Lebanese singer Haifa Wahbi has begun choosing a collection of songs in preparations for her new album. Composer Mohammad Yahia revealed that Haifa has chosen a collection of his compositions and will begin recording them in the very near future.

The last album by Haifa was “Baby Haifa”, which was written by ‘Rotana’ Production Company and featured eight songs. One of the songs Haifa had filmed one of the songs “Baba Fain” in the form of a music video under the direction of Lebanese director Laila Kan’an and the clip had won several awards.

In addition, recently the clip “Inta Tani” (You Again) by Haifa was released. The clip was directed by Mohammad Sami.

Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat- About eleven years ago, the Arab Radio and Television Network (ART) announced the establishment of the IQRAA Islamic satellite channel as the first specialized Islamic channel, thereby announcing the entry of a new kind of satellite channels onto the Arab scene. Ideas developed afterward, and the number of channels of this kind increased -- there were more than 80 Islamic channels in 2010.

Islamic media, both newspapers and specialized channels, have imposed their existence among other media through high viewer rates and through competition by sheikhs and businessmen to inaugurate channels one after another, some from charitable motives and others from commercial and profit motives, according to opinions that Asharq Al-Awsat has received.

Many experts have found in these channels a response to calls opposing the openness of the satellites to Western channels, a means of family entertainment, and a more rapid means to communicate the Islamic call and message as quickly as possible due to the special following that these channels enjoy.

Sheikh Abdullah al-Muslih, an Islamic scholar who presents a program on one of satellite channels says, "In them we find the appropriate climate and the quickest means to bring the word to those who need it." He notes that the stiff competition between Islamic channels has impelled them to present programs of the highest quality.

A published study of different sectors of Saudi society confirmed that the number of Satellite receivers subscribed to religious and conservative channels were 300,000. The study predicted that within the next five years the size of this market would reach 3 million.

Muhammad Ahmad Sallam, the director of the IQRAA satellite channel, explains that the Islamic satellite channels have imposed their presence by means of the targeted information they present. There are more than 80 channels. There are channels that have established their presence and that have come to enjoy very high audience shares.

For his part, Abdullah bin Marzuq al-Qurashi, general director of the DALIL channel, believes that people need specialized media. Among the things that the Arabic viewer still needs is a fatwa and audience participation service. The channels have come to try to serve the viewer especially in this respect.

Al-Qurashi added that the media today are more in need of media production than of media channels, more in need of expenditure on producing profession drama or skillful programs into which TV craftsmanship has entered deeply and that then can be sold to some of the channels. This will be more effective and beneficial than repeating efforts and proliferating Islamic channels in a poor production market.

Ali bin Hamzah al-Umari, the president of the 4SHBAB international organization, the parent of 4SHABAB, comments that some channels have achieved a certain balance in terms of cultural, religious, and spiritual programs and have attracted large elites of ulema and people of merit and talent. The channels have also begun discussing the aspects of media success, preparing courses, and holding conferences, which indicates a certain amount of consciousness, but thus far there exists no religious channel in the comprehensive sense.

He indicated that the reason has to do with the absence of financial-backers with the ability and the consciousness for such subjects and not concerned that there be a religious aspect in the preaching sense. So there is no religious channel that devotes interest to the drama or to children through serials, programs, or religious dialogue, but via TV, through stimulating, dazzling, gratifying, and pumping the content from within. This has not happened so far on any religious channel. The reason is clear: there is no person of means to implement these concepts.

Perhaps the greatest problem confronting the Islamic channels according to those who work in them is the problem of funding, particularly because -- as one of the supervisors of the channels revealed -- one of the sheikhs receives about $1,500 for each episode of the program that he presents.

Muhammad Sallam, the director of the IQRAA channel comments that most of the Islamic channels rely largely on their founders and supporting businessmen. He added that at their channel they rely primarily of the support of Sheikh Saleh Kamil and the charitable trusts that he has set up to provide income to the channel, in addition to advertisements.

Abdullah bin Marzuq al-Qurashi, general director of the DALIL channel states that advertisements and sponsorship of programs play a significant role in lightening the burden of covering programs at the Islamic satellite channels. In reality, however, most of the Islamic channels rely on the sheikhs and businessmen who own them. The DALIL channel gets its funding from the channel's general overseer, Sheikh Salman bin Fahd al-Awdah.

Ali bin Hamzah al-Umari, the president of the 4SHBAB international organization comments that 4SHABAB is like the other channels: "Part comes from advertisements and sponsors with whom the station is connected. They represent the important side with regard to programs. Also, the station is eager to market its productions as SMS messages, and this covers part, particularly as the station is still young and its expenses are considered high compared to its sister stations. We bargain a lot with sponsors and advertisers. We have taken good steps, God be praised, and we need to convince the sponsor.

