Min orders probe into banning 2 plays over 'security concerns'

CAIRO – 18 July 2017: Helmy Namnam, the Minister of Culture, gave orders on Monday to the Cultural Palaces Authority to investigate the banning of two plays in the Theatre Clubs competition in Damietta.

Namnam declared that if it was proved that the plays were banned and all those responsible for the ban will be chastised. ‘’We will not allow aggression on freedom of opinion and expression, we will stifle who violate them,’’ commented the minister in a statement about the plays being banned.

Some playwrights issued a statement on Monday highlighting that the plays were banned because there were some security concerns related to the director of one play and of issues with the heroine in the other. It is well known that plays are watched by a specialised committee from the Ministry of Culture to give the authorization to be featured, which is considered surpass to the Minister of Culture role.

The playwrights demanded that the Minister of Culture severely punish all those responsible for the ban and to continue protecting the rights freedom of opinion and expression.