CAIRO: A violent rape scene shown in an episode of a television drama on the second day of Ramadan immediately caused a stir. Not only was the scene a first for Egyptian television, it was also the first time for a scene without any nudity to cause such controversy. The rape scene in Youssra's new Ramadan TV series, "A Public Opinion Case, was denounced for tarnishing Egypt's reputation by Ahlam Hanafy, member of the National Council for Women's Rights. The series, which airs daily on local Egyptian television and Dubai satellite television, caused controversy when it was broadcast fully on the latter channel. Hanafy condemned the fact that the uncensored version was aired on a foreign channel, while 10 minutes were axed from the version screened on Egyptian TV. "Broadcasting this scene might scare tourists, especially since it was aired on Dubai television, which makes us wonder, Hanafy reportedly told Al-Masry Al-Youm. Daily News Egypt took to the streets to get people's opinion on the scene and its effects, if any, on Egypt's reputation. "The [television] drama is very interesting, yet the [rape] scene should not have been shown in such a provoking way, said a 20-year-old woman who works in a kiosk, selling candy and soft drinks. "Neither kids nor adults should be allowed to watch such an offensive scene, she added. "I do not feel that the scene was offensive, said a 23-year-old female market researcher. The scene, she says, sent the message it was meant to convey and it was essential in the drama. "I felt the intensity of the rape when I saw this scene, she added. At the same time, she does not think the scene has any effect on Egypt's reputation and does not understand why parts of it were censored from Egyptian TV. Both women preferred to remain anonymous. Abdel-Azim, a 26-year-old graphic designer, told Daily News Egypt that the scene was "very painful, but not offensive. He also said that "there is nothing in the scene that would tarnish Egypt's reputation, adding that these allegations are part of a policy of suppression that is present in politics, television and everything else in Egypt. On the other hand, Abdel- Azim's wife, Iman, thought the scene was so painful it caused her blood pressure to rise. "The scene should not have been that long. It was obvious that [the three women] were being raped, so there was no need to have a scene that long to illustrate what was taking place. Iman saw the scene on Egyptian TV, and did not know that it was much longer when aired on the Dubai channel. She agrees that the scene indeed "tars Egypt's reputation. A 19-year-old student at the American University in Cairo (AUC) told Daily News Egypt that the rape scene "was very expressive but slightly over the top.but we have to admit that it was addressing a major problem that exists in our society that anyone can be subject to. "This is a big overreaction, Tarek Al-Shinnawy, Egyptian movie critic, told Daily News Egypt in a comment on Hanafy's statement. Al-Shinnawy believes that the rape scene was necessary as it is meant "to express the level of violence used against women in our society, indicating that any feelings that viewers have after being exposed to the scene is natural. He makes an analogy with Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ where the violent gory scenes were painful to viewers but were essential to show the amount of pain that Christ endured.
