Documentary about Egyptian Jews banned in Egypt

Last month I mentioned that an Egyptian had created what looked like a pretty good documentary about the Jews of Egypt, one that admitted that the Jews were expelled by the government. I predicted that it would stir up a lot of controversy in Egypt.

I was right.

From Egypt Independent:

The director of the film "On Egypt's Jews" film Amir Ramses has said that the National Security Agency banned the film in Egypt.

Ramses said that the NSA’s ban violated the powers of the country’s censorship authorities, and described the move as "ignorant and authoritarian."

"This is an encroachment on the powers of the censorship authority. The film had been displayed as it already gained the [censorship authority] approval without remarks. It was displayed in the [Panorama European Film] Festival, in addition to being displayed in more than one festival," Ramses wrote on his Facebook account.

Ramses also added that he and film producer Haitham Khamisy would take legal action against the Ministry of Culture and the minister of culture for postponing the renewal of their licenses, and lashed out at the National Security Agency, which he said was “as authoritarian” as the Interior Ministry and the equivalent of the former State Security Investigation Services under ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

"Banning the film after gaining the regulatory approval twice is a barefaced encroachment by the National Security Agency," Ramses said.

The Guardian adds:

The film, which had already screened at a private film festival in Egypt last year, as well as at festivals in the US, was due to open today in three local cinemas. Based on testimony from researchers, political figures and exiled Egyptian Jews, it presents a harmonious vision of early 20th century multicultural Egypt and asks – according to director Amir Ramses – "how did the Jews of Egypt turn in the eyes of Egyptians from partners in the same country to enemies?" The film was banned by local censors, according to El-Khamissy, after a security agency made a request to view it.

Notice that the apparent excuse for blatant censorship of a film that reveals anti-Jewish attitudes of Egyptian authorities is - "security." Which is pretty much what one would expect from an authoritarian state.

Here's the trailer again:



(Made slight change to emphasize that it was the government that censored the film in response to Emad el Dafrawi)