CAIRO — Egyptian actress Sama El Masry announced on Instagram March 26 that she would host a religious show during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. The announcement sparked controversy in Egypt amid objections from Al-Azhar scholars and the Egyptian Parliament.
The question is now whether Al-Azhar will ban the show, for Masry is a media figure of questionable reputation and a long record of controversy. She is the owner of the Sky production company and runs a satellite channel called Al-Feloul ("The Remnants"), which in the past she used to broadcast shows opposing the Muslim Brotherhood regime. Egyptians describe her as a dancer and a porn star, because she uses sexually suggestive content in both her YouTube videos and on her Al-Feloul channel, which is currently off the air. Masry ran in the 2015 parliamentary elections, but Egypt's Supreme Administrative court disqualified her before the vote.