Work at the satellite channels carries in its content a special aspect in terms of the quality of programs and skill of the presenters and announcers. This requires specialization and proficiency at one's job. Some channels have turned to sheikhs to present some of the programs that require a special kind of discussant, especially on programs that give religious advice.

By Roueida Mabardi
(AFP)
–
1 day ago

DAMASCUS — A Syrian soap opera that tackles such taboos as homosexuality, corruption and extra-marital sex in the predominantly conservative Muslim country is proving hugely popular during Ramadan.

The TV drama "Ma Malakat Aymanukum," which takes its name from a verse in the Koran that loosely translates as "What your right hand possesses," depicts the lives of young women struggling to cope in a male chauvinist society.

Leila, who wears the Islamic niqab, or full-face veil, is torn between virtue and vice. She eventually gets murdered and her body is found mutilated.

Alia ends up selling herself to help her family, while Gharam's husband encourages his wife to forge ties with men in high places.

The programme is being aired for the first time during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when many families spend the evening watching television after iftar, the meal that breaks the dawn-to-dusk fast.

But far from avoiding religious subjects, the soap opera confronts them head on, denouncing suicide attacks and satirising the power of Muslim clerics -- some of whom give religious classes to women while intruding on their private lives.

Nor is it sparing on violence, with scenes of stabbing and physical abuse.

One episode shows Leila's fundamentalist brother beating his sister and her friend, despite outwardly condemning such behaviour by others.

In another, Leila is whipped on the orders of the Sheikh for having a sexual liaison.

But there are tender moments too, as when she meets her lover in a disused apartment and lifts her veil, revealing long black hair.

The serial has been controversial as much for the subjects it tackles, and the religious and sexual taboos it challenges, as for the relatively startling scenes and explicit dialogue.

"It is a soap opera that damages Islam. It shows that veiled women get punished," said Motassem, a 30-year-old technician.

But many Syrians are delighted by the new programme.

"It is rare to show such daring scenes on Syrian television," said Rouba, 50, a dermatologist.

"The question I asked myself during the first few episodes was, is this really a Syrian programme?" said Najiba, a teacher. She particularly appreciated the way it exposed what she called a society "dominated by money and hypocrisy."

That is exactly what the series aims to do, said its director Najdat Anzur.

He says he wants "to shed light on the negative aspects" of society, like oppressive religious attitudes, corruption and violence.

"My role is to offer a forum for the moderates," Anzur added, rejecting the accusations that he is undermining Islam.

"We are tackling taboos. It's not the clothes we're interested in, but human behaviour," he told AFP.

Fayez, a 50-year-old journalist, agreed. It is a work that "defends moderation" and "denounces the rise of extremism," he said.

The director said religious critics, who include well-known Damascus cleric Sheikh Said Ramadan al-Buti, have even preached sermons urging Muslims to boycott the show and calling for it to be banned on Arabic TV networks.

Sheikh Buti, who added his voice to those calling for it to be suspended, accused Anzur of committing "gross errors" and of choosing the title of his series in order to ridicule the Koran.

The Koranic verse used for the title refers to slaves, or to people under one's guardianship, and lays down rules on men having sex with such people, but its meaning is the subject of much debate among Muslims.

The programme is currently broadcast on the state-owned Syrian satellite channel and Lebanon's Al-Mustaqbal.

In Syria, which has a largely Muslim population but a secular constitution, the authorities encourage a moderate and apolitical form of Islam.

They recently ordered 1,200 teachers wearing the niqab to be transferred to other public sector jobs and banned the full-face veil in universities.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.
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The managing office of Lebanese singer Haifa Wahbi has released a press release stating that the Lebanese judicial system has made its verdict in the case between Haifa and Lebanese singer Rula Saed over the rights of a song the latter had bought from Haifa’s former business manager. The verdict was in Haifa’s favor and the judge Beirut’s main court stated that Rula is forbidden from performing the song in question in any manner.

Rula on her part filed an appeal to the ruling, but her appeal was denied. Haifa’s former business manager Hamada Ismael had sold the song “Ayh Dah Ayh Dah Al Sawt Dah Jai Minain” (What is this where is this noise coming from) to Rula Saed as a revenge against Haifa for not renewing her contract with him after it ended.

On a different note, Haifa has completed recording a new song titled “Yala Ma’ Ba’d” (Come on Together), which will be released as a single during the upcoming Muslim holiday Eid El Fitr.

The new song is written by Mohamamd Atef, composed by Mohammad Yahia and distributed by Ahmad Ibrahim.  Haifa plans on filming the song in the form of a music video, in addition to including it in her upcoming album once she completes it.

zoolamar.com

Germany`s Next Topmodel is a very favorite talent show especially for girls who want to become stars and begin a new life in favor and wealth. All the girls were very beautiful but as in many other competitions there is just one real winner.

The winner of this year`s competition is Alisar, a very handsome and pretty girl with a real hard background reminding someone of a story form 1001 nights. The young girl from a small town next to Salzburg was not benefitted or favored up to know.

