The government has been squeezing Islamic conservatives with security crackdowns and administrative measures aimed at curbing outward manifestations of conservatism.

Beyonce's event organizer Ahmed Beltagi said tourism and police officials cooperated to make the concert happen because they believe it's a way to promote Egypt as a center of culture, entertainment and art.

"We are Muslims too ... this will not stop Egypt from hosting an award-winning, first class artist," Beltagi said.

"We should salute her instead of criticizing her," he said of the diva.

Comments

[harriettubman]

Celebrities that love to use soft porn & no clothes as part of their act instead of their talent, are invited to other countries ALL the time. Look at the at the uproar in Indonesia. Just because some promoter invited them and they have a few fans in the country doesn't mean the celebrity has to accept and go against the cultural beliefs of that country.

Look at how Bobby Brown was arrested several times for his shows in various states. He thought simulating s*x acts would contribute to his weak show.

Michael Jackson was internationally known for his concerts and its amazing productions, not taking off his clothes and distracting from his talent. He had a strong, talented presence and that's why he was SO successful. I could never see him accepting or going against another cultures beliefs.

[magnumruss]

beyonce had one of the best insolent sex parties OF ALL TIME

[Jaxy]

Ah, Conservatives. As given to sanctimonious hyperbole in North Africa, as they are in the U.S.

[samilli3]

when you go to Rome, act like the Romans do....not everyone has the same perception of freedom like America does.....she needs to tone it down.

[fbr79]

Perception of freedom? whoa. Moral relativism at full throtlle.

[Trueheart]

I agree.

If you want to communicate with people who have different standards-­-especiall­y if you are a guest or visitor in their country--then you show respect for their customs. Beyonce's handlers don't seem to be too sharp.

She's such a beautiful lady, even if she were draped in a long shawl, she'd still manage to shine. So why make enemies for her and put her in danger?

[Jetling]

If you recall the Super Bowl that was all abuzz about Janet Jackson's nipple, what wasn't highlighted enough was the contrast of Beyonce - in what I recall to be a beautiful, long yellow dress - and her beautiful rendition of the anthem at the start oof the game. Very appropriate for the moment.

Perhaps she had the decision of what would be on display there. But, more likely, her handlers, managers and promoters did.

Now, if this reaction is indicative of the majority of Egyptians, there does not seem to have been proper consideration of the people in the advertising of her concert. I'm inclined to think the promoters responsible for the advertising are at fault than I would her.

[obelix1349]

Okay then the Saudi king should wear a suit instead of those robes he wears next time he comes over here

[mvega47]

Who ever wrote this article, obviously has never been to Egypt. Although it's true that Egypt is an Islamic country, it is also an open and diverse unpretentious country of some degree. Unfortunately as with any culture there are those hypocrites

Belly dancing is a highly sexual and respected form of entertainment in Egypt, far more visually sexual than any public stage act that have ever seen anywhere. Yet it has no significant cultural meaning at all, such as that as Hawaiian dance.

Haifa Wahaba a Lebanese artist who performs in Egypt often, is herself one of the most sexiest women alive on the planet, whose performances are by her very nature sexual by default. Islamic men from all levels clamor, to see her in concert.

So please, be true to yourself and don't judge anyone.

[obelix1349]

And when Arabs come to America, they need to respect our culture. Remember when the Saudi king was visiting George Bush. Why could he not put on a suit like everyone else?

[Trueheart]

Beyonce isn't a royal dignitary with diplomatic immunity.
She is a paid entertainer fulfilling a business contract.

If the Saudi king breaks the law in the USA, he gets diplomatic immunity.
If Beyonce commits a crime in the UAS, she pays the consequences.

The last time I looked, we didn't have any cultural prohibitions against men wearing long robes. If you can tell me about an American group that is offended by this custom, I would be interested in knowing about them. Some Arabs do wear western clothing when they are on official business in the USA.

[jazeyedgirl]

I don't know why every body's is so pissed off at beyonce. They gave her their terms and she turn them down...is that illegal?

Apparently she didn't need the money that bad to dress how they wanted her to dress. At first i was with most of you saying why she couldn't dress more conservative in the middle east...but I realize she is a (successful) artist that do not compromise her art for money.
Her fans in egypt wants to see her...would you like your Govt to order your fav bands on how to act or dress?...in order to protect you?

[harriettubman]

I have to agree with them. Beyonce's half naked, hip grinding show is totally against Islamic culture and why someone on her management team continues to book her shows in those countries behovoves me!!!! It's distasteful and culturally inappropriate.

