CAIRO, 23 August 2006 — Egyptian singer Haytham Shaker, who was jailed with another singer Tamer Hosni, on charges of forging his military service records, is scheduled to be released today.
Tamer was sentenced for an additional charge of forging his University diploma, the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported yesterday.
Haytham was overwhelmed with joy on receiving the release order. However, his joy was spoiled to a certain extent by the fact that Tamer, with whom he has been sharing a cell over the past six months, has to spend 50 more days behind bars.
“I have learned a lot from my experience in jail, and now I yearn to see the people and life outside. I have also canceled my decision to stop singing that I took under the influence of the depressing life in jail,” the singer added.
Yacoubian Building Up for Oscar Nod
CAIRO, 23 August 2006 — The Egyptian film board has nominated Adil Imam’s “The Yacoubian Building” for an Oscar after rejecting nine other movies that included “Dam Al-Ghazal” and “Suqut Baghdad.”
“The Yacoubian Building” based on Ala Al-Aswani’s novel with the same title is directed by Marwan Hamid and makes an uninhibited discussion of the social problems related to extremism, corruption and diverse sex habits.
The film with a cast including Nur Al-Sharif and Yusra apart from the lead role by Adil Imam, has been admired at a number of regional and international film festivals including the Berlin, Carthage and New York festivals. The film has stirred up controversies amidst the Arab public because of the film’s open approach on topics regarded as taboos in the conservative Arab society.