CAIRO, 5 June 2005 — The famous Egyptian writer of TV shows, Osama Anwar Okasha, has refused to accept the presence of Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram on the Newsweek list of the most influential figures in the Arab world. Okasha claims there must be a better way of determining people’s influence which should be based on their achievements and talent.
Choosing someone such as Nancy as an influential figure is an insult to all Arabs, he added. Okasha declined an invitation to the ceremony held by Newsweek, stressing that he did not want to be on the same level as Nancy.