Hizbullah film yet to see the light of day

Source: Gulf-News, 28-10-2006
Cairo: Egyptian scriptwriter Mohammad Al Mahlawi says he will not stop until his film on Hizbullah sees the light of day.
His screenplay for the film was rejected by the government`s Entertainment Censorship Board over a year ago.
"I lodged a complaint with the Grievances Committee of the Supreme Council of Culture to challenge this rejection. Usually, this panel makes a decision on such complaints in two to four weeks. But eight months after I filed my complaint, I have not received a reply," Al Mahlawi told Gulf News.
He added that his screenplay tells the story of an agent sent by the "Israeli" secret service Mossad to infiltrate Hizbullah and kill its chief Hassan Nasrallah, but later the infiltrator changes his mind and decides to carry out a self-sacrifice bombing inside "Israel".
"My film has three aims. First to shed light on the social activities undertaken by Hizbullah in caring for orphans. Secondly, drawing the line between (so-called) `terrorism` and resistance to foreign occupation. Third, highlighting Hizbullah`s vigilance," Al Mahlawi said.
He says he might resort to the public to acquaint them with his project and gain their approval so as to go ahead with the movie without bothering about the censors` ban.
"The [Egyptian] constitution states that people are the source of power. Thus I have the right to know people`s view of my screenplay, which by no means harms the name of Egypt."
During "Israel's" recent war in Lebanon, pro-Hizbullah marches were staged in Egypt. Marchers upheld portraits of Hizbullah chief Nasrallah and compared him to the late Egyptian president Jamal Abdul Nasser.
Egyptian censors have said the film portrays Hizbullah as a (so-called) ‘terror' group, a claim flatly denied by Al Mahlawi.
"Rejecting the screenplay has nothing to do with the official Egyptian stance towards Hizbullah," Ali Abu Shadi, Censorship Board chief, said.
In the early days of the "Israeli" war in July, Egyptian officials blamed Hizbullah for starting the war by kidnapping two "Israeli" soldiers, a criticism which brought the government of President Hosni Mubarak under fire from the anti-"Israeli" opposition. Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with "Israel" in 1979.
"The Censorship Board does not have the final say on films. Its decisions can be contested. Al Mahlawi`s screenplay is now being examined by the Grievances Committee, which is composed of respected intellectuals," added Abu Shadi.