Court Refuses Fayrouz's Case

As the makers of Ramadan television series await the responses of audiences, many have received lawsuits against them. The first lawsuit was filed against the actor Mohamed Heneidy, scriptwriter Youssef Maaty and producer Tamer Morsy by the Teachers’ Syndicate for the series Monsieur Ramadan Mabrook Abou El-Alamein Hamouda. The syndicate accused the three of defaming the profession of teaching, urging that screening of the series be stopped. A lawsuit was also filed against El-Shahroura, which is based upon the life of the Lebanese singer and actress Sabah. The Lebanese singer Fayrouz and her daughter Rima El-Rahbany filed a lawsuit against the series and have demanded that any parts featuring Fayrouz or her husband Asy El-Rahbany be taken out. Express court in Lebanon refused the case by Lebanese singe Fayrouz's lawyer, to ban her scenes in the series "El Shahroura". "Elaph.com" reported that the singer asked to ban the scenes due to exposure of her and her late husband Assi El Rahbani. The producer of the series, Sadek El Sabbah, denied her accusations, claiming the series didn't mention them at all. Press reports found the series used legal loop holes and named the characters similar but not identical names. Fayrouz was thus changed to "Nayrouz" and Assi was changed to "Sasi". The series "El Shahroura" is currently showing in various channels during Ramadan 2011. The scenario is by Feda Al Shandweili, directed by Ahmed Shafik and stars the Lebanese singer Carole Samaha as Sabah. Websites reported that Sabah isn't content with Carole's portrayal after seeing the first few episodes. The production company has denied that a lawsuit was filed against them. The producer of the series, Sadek Sabah, has stated that they have not been named in any suit. Meanwhile, lawyer Abdel Hameed Shaalan reportedly filed a suit against the series Keid El-Nessa, starring Somaya El Khashab and Fifi Abdo, for obscenity and including revealing clothing not appropriate for the holy month of Ramadan. He also criticised the song from the promo that was aired on numerous channels. The scriptwriter of the series, Hussein Mostafa Moharram, denied writing the lyrics of the song, saying it does not reflect what the series is about while adding that he is not against it. He said that the series addresses the social relations between women, like between the first and the second wife, the sister and her sister in-law, the father-daughter relationship, and friendships. The scriptwriter Nader Khalifa also filed a complaint against the producer of Ehna El-Talaba (We are the Students) on issues of copyright. Khalifa had proposed the idea to the producer named but was turned down. The series was later written by Ahmed Eissa. The television series El-Rayan, meanwhile, has infuriated businessman and owner of the companies Ahmad El-Rayan who sought legal redress for defamation. El-Rayan has accused the production company involved of distorting history by depicting him as a member of State Security, which he says is false.