TUNIS // Radical Islamists obstructed a stand-up comedy performance by Tunisian actor Lotfi Abdelli, the ministry of culture said yesterday, accusing those responsible of attacking freedom of expression.
"The attack by people associated with the Salafist movement on the Bayrem Ettounsi cultural centre in the town of Menzel Bourguiba" prevented Lotfi's show 100% Halal from taking place, the ministry said. "This type of activity amounts to an attack on freedom of expression and a dangerous threat to cultural rights," it said, adding that the relevant authorities had filed a judicial complaint.
The comedian told private radio station Mosaique FM that the imam of the town in northern Tunisia had called for the show to be disrupted and accused Abdelli of offending Islam."Bearded Muslims appeared at my show... They came and laid their prayer mats down in the auditorium in the morning, saying they were going to pray all day long," he said.
"The security forces were there and they told us that they hadn't received any orders to intervene," Abdelli added.
"I was afraid, I'm not superman. I was there to have a good evening and a laugh, not to get beaten up."
Tunisia's hardline Islamists have grown more confident since the mass uprising that toppled former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January last year.
In mid-June, suspected Salafists sneaked into a gallery in Tunis and destroyed some works of art they considered offensive to Islam, triggering riots that left one person dead and more than 100 injured.
Ennahda, the moderate Islamist party that heads Tunisia's ruling coalition, has struggled to clarify its line on the Salafists.
Two young Tunisians were given prison sentences in June on charges of attacking morals, after posting caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed on Facebook.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
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- Keep an open mind
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.