CAIRO: Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif supported Culture Minister Farouk Hosni, saying that any public figure is entitled to his personal opinions. Nazif made the comment at a talk he gave to the Cairo International Lions Club on November 29 after Hosni's remarks about the veil made local headlines for the second week in a row. Nazif indicated that although the religious stance about the veil is clear, the issue has always been the subject of heated debate. Last week Hosni joined a meeting held at the National Democratic Party attended by 100 NDP members of the religion, media and culture committees of the People's Assembly. At the meeting the minister clarified his stance on the veil, saying that he was only stating his personal opinion. He said that he respects all Egyptian women irrespective of what they choose to wear and that he does not have the authority to argue in matters of religion. Hosni also said he will not apologize. Ahmed Saleh, from the media office at the Ministry of Culture, told The Daily Star Egypt that the interview published in El Masry El Youm newspaper, with the minister's opinion on the veil, was conducted unethically and unprofessionally. "The phone interview was not recorded, he said, "and the minister was telling the reporter his personal opinion on the issue unaware that he was on the record and that his "chitchat will go to print. Fathya El Dakhakny, the El Masry El Youm reporter who conducted the interview wrote a column on Nov. 27 clarifying that the minister was aware that he is being interviewed on the record and that she had told him that his opinion will be published. El Dakhakny also said that during a phone call with the Hosni a few days after the article was published, the minister did not blame her or the paper for the article and reiterated his opinion about the veil. The reporter claims that she even called Hosni once more the next day to make sure he was not upset and that he clearly indicated that he carries no ill feeling towards her of the paper. The Daily Star Egypt spoke with El Dakhakny, who reiterated everything she ran in the column and asked Daily Star Egypt to any part of it as a reply to the ministry's accusations. Dr Hamdy Hassan, a Muslim Brotherhood MP told The Daily Star Egypt: "The issue is not closed yet. The minister has clarified his stance to his party in an informal way, yet the official interrogation by the rest of the parties has not taken place yet. Hassan insists that Hosni should apologize or resign.
