(Photo: Still from Regata film trailer and still from Nafsana TV show)
Dokki misdemeanor court has postponed until 30 December the trial of one of Egypt’s biggest film producers Mohamed El-Sobky and his daughter Rana El-Sobky on charges of marketing content that has sexually provocative and ethically inappropriate imagery.
The accusations relate to content in the film Regatta, a production of El-Sobky starring Mahmoud Hemeida, Rania Youssef, and Amr Saad, which was deemed “ethically inappropriate."
Attorney Samir Sabry, who regularly files complaints against celebrities and activists, accused El-Sobki’s films as being “created by contractors and butchers (El-Sobki himself is a renowned meat dealer) and merchants who regard cinema as a chicken that lays golden eggs.”
"The people behind these films trade in the lowest ethics, visuals, and language, thinking it gives them social status, granting them the title of a producer.
“El-Sobky productions include famous films with catchy themes that appeal to mass audiences, rather than movies with depth or cinematic quality,” Sabry continued.
Though popular at the box office, El-Sobky films have often created controversy. In 2014, then-prime minster Ibrahim Mahlab took the film Halawet Rouh (starring Lebanese actress Haifa Wehbe), off the big screen shortly after its release over scenes deemed sexually provocative.
Meanwhile on Sunday the court adjourned until 20 December the trial of TV host Entsar, who is accused of lewdness, debauchery, and blasphemy in the way she discussed porn on her TV show Nafsana which airs on Al-Qahira Wa El-Nas channel.
The trial also includes businessman and owner of Al-Qahira Wa El-Nas channel, Tarek Nour.
In October 2015, Egypt’s prosecutor had ordered the investigations for Entsar, who is also known for her daring acting roles, after she "called on her audience to watch pornography as it is very beneficial to educate youth before marriage," and voiced her belief that sex education should be taught at schools.
Entsar was absent during the trial, and the court listened to the plaintiff, lawyer Hany Gad, who asserted that Entsar’s words would corrupt youth and presented the court with a DVD of the episode in question.
Nour’s defense lawyer for his part asserted that Gad was seeking fame through the high profile case, and that what took place on the show was but a discussion that could similarly take place on any talk show in Egypt.
Short link: