Posted on 04/02/2010 7:34:29 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A burqa-clad contestant on the Arabic version of "American Idol" landed in the finals after bravely blasting hard-line Muslim clerics on live television, sparking outrage among religious conservatives in the Middle East.
Unlike the wildly popular Fox show, contestants in the Middle Eastern version recite traditional and original poetry rather than sing.
While most regale the audience with odes to the beauty of Bedouin life and glory of their rulers, Hissa Hilal stunned audiences last week by attacking Muslim religious leaders as "vicious in voice, barbaric, angry and blind," and guilty of "preying like a wolf" on people seeking peace.
She specifically blasted fatwas -- declarations by imams that often incite violence -- as a side of the extremism that is "creeping into our society."
"I have seen the evil in the eyes of fatwas, at a time when the permitted is being twisted into the forbidden," Hilal recited, speaking with only a hint of her eyes visible through her black veil.
Naturally, her verse has inspired numerous death threats on Islamic militant Web sites.
But her brave words clearly tapped a nerve, as she was wildly cheered by the audience and voted into the competition's final round.
"My poetry has always been provocative," said Hilal, a housewife and mother of four from Saudi Arabia. "It's a way to express myself and give voice to Arab women, silenced by those who have hijacked our culture and our religion."
Her poem was specifically seen as a direct assault on a prominent Saudi cleric who issued a fatwa against those who call for the mingling of men and women. More broadly, Hilal was also seen as attacking all the hard-line religious leaders who have widespread influence throughout the Middle East.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Cute babe eh.
“silenced by those who have hijacked our culture and our religion.”
There has been no “hijacking.”
Hubba hubba!
I'd hit it!
“Poetry is hugely popular in Middle Eastern countries, with prominent poets rising to rock-star levels of fame.”
Just like in the U.S.
NOT
Here in the USA, it’s called RAP. Just ask P.Diddy or Eminem.
Maybe their men would make them stop wearing those sacks if they saw enough bumper stickers that read:
“Burqas are a turn-on.”
High art.
I’d hit it.....with a 2x4.
Poetry is hugely popular in Middle Eastern countries, with prominent poets rising to rock-star levels of fame.
Just like in the U.S.
“NOT”
They’re just a few centuries behind. Shelley, Keats and Byron were the rock stars of their day.
Religion of Peace, doncha know.
You missed the point. She was wearing the burkha to symbolize oppression. It’s certainly not necessary to wear one in Abu Dhabi or any other city in the UAE. As Arab states go, it’s extremely liberal. Whereas women can’t even drive in oppressive states like Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan, women the UAE drive, become doctors, police officers, elected officials, lawyers, judges, and even fighter pilots.
I have a feeling she's hot.
I admire what she’s said and has put her own life in jeopardy as these mullahs,etc. will stop at nothing to quell any form of free speech.
There’s a lot of right brainers in the Middle East and Iran,too,that’s why poetry & stuff like that is so popular and is also seen as a form of political protest,including all those gushy artsy fartsy films the iranians make (you can see i’ve no love for them)
Beheading in 5 .... 4 .... 3....
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