“Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulations has decided the instant investigation of those responsible for producing Al-Tawous TV series, and its broadcasting channels,” reads a statement published on Sunday by the governmental authority, stirring a growing social media reaction.
The decision came “after the council received many complaints over the usage of language that doesn’t agree with the codes issued by the council, which emphasise the necessity of upholding values and not affecting, degrading, or displaying the Egyptian family in an offensive image,” the council explained without marking specific scenes or lines.
Airing on OSN, Nile Drama, Al-Nahar TV, Al-Kahera Wi Al-Nas, Dream TV, Rotana, LBC, Sada El-Balad, and other channels, Al-Tawoos (The Peacock) is among the appealing productions of the season despite bitter competition full of big spending action, patriotic, or epic shows of superstars.
Produced by Sherine Magdy and starring young talent Sahar El-Sayegh in the role of a working class girl who becomes a causality of a gang rape; Al-Tawoos features veteran Samiha Ayoub, AKA the Lady of Arab Theatre, in a leading role beside Syrian acclaimed Gamal Soliman, local radio star Khaled Eleish, among others.
Screenplay by Karim El-Dalil with Mohamed Nayer as the headwaiter, Al-Tawoos, directed by Raouf Abdel-Aziz, has gained wider attention in recent hours following the council’s statement, with a few artists, critics, and fans merging in support campaigns.
Despite differences, some have linked the case with a similar public opinion hotel rape case currently stirring attention, while others have compared the plot and violent scene with 2007 hit ‘Qadyet Ra’ey A’am’.
Other commentators have criticised the season’s first statement by the council, listing a number of drama scenes they thought were “offensive to the Egyptian family”.
Asserting its support to arts freedom without any restrictions, the council revealed that its Drama Monitoring Committee is following the Ramadan season’s TV series, and receives complaints from citizens, critics, and writers.
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