Blogger: Baha’i Faith in Egypt
Article: Banned Film Gets Prominent Media Coverage in Egypt
Originaly Posted On: 2007-06-17 13:21:00

Yesterday, 16 June 2007, AlMasry AlYoum Egyptian newspaper reported on the banning of a documentary film that has exposed the human rights crisis facing the Baha’is of Egypt.

The article, written by Muhammad Abd El-Khaleq Mussahel, states the following:

Banning of Documentary Film Regarding the Baha’is in Egypt

[State] Security authorities banned the release of a new documentary film regarding the Baha’is in Egypt. It prevented attempts of spreading its viewing and advertising it. The forbidden film is entitled “Identity Crisis Between My Religion or My Country: The Baha’i Quagmire in Egypt.”

The Film’s promotional clips, which were posted on the “Baha’i Faith in Egypt” site, begin with a thickly bearded man, referred to in the film as one of the opposing Islamist lawyers, who was present at the 16 December 2006 session of the [Supreme] Administrative Court that issued a ruling against the Baha’is. This was when [he] was talking about the special punishment reserved for those that tarnish the land, requesting its application on the Baha’is, represented in death, Crucifixion, amputating their hands and legs, or exiling [them from earth].

Following the publication of this newspaper article, several sites reported on its content, including “U.S. Copts Association” and “Misryon [Egyptians] Against Religious Discrimination (MARED).”

The promotion for the film, produced by the independent documentary film maker, Ahmed Ezzat, which was posted previously on 6 June 2007, is included again below. As soon as the entire film becomes available, an announcement to that effect will be posted here.