Egypt’s top Islamic body on Wednesday demanded that a television show promoting belly-dancing be banned, two days after its first episode hit the airwaves.
Dar Al Ifta, Egypt’s state-run Islamic institution that advises Muslims on spiritual matters, described the show “The Dancer” as a “corruption of morals”. The private TV Al Qahira Wal Nas (Cairo and People) began this week broadcasting the programme whose makers say it aims to discover talented belly-dancers.
“This programme can be understood as being part of a campaign aimed at undermining the moral system of Egyptian people,” Dar Al Ifta said in a statement. The institution warned that the show would serve militants, “who can take advantage of such issues as a pretext to promote the idea that society is fighting religion”.
Belly-dancing has for decades been popular with Egyptians. However, in recent years, many in the mostly Muslim country, have frowned upon performances, with several clerics calling it un-Islamic, Gulf news informs.
