Ibrahim
Venice Film Festival to Show Egypt's 'Winter of Discontent' about Tahrir Square, Revolution
The Winter of Discontent, a film centered on last year’s political upheaval in Egypt is set to premiere at this year’s Venice film festival. The movie is set against the backdrop of political activism and protests in Tahrir Square, which led to the overthrow of the autocratic Mubarek government. While for one of the film’s stars, the regime change in Egypt was welcome, an uncertain future remains. Actor/producer Amr Waked: “It was humiliating to humanity to exist under such conditions and I had reached this stage where, you know, people asked me because I travel a lot, I worked all over the world and most people tell me ‘you’re educated, cultured - how can you take Mubarak for so long?’ And that’s when you go like this and you look at the floor and I don’t have anything to tell them. And that was embarrassing and humiliating and that is no more. How can I take the Muslim Brothers? Well 51 per cent chose the Muslim Brothers, 49 didn’t and i have a feeling that whoever wins in the future will always be like that.” The events of spring 2011 have also led to mixed emotions for the film’s director. Director Ibrahim El Batout: “I’ve been frustrated and depressed for the last six months because of what’s happened in policy - the Muslim Brothers coming, mixing religion with politics, which is crap for me. It will never work. It doesn’t work. But at least we’re starting to understand what democracy is about. I never voted in my entire life, I’m 49. Never ever voted in my life and …
'Pro Deutschland' Protests Against Muslim Salafists in Berlin: Sunni Islam, Sharia Law Incite
The latest in a series of anti-Muslim protests staged by the nationalist party Pro Deutschland have taken place outside several mosques in the German capital of Berlin. Shouting and brandishing placards with the slogan “Hasta la vista Salafista”, around 50 members of the far-right group gathered in areas thought to be the main meeting points of the radical Salafist movement, Millatu Ibrahim Salafist, which has been banned in Germany since June of this year. Pro NRW members also brandished a caricature of the prophet Mohammed whose original appearance in Denmark sparked violent reactions across the Arab World. In Islam it is considered blasphemy to try to depict the prophet, but a Danish court ruled that suppressing the images constituted a violation of artistic freedom. Manfred Rouhs, head of Pro Deutschland “We are not trying to ridicule, we will bring forward arguments. But we are facing a situation, where we have to start the debate, which wouldn’t have happened if we didn’t come up with a series of demonstrations in west Germany in April and May. The political institutions only react when there is some attention.” The radical Islamic organisation has been accused of plotting against the state, with German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich calling them a threat to constitutional order as they allegedly reject national legislation in favour of Sharia law. There are around 4000 Salafists in Germany who espouse an ultra-conservative form of Sunni Islam. Police were …
Hummus kingdom
In Abu Ghosh, ‘hummus’ is king A lottery millionaire bets on chickpea paste to continue his good fortune, setting up shop in the little Arab town where he grew up. The predominantly Arab town of Abu Ghosh in the scenic hills west of Jerusalem is known for its world-class hummus, the creamy chickpea paste that’s central to Mideast cuisine. The town has 15 restaurants, almost all specializing in the stuff. But perhaps the most famous one is the Abu Ghosh Restaurant, opened in 1993 by Jaodat Ibrahim. Last January, Ibrahim decided to go for a world’s record. As verified by a Guinness Book of World Records representative, he prepared enough hummus to fill a large satellite dish. The paste weighed almost 9000 pounds, edging out a Beirut restaurant for the title. Ibrahim started his business after winning the lottery in Chicago, and chose to invest his winnings in the place where he’d grown up. The strategy paid off. His restaurant gets about 15000 patrons on weekends, especially Saturdays when most Israeli restaurants are closed for Shabbat. DOWNLOADS: VIDEOS: - HiRes: www.megaupload.com - HiRes-No Narration: www.megaupload.com - Streaming: www.megaupload.com - Streaming-No Narration: www.megaupload.com DOCUMENTS: - INTRO: www.megaupload.com - SCRIPT: www.megaupload.com Please credit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel for any use of these videos