10/30/2009

in

Beyonce's sex image too much for Muslim conservatives.

Justin Key

Beyonce's been busy with her "I am..." tour since March, hopping from Canada to China and everywhere in between. This November 6th will be her first time performing in Egypt with a whopping $400 price tag on tickets.  
  
But not everyone is 'ready for this jelly.' Hamdi Hassan, Islamist Egyptian Member of Parliament and conservative Muslim, is appalled by the thought of a singer "who appears naked in her clips" being able to perform in Egypt.  
  
Claiming her appearance as a direct violation of Sharia (Islamic religious) law, Hassan accused the government of encouraging sin as a cover-up for its own crimes against its people.  
  
Accommodations have been made (the concert being held hundreds of miles away from Cairo, for instance), but this is not the first time the sexy singer/actress' image has clashed with Islamic beliefs. Two years after canceling a concert in Malaysia due to dress-code violation, her October 25 performance in the same area has been postponed for similar reasons.  
  
Third time's a charm? Time will tell. In the meantime, Beyonce has met little difficulty in countries like Indonesia, where the rules are a little more laxed. As for Malaysia and Egypt, maybe she should follow Avril Lavinge and Gwen Stefani's lead and opt for a temporary wardrobe change (read: put some clothes on).  
  
For the month of November, the "I am..." tour is set to hit Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Greece, the UK and Ireland.