The Egyptian Creativity Front The Egyptian Creativity Front issued a statement condemning the Ministry of Endowments’ decision not to allow the shooting of some scenes of Farsh We Ghata (A Bed and a Blanket) inside a mosque. The Creativity Front’s statement read as follows: “The Front has received with worry and surprise the decision of preventing the shooting of some scenes of the film Farsh We Ghata (A Bed and a Blanket) in the Sayeda Nafisa mosque, despite the acquisition of all the censorship and security permissions, as well as the permissions of the Ministry of Culture that allows the filming”.
The statement added: “The decision raises many questions about the Ministry of Endowments’ stance on cinema and art in general”. The Creative Front added that art has always been an ally of religion in history, and that many documentary directors have filmed inside historical mosques before.
The statement emphasised that there is neither controversy or conflict between art and religion. It called the Ministry of Endowments to reconsider its position, and allow the film crew to work inside mosques as long as they meet all the official requirements.
The Creative Front concluded the statement demanding clarifications about the reasons of the Ministry’s rejection, hoping that “the religious institutions in Egypt will exercise an instructive role like the one of Al-Azhar”.