CAIRO — Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali announced on May 11 that the ministry would offer a reward of 1 million Egyptian pounds (about $100,000) to any TV series airing during the upcoming Ramadan that does not feature any smoking or drug use. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins in early June, is a popular time for TV shows, with new series often airing episodes on a daily basis after the evening iftar meal.

Wali's announcement came on the televised program "Hona el-Asema" on CBC. The minister confirmed that she was taking this step because cinematic and TV productions exaggerate smoking and drug use in Egyptian society.

The announcement elicited a number of responses. Some argued that the minister had gone beyond the bounds of her duties, rewarding already wealthy film producers with funds that could be better spent on impoverished pensioners. Others think Wali is combating the spread of addiction in a reasoned manner by dealing with the phenomenon.

Member of parliament Al-Badri Farghali, secretary-general of the Union of Pensioners, spoke to Al-Monitor on the subject, saying, "Every ministry and [state] institution must keep to its own responsibilities. There is an anti-addiction fund for this purpose, which is affiliated with the Council of Ministers, and there is a General Administration for Combating Drugs, which is a part of the Ministry of Interior. Each has their primary responsibility in combating addiction. Was Wali appointed the minister of fighting addiction? What the minister has done is to take money out of the pockets of widows and orphans in order to receive favorable media coverage. No matter if it comes atop the skulls of the poor."