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The following are excerpts from a debate about the quality of TV broadcast in Egypt. In the debate participated former President of Al-Azhar University Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sheik and Egyptian Journalist Farida Al-Shubeishi
:Dr. 'Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sheik, Former President of Al-Azhar University: I can't understand [such a scene] in which a woman in her room and the actor is in his adjacent room and he throws clothespins towards her room, in order to knock on her window. Then she leaves through the window and they stand together for half an hour or an hour.
Farida Shubaishi, Egyptian Journalist:Doctor, don't these things really happen?
No, no. You want a society that exists only in your mind. You want dogmatic people, whom you create according to your understanding of Islam. Perhaps I disagree with you, and there is disagreement, and this disagreement is a good thing.
Dr. 'Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sheik: You are a journalist, and I don't interfere in your work. I do not dictate how a newspaper should be written. Islamic law has its own specialties. I express the position of Islamic law. When I do so, don't own the position of Islamic law.
Farida Shubaishi: Excuse me, Doctor, don't infringe on my right to express myself. Even if I'm mistaken, you can try to persuade me but not to suppress me. We want persuasion not suppression.
Dr. 'Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sheik: I am not suppressing you.Farida Shubaishi:I know what "shut up" means, I don't want to shut up. This is my opinion to introduce…
Dr. 'Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sheik: Did I tell you to shut up?Farida Shubaishi: You're saying to me, "Don't talk." I will talk. I am a citizen. You say one thing while other respected Sheiks present a contradictory ruling, and others present rulings that are different. You are driving us crazy with your fatwas. Sir, doesn’t it happen that a guy courts a girl? Even in the desert, even before Islam… was there never a guy who loved a girl? Has love become a tragedy nowadays?
They want television that lies.
Moderator:They want television that lies?
Farida Shubaishi: They want television that, like on ostrich, buries its head in the sand, and everything that is going on around us… Doctor, with your permission, These days we have a problem of common law marriages in universities, and other problems that you, sir, may be aware of. We have a problem of poverty and illiteracy. We have a problem of backwardness. You ignore all these and all you see is someone dressed like this?
Dr. 'Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sheik: What is the meaning of what we see on TV? A guy enters a room with a girl and then he goes into the bathroom, because they want to make it clear that it's all over. Then he gets out with a towel wrapped around his head, and five minutes later she leaves the bathroom with a towel on her head. Is this scene appropriate?Farida Shubaishi: I can see you've been following all the shows. I haven't seen this show.
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