Seeing her on MTV dancing like she was in a soft porn movie proves my point. Please, respect other people's cultural and religious attitudes or people will never believe that Beyonce is a Christian, as she so often says, again.

[sysmgr1345]

She has fans in Egypt. The people that would be offended should simply not attend, but that's fantasyland..I know. My primary concern is for her safety and that should be the reason she shouldn't attend. Remember we are dealing with people who think God tells them to kill, surrounded by millions of others who agree with that concept.

[Jetling]

God also tell them to secede.

Oh, sorry. You're talking about Egypt. I thought you were talking about Texas. My bad!

[Caru]

Why?

[emmeaki]

Respect other people's culture? Well, if is is soooo un-islamic, then they shouldn't have even let her perform in their country. Someone gave her permission to be there.

[nexxtep54]

Seems most of these sleeze shows originate in the US. Showing your quality ?

[sysmgr1345]

Our country is only 200 plus years old. Do you honestly think we originated sleeze?

[ReedYoung]

I'm sure her act is hot, but not half as hot as traditional Arab belly-dancing.

[harriettubman]

Since when have you seen an Arab belly dancer dancing like Bey did at the MTV music awards? They don't even dance like that at a Hawaiian Luau!

[Paula Ann]

it's fantastic exercize, too!!

[bbaker2580]

traditional egyptian belly dancing documentary...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DP1HQ1zB2k

[MilwaukeeDan]

Beyonce can't make enough money in the US, so she has to go to Egypt? Please. The problem with pop music is it's all about the performers sex appeal, remember Milli Vanilli? Once it was discovered it was a bunch of middle age fat guys doing the singing(and I don't have anything against them), it was over. Why didn't they give the Grammys to them(they middle age guys)?

[fbr79]

Milli Vanilli and sex appeal in the same sentence. You are a strange one, Dan :D

[Furby2]

I wonder why she feels she has to perform in scanty outfits in parts of the world that are sensitive to these kinds of displays? If it had anything to do with artistic integrity I'd support her. Her wardrobe detracts from her talent if anything.

[gratonite]

I think distraction is the idea. Because her singing is sheer agony. She's pretty, but her singing--ouch. If she has to cover up, then there really is no point to a Beyonce show.

[RachelMc]

Wow that's a complete lie. No wonder u only have a few fans.

[harriettubman]

I truly like Beyonce but this burns me up. It is culturally insensitive!!!

[fbr79]

I wonder how people feel about being so sensitive about how women dress.

[obelix1349]

Well actually many boys in the Arab world who are fans of death metal music. (Johann Hari has written about this). These same conservatives try to confiscate those CDs too.This kind of treatment is not unique towards Beyonce,

[digdeeper]

There is an old saying that has stayed the course "When in Rome......­..........­..
Beyonce is great, looks great and not a bad voice but I think she could have been a little more conservative in her attire given where she was performing. Shame really.

[JTHC75]

Insolent sex party? My favorite kind!

[Grada3784]

Amazing that in both Islamic countries and in America morality is so fragile that it can be compromised by something as trivial as this.

[Caru]

I know, it's really, really funny.

[ec1012]

Only thing Beyonce has done is give Egyptian extremist another chance to embarrass their country. Obviously a lot of people in Egypt want to see her in concert, otherwise the resort at Port Ghalib would have never hired her. She doesn't want to go to these countries to cause a ruckus, she goes because she is offered money to perform by the various companies sponsoring the concert in order to advertise their products. By the way, a lot of you who are criticizing her are hypocrites because you know you were doing the single ladies dance or filming your kids doing the dance and putting it on youtube!

[harriettubman]

When your 27 yrs old and traveled the world as a celebrity, one should know to turn down that request if she can not conform to the codes of conduct in that society. She can't so her management and her shouldn't declined. Common sense actually. Money talks.

[lightningbolt]

I'm glad Egypt is leading the way in reducing the influence of religious fanatics on their society. This should be happening across the entire Muslim world. The conditions for peace in the Middle East will only be achieved when religious fundamentalists are put in their place, very far away from government.

[digdeeper]

religious fundamentalism exists in all countries and the US is not exempt.
How you can reduce its influence is a huge task. First and foremost is ensuring that State and religion are completely separate and running alongside that is the need for education (not propaganda) but nurturing young people to to care about their families, friends and others in their world. and of course a major factor is irradicating poverty.
I sometimes think that religion is used as an afterthought to justify murder, rape and torture and that these people simply want an excuse for their violence. and hatred of their fellow man
Sometimes though the reason is simply revenge for what is seen as a terrible wrong.