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Critics of Ramadan TV say violence against women not entertainment

Some of this year's Ramadan TV series in Egypt are being called out over gratuitous scenes of violence against women.
Billboards for TV Ramadan series are seen in the streets of the Egyptian capital Cairo on May 15, 2018. - Soaps and dramas normally united binge-watching Arab audiences during Ramadan but this year an Egyptian series has been caught up in a bitter dispute with Saudi Arabia over one of its star actors.

“Violence, beatings, extortion and rape” are the main plots of most of the drama works in the month of Ramadan, according to the governmental National Council for Women.

Suzan al-Qalini, a member of the council and rapporteur for the media committee, said in an April 19 statement, “While it is a positive step to shed light on this issue that hinders the progress and evolvement of society, … showing graphic scenes of violence against women harms the cause more than it serves it.”

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