- Reporter: Malak Tamer
- Editor: Madalina Gilca
- Image Credits: GQ Middle East
Actor and singer Mohamed Ramadan was unable to escape the shadow of controversy which seems to accompany his public appearances when he became the first Egyptian artist to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California last month.
At his first concert on April 13, Ramadan wore a long black cardigan and a gold-chained top that exposed much of his torso. His appearance caused public backlash back home and led Egypt’s Union of Artistic Syndicates to consider taking disciplinary action against him, raising questions about the role Egypt’s regulations play in limiting creative freedom and protecting the country’s public image.
The public’s distaste for Ramadan’s outfit was triggered by some comparing it on local social media platforms to women’s traditional dance costumes, while others argued that the performance was not an accurate representation of Egyptian identity.
On April 14, Sayed Mahmoud, media advisor to the Union of the Three Artistic Syndicates, announced the intention to launch an investigation into Ramadan’s attire, causing some to defend his right to artistic freedom.
Ramadan responded to the heat on his social media and defended his right by clarifying that his outfit was honoring Egypt’s Pharaonic history, and was not intended to come off as feminine.
According to Mahmoud’s most recent statement, the Union considered Ramadan’s apology sufficient enough to close the case given that no official complaints were filed and no laws were broken.
He added that “the public was the ultimate judge in this crisis.”
Tamer Amin, an Egyptian television presenter and host of the talk show Akher El-Nahar (End of the Day), which tackles topics ranging from politics and religion to pop culture with a wide variety of guests, told The Caravan that the “Union cannot operate under the pressure of public opinion.”
This is not the first time Ramadan found himself in muddy waters with Egypt’s Union of Artistic Syndicates. In 2020, the syndicate suspended him and enforced an acting ban after controversial pictures of him and 2 Israeli celebrities surfaced on social media.
The controversy surrounding his Coachella performance reflects a broader pattern of the syndicate’s involvement in regulating artistic expression. In 2022, for instance, the Union stopped issuing permits for non-union Mahraganat (popular Egyptian street music) singers in a bid to assess the genre’s impact on public taste and what regulations should govern its artistic output.
Amin, who has closely followed the syndicate’s regulations for years, noted that its approach changed over time.
“These past few years, the Union was more open-minded and let things slide,” Amin said. “There were even some instances when the public on social media demanded the Union’s intervention, and they didn’t respond.”
While some consider that the syndicate’s interventions in artists’ choices continue to be needed, Associate Professor in the Arts Department, Nermine Said, believes government surveillance should focus on magnifying artistic expression.
“I believe that the government has a huge responsibility to elevate the standards of the entertainment business in Egypt without implementing censorship,” Said said.
“There should be governmental directives to improve the quality of the entertainment business and encourage artists and creative people to work in a free expression environment.”
Amin explained that the government authorities have historically interfered in the arts and media industries, limiting freedom of expression and using media to sway public opinion.
Regulations and laws that enforce censorship have been present in Egypt for a long time. According to Al Tamimi & Co., the largest law firm in the Middle East, Constitutional Law No. 430 of 1955 grants the Central Administration for the Control of Audiovisual Works of the Ministry of Culture the authority to censor movies, TV shows, songs, plays, and audio recordings.
According to a 2014 joint study by Egyptian organization the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression and the international organization Freemuse, Constitutional Law No. 35 of 1978 enforces that artists cannot produce content without being members of the Union of Syndicates of Actors, Musicians, and Cinematic Professionals, outlining potential licensing and disciplinary actions.
Amin explained that the 2014 Constitution marked a turning point by introducing articles that granted artists more freedom to express their opinions and create content, provided that it doesn’t conflict with constitutional principles that govern “public morals.”
“The union’s interference, of course, protects Egypt’s public image. But it has to be to a certain extent and not dangerously constricting what artists can do,” Amin added.
Yet for many artists, the current legal model remains too restrictive to navigate, making it hard to fully use their talents.
Due to punitive measures ranging from fines to imprisonment, strict regulations over artistic choices can lead artists to censor their own work and confine themselves to limited areas.
“I don’t believe in artistic censorship, it kills creativity and limits artistic expression,” Said said.
“Censorship of the arts should be banned. How can I express myself fully and artistically while I am under restricted rules?”
While censorship rules could be considered barriers, art in itself is free-roaming and subjective.
“The artist reflects their own thoughts and ideas, and the society they live in,” Said added.
“The audience [interprets] art the way they feel or see it. Each and every one of us perceives art differently. It depends on who you are, your background, your education, your exposure.”
Freedom of expression gives way to countless possibilities of art execution, even when covering the same subject matter.
“We are all taught the same principles in class,” said graphic design junior Hana Elfar. “But when we apply those principles to our own work, each one of us produces different designs with different elements and colors. I personally find it beautiful when none of our designs look alike because you can see each person’s identity through their work.”
Artists give the art meaning, but so do the audience. The 2014 joint study by Egyptian organization the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression and the international organization Freemuse reported that art is an easy target for someone to argue that, in their opinion, the artwork doesn’t align with the vaguely stated ‘public morals’ of the Egyptian constitution and the Union.
To avoid censorship, artists learn to express their ideas without openly admitting them, often resorting to creative methods such as symbolism and satire.
Said described color symbolism and Egyptian motifs as “a silent language” for delivering messages. In KHOTOUM, a costume installation exhibition that premiered in 2014, she criticized child marriages by displaying the bride in a blue wedding dress, a color associated with sadness and grief in Egyptian culture.
Said believes more resources should be allocated to nurturing artistic talent, rather than controlling it.
“Invest in education,” Said said. “Bring experts from abroad, give artists workshops, send young artists on programs abroad. Encourage artists by funding them without controlling their expression, thoughts and ideas. Guide them without controlling them. Invest in the artists.”
