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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 25 auguSt 2018
Movie star's lifestyle reversal sparks a debate in Egypt

By MENNA ZAKI and sister, she only recently In contrast, prominent film
Associated Press opened an Instagram ac- critic Tarek al-Shennawy
CAIRO (AP) — Hala Shiha count, with about 149,000 commended her for show-
quit the glamorous film in- followers. In none of her ing courage in the face
dustry a decade ago to photos is she wearing a hi- of what he described as a
embrace a more religious jab. "difficult society."
lifestyle, adopting the tra- Since her decision, Islamists One recently rekindled de-
ditional Muslim headscarf, have been saying she has bate is whether wearing
or hijab, along with loose, disappointed women and the hijab or the niqab is a
long-sleeved clothes. The girls who had looked to her religious duty or simply an
Egyptian movie star later as a role model. option. Another is whether
was seen wearing the even "There were many girls that Islam's strict dress code for
more conservative face trusted her as a virtuous women shields them from
veil, or niqab. sister," ultraconservative being objectified by men
Islamists exulted at her de- preacher Sameh Abdel- in a country where sexual
cision, just as they have Hameed told a private TV harassment on the street is
when other celebrities took talk show. "But now she widespread.
a similar path. failed a large audience of Those who oppose the hi-
Now that she has decided young girls who followed jab maintain that Egyptian
to resume her acting ca- her." women are sexually ha-
reer and shun the hijab, Other Islamists appeared rassed whether they are in
they are no longer cele- incredulous over her deci- tight jeans, a miniskirt or a
brating. sion. But Shiha told the AP niqab. Others say that peer
The highly publicized re- that she had no links to Is- pressure plays a role, with
versal this month by the lamist groups while she em- young women wearing the
39-year-old actress imme- braced a religious lifestyle. hijab to win acceptance
diately ignited a storm in Khadija Khairat el-Shatter, in their communities while
social media, the press and daughter of a jailed Muslim adopting nothing else from
on TV talk shows, with liber- Brotherhood leader, wrote Islam's prescribed modesty.
als lauding her move as an a long post on Facebook "There has long been a
exercise in personal free- urging Shiha — "my soul conflict between liberals
dom and Islamists mourn- twin" — to prove everyone and Islamists with the sta-
ing that choice. wrong and appear in pub- tus of women always the
Her case in many ways mir- lic wearing the veil again. battlefield," said political
rors the larger conflict in "Today, the rumors that analyst Saeed Sadeq. "It is
Egypt. you took off your hijab often a question of veil or
The country has been po- had slaughtered me with a no veil."
larized since a popular up- blunt knife," she wrote. Shiha remains unmoved
rising in 2011 toppled auto- Mohammed el-Sawy, an- by how her personal deci-
crat Hosni Mubarak, usher- other ultraconservative, or sion not to wear a hijab has
ing in a period of political Salafist, preacher, posted turned into a national de-
domination by the Muslim In this Feb. 24, 2006 photo, Egyptian actress Hala Shiha poses a video of himself in tears. bate with political under-
Brotherhood, which won a wearing a veil during her marriage contract party at the police In a quavering voice, he tones.
series of elections — includ- mosque, in Cairo, Egypt. implored Shiha to repent. "I am just at a different
ing the presidency. Associated Press He also sought to belittle phase in my life now," she
The generals ousted Islamist her decision, labeling it a told the AP. "And I am hap-
President Mohammed Mor- The Associated Press in a sure it will be surprising." "relapse" and blaming it on py that I am going back to
si in 2013 after massive pro- telephone interview. "Just According to her father "worldly temptations." acting."q
tests over his divisive rule because I took off my hijab,
and cracked down against doesn't mean I am against
the Brotherhood, outlawing it. Not at all." New book to focus on women
it as a terrorist group. Under "At the end, this is a per-
President Abdel-Fattah el- sonal decision and it's my in Donald Trump's life
Sissi, the military-backed choice. I am an actress
government has little or no and I don't want to be
tolerance for political Islam. dragged into any politi- Associated Press cording to Gallery Books.
It is against this backdrop cal conflicts," she said. She NEW YORK (AP) — A best- She will write about Trump's
that the status of women is cited "personal reasons" for selling author and News- mother, his three wives, his
among the most debated her decisions — both to quit week correspondent has a sisters, daughters and fe-
aspects of Islam in Egypt, acting the first time and to book coming out on Presi- male employees. She will
with the question of how resume her career — and dent Donald Trump and also write about the more
they appear in public get- didn't elaborate on what the women in his life. than a dozen women who
ting special attention. was behind them. Gallery Books announced have alleged harassment
Shiha, often cast in dreamy, But a recent video posted Thursday that Nina Bur- or other sexual misconduct
romantic roles, sought to on Instagram may have leigh's "Golden Handcuffs: — allegations he has de-
distance herself from the made things worse for The Secret History of Trump's nied. This image released by Gal-
often- acrimonious argu- the Islamists. It showed Women" will be published Burleigh's previous books lery Books shows "Golden
ment over her decision to her flashing a broad smile Oct. 16. Burleigh, News- include "The Fatal Gift of Handcuffs: The Secret History
take off the hijab and seek and telling a hairdresser at week's national political Beauty: The Trials of Aman- of Trump's Women," by Nina
a more secular lifestyle. a salon: "I came here to correspondent, will draw da Knox" and "Mirage: Na- Burleigh. Burleigh’s book will
be published Oct. 16.
"I never meant to insult or change my hair color a bit. on investigative journalism poleon's Scientists and the Associated Press
offend anyone," she told I hope it turns out well. I am and feminist analysis, ac- Unveiling of Egypt."q