Egyptian scripts await freedom from censorship

Egyptian director Amr Salama The Egyptian Arts Censorship Authority rejected several scripts, officials said. According to the statements by the authority, the scripts were banned because they were considered pro-Israeli; they opposed former Egyptian regimes, and were insulting to Christians.
The authority banned the script of Egyptian movie "La Moakhza" (Excuse me) by young script writer and director Amr Salama, for the third time. In their statements, they claimed that the movie insults Christians in Egypt and raises sectarian discrimination.
"I presented the script to the censorship authority three times and every time it was rejected because they thought that it was discriminatory towards Christian minorities in Egypt".
“La Moakhza” follows a young Christian student who leaves private school to join a governmental school in Egypt. The boy faces harassment from his new colleagues because of his rich background. He decides not to tell his classmates he is Christian, in fear of more harassment.  Eventually, truth is revealed and nothing happens, instead the students adapt to one another and become friends.
Amr Salama said he changed the storyline several times in an attempt to get an approval from the authority. In his third attempt, Salama wrote the student as Muslim like the rest of his colleagues, but the script was still rejected.  
Ahmed Barada suspended his movie “Ragheef Eash” (A Loaf of Bread) after it was rejected because it was considered pro-Israeli.
This was denied by the script writer Mohamed Kenawy who said the movie calls for peace and corporation between people regardless of gender, color, and religion.
The movie was expected to star Amr Saad, Jomana Morad, Kenda Alouch, and Lebanese actress Marwa.
The movie follows three people: an Egyptian, Palestinian and Israeli who are brought together by different life struggles and are forced to work together within the unstable economic and social conditions in the Arab world.
The authority, headed by Sayed Khatab, rejected “Homa Habo Baad” (They Loved Each Other), written by Youssef Maaty.
They film is a love story between the son of the president and the daughter of the opposing president. The film was rejected a second time, even after the scriptwriter changed some elements of the script.
The head of the Egyptian Arts Censorship Authority, Dr. Sayed said the script included great amount of political propaganda, which the authority deems unsuitable in the current political state.
“We shouldn’t have political propaganda in art. I am not against producing the movie, but not now, as it needs modifications, I think the scriptwriter understood this well, and he will made the necessary changes," he said.
Yousry Albdelhady’s “Al Sagina” (The Prisoner) was rejected on grounds that it highlights negative images of Islam.
Abdelhady defended his script by saying it is based on a true documented story about someone called Sultan, who announced his separation from a Jihadist organization in 1981 after assassinating President Sadat. He later joins the national security system, and helps them in arresting Jihadist.
Dr. Sayed Khatab declared that the reason behind rejecting it is because it violated law No 430 of 1995 which aims to protect public morals and maintain security and public order and the interests of the Supreme State, not the rising Islamic movements as the writer depicts.
Scriptwriter Mohsen El Galad said he presented a script of his satiric soap opera "Al Mazraa"(The Farm) which follows the family life of a former president and his companions inside Tora Farm prison and their daily lives in a satirical comedy.
Galad said the script was rejected, and no clear reasons were presented to him
Dr. Sayed Khatab said "since the January 25 revolution, the censorship decided not to allow any drama including persons sentenced in Tora Farm prison, unless they have a final court verdict, or they will face a legal accountability.”
The censorship authority also rejected six more scripts, due to writers addressing sensitive subjects such homosexuality, atheism and conflict between Muslims and Christians. These films included "Christmas Birthday", "Elders Talks", "Hamaem Al Galadin", "A Lesbian Memories", "Life or Death Matter", "Aida's Memories".
The head of the Egyptian Arts Censorship Authority confirmed to Arabstoday that "the authority doesn’t reject any scripts completely, but it recalls its author for discussion and exchanging point of views in order to find some compromise. But if the works include a clear violation to our customs and traditions then we are forced to reject the artistic work. However, writers have the right to complain to the cultural council and have the motion reconsidered".