Alisar was seven months when her dad decided to leave his home country Syria to come to Austria with his family. Assuming that they were going on a holiday trip the mother agreed and all went to Austria. After they had arrived their destination the mother got to know that this should now be the new home.

The mother had to manage all things for her and her children because her husband left her and disappeared. The family stood in Austria illegal for a very long time. Later on Alisar visited the secondary modern school to receive a graduation.

Although she began a training in a tourism school she couldn`t finish it because of lack of money. To help her mother and earn a little for the family needs she began working as a saleswoman. On last Thursday all her life changed when she won the beauty competition of Heidi Klum.

Now Alisar became famous and can leave her life in poverty to feel the advantages and benefits of stars. On the one hand all financial problems will now be solved for her and her family but what`s about the family and the family`s life.

Alisar became famous and so she has now many appointments and orders not only in Austria but in whole Europe. Although her mother is very proud of her she also fears to lose her girl in the new world of glamour.

To read the history of Alisars family and all their problems and disadvantages is like reading a fairy tale that now came to a great ending but still includes the possibility of fear especially in the mother`s heart.

The last episode of the German casting show “Deutschland sucht den Superstar” (RTL) finished and the new German superstar gets Mehrzad Marashi – even if Menowin Fröhlich, the second winner of this superstar-show from Germany is as famous as the winner Mehrzad Marashi.

This German casting-show which could be compared to “American Idol” happens every year and Mehrzad Marashi could enter the German Music Charts soon – by the help of the famous Songwriter Dieter Bohlen.

One of the winners from “Deutschland sucht den Superstar”, Fady Maalouf, who finished with the second place in “DSDS” some years ago, released a new music album with the title “Into the Light” and is going to tour through whole Germany.

Fady Maalouf is well-known by a lot of Germans and sure a really good singer in Germany. It is no wonder that his concert tour will be sold out soon. But PRIDE1 offers to win some free tickets for the show of Fady Maalouf in the German city Hamburg on 14. May. So you could win some tickets for Fady Maalouf – a chance for a lot of Germans to see and hear this great singer.

If you are interested in Fady Maalouf and the offered Tickets for his concert in Hamburg you should enter this website from PRIDE1:

http://www.pride1radio.com/index.php/magazin/59-programm/1276-fady-maalouf-live-in-hamburg-pride1-verlost-freikarten

If you are interested in the music from Fady Maalouf you should buy his single or album titled “Into the Light”  - Amazon.de?

The attractive and young Lebanese artist Eleen Khalaf is going to launch a new Arabic music album this summer season that includes about ten songs in the Lebanese, Egyptian and Khaliji (Gulf) dialects.

Eleen will be singing in the Khaliji dialect for the first time on this new album. There will be a duet with an (unknown) Kuwaiti artist on this new release from Eleen Khalaf, too.

Also the wonderful Lebanese singer Eleen Khalaf will film a new video clip for one of her latest Khaliji songs on locations in the United States and Lebanon. A lot of fans from this beautiful Lebanese singer Eleen Kahlaf will be very happy when this new music album is released to the Arabic music world.

The famous Egyptian actress Elham Shaheen was paid 8 million Egyptian pounds for her role in the new Arabic television drama series “Imra’ah Fe Wartah” (Woman in Trouble) like some reports publish it in the media.

The new series with the beautiful Elham Shaheen is produced by Sawt Al Qahirah Production Company and will be sure aired this upcoming Ramadan season in some months.

Elham Shaheen is among the most popular stars and her Ramadan drama series are sought by a number of satellite channels that’s why the production companies are really interested in producing so called Ramadan television drama series with the famous Egyptian actress Elham Shaheen every year.

The new Arabic television drama for the upcoming Ramadan season with the title “Imra’ah Fe Wartah” was written by Ayman Salameh and directed by Omar Abed Al Aziz. The series also stars Abeer Sabri, which means it will sure get a really interesting television series this Ramadan.

Elham Shaheen will appear in the Arabic television drama series “Youmyat Anes” this Ramadan season, too. We are looking forward to Ramadan and these two interesting television drama series with the famous Egyptian actress Elham Shaheen.

The wonderful and famous Lebanese singer Haifa Wahbi validated her popularity in the USA after a really nice and successful concert tour with the artist Toni Kiwan and the comedian Eli Ayoub by her side.

Haifa Wehbe (Wahbi) held a massive concert in Connecticut on the MGM Grand Foxwoods stage on 27. February in front of a lot Arabic and non-Arab fans because a lot of people wanted to see and hear Haifa sing, of course – even in America.

Haifa Wehbe (Wahbe) glowed in her concert performance as the audience interacted with her music like they only do if they are happy to be there and hear such a great voice.

That’s sure one of the points that proved that Haifa Wehbe (Wahbi) had a successful tour in the USA – despite all the skepticism or even critical voices.