Egyptian Star Returns to Film, Removes Head Cover

 

Egyptian actor Hala Shiha left the film industry 10 years ago for a more religious life. She began to wear the traditional Muslim head cover, or hijab, along with loose clothes that covered most of her skin.

Later, the Egyptian movie star was seen wearing the even more conservative face cover, or niqab.

Islamists praised the changes, just as they have when other stars took similar action.

But then Shiha decided¹ she would return to acting² and no longer wear the hijab.

The religious leaders are no longer celebrating.

Talk about the actor’s decision immediately flooded social media, newspapers, magazines, and televisions talk shows.

Liberal thinkers praised the 39-year-old for exercising personal freedom. Conservative thinkers expressed opposition³.

Shiha's case, in many ways, represents a larger conflict in Egypt.

A popular rebellion in 2011 that ousted⁴ then President Hosni Mubarak left the country sharply divided. The Muslim Brotherhood⁵ party took control of Egypt after a number of election wins. Its candidate, Mohammed Morsi, became president.

Then, in 2013, the Egyptian Army ousted Morsi after huge protests against his rule. The new military government, led by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group and banned it.

Today, the position of women is among the most hotly debated issues of Islam in the country.

Shiha has sought to avoid the argument over her decision.

"I never meant to insult or offend anyone," she told The Associated Press. "Just because I took off my hijab, doesn't mean I am against it. Not at all."

She said the decision was a personal choice and that she did not want to be part of any political conflicts.

Shiha’s family members said she recently opened an Instagram account and has about 150,000 followers⁶. She is without a hijab in all the posted images.

A recent video published on Instagram has likely upset Islamic conservatives even more. It shows her smiling at a hair stylist in a beauty business. She says in the video, "I came here to change my hair color a bit. I hope it turns out well. I am sure it will be surprising."

Islamic conservatives argue that Shiha has disappointed women and girls who had looked to her as a model of correct behavior.

"There were many girls that trusted her as a virtuous⁷ sister," clergyman Sameh Abdel-Hameed said on a television talk show. "But now she failed a large audience of young girls who followed her," he continued.

Khadija Khairat el-Shatter, daughter of a jailed Muslim Brotherhood leader, posted a long message about the issue on Facebook. She urged Shiha to prove everyone wrong and appear in public wearing the hijab again.

Mohammed el-Sawy, another clergyman, posted a video of himself in tears. He urged Shiha to admit wrongdoing and express regret.

Others are showing strong support for the actor. A leading film critic, Tarek al-Shennawy, celebrated⁸ her for bravery in the face of what he described as a "difficult society."

One debate that recently restarted among Egyptians is whether wearing the hijab or the niqab is an Islamic duty. Another is whether Islam's traditional clothing for women protects them in public from sexual abuse.

"There has long been a conflict between liberals and Islamists with the status of women always the battlefield," said political researcher Saeed Sadeq. “It is often a question of veil or no veil.”

Shiha remains⁹ unmoved by the national debate.

"I am just at a different phase in my life now," she told the AP. "And I am happy that I am going back to acting."

I’m Caty Weaver¹⁰.

Words in This Story

disappoint - v. to make (someone) unhappy by not being as good as expected or by not doing something that was hoped for or expected?

virtuous - adj. morally excellent

society - n. people in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions, and values?

veil - n. a piece of cloth or net worn usually by women over the head and shoulders and sometimes over the face?

phase - n. a period of time during which a person behaves in a particular way or likes a particular thing

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

5 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

6 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

7 virtuous   

adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的

参考例句：

• She was such a virtuous woman that everybody respected her.她是个有道德的女性，人人都尊敬她。
• My uncle is always proud of having a virtuous wife.叔叔一直为娶到一位贤德的妻子而骄傲。

8 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

10 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。