(DNE/ Hassan Amin)
Refusing the apology offered by Sawy Culturewheel, Samah Farouk called Tuesday for a protest outside the venue in Zamalek, in condemnation of the ban on her cartoons from an annual exhibition.
Farouk claims the cartoons were banned for being critical of the Muslim Brotherhood, the newly passed constitution an
d President Mohamed Morsy. She was, nevertheless, told that her cartoons were removed from the exhibition for being “substandard.”
Mohamed El-Sawy, the Culturewheel founder, has apologised for banning the cartoons. He called it an error caused by an employee, vowing that it would not happen again and inviting Farouk to display her cartoons.
Farouk said: “I do not accept this apology.” She added that the apology didn’t come until calls for a protest condemning the ban were made. Farouk announced she is boycotting the Culturewheel’s exhibitions from now on.
“I’m an artist who produces substandard cartoons not worthy of being displayed in your prestigious Culturewheel,” Farouk said in reply to El-Sawy’s invitation.
Farouk, alongside a small number of sympathisers, painted graffiti and hung banners outside the venue condemning El-Sawy and expressing her refusal to succumb to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Farouk said: “I think El-Sawy banned my cartoons as a token of friendship to the Muslim Brotherhood.”
“This protest is a message to those in power alongside the Muslim Brotherhood; we will not allow the Brotherhoodisation of the state.”
She called on Egypt’s innovators to support her and “prevent gagging.” She added that the Sawy Culturewheel doesn’t only belong to El-Sawy, stating that it was the creative youth who helped build the cultural hub’s reputation over the years.
Ahram journalist Mohamed Rizk was among those who took part in the protest. He stated that the media is currently facing a major crackdown, ranging from the confiscation of news papers to referring journalists and anchors to investigation.
Farouk has previously participated in a Culturewheel exhibition. Her cartoons were part of year-ender exhibition in 2011. Most of her works criticised Former President Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted in February 2011.
El-Sawy has previously been the recipient of criticism for representing Egyptian churches in the Constituent Assembly, despite their withdrawal and without their approval, a move that was seen by many opposition figures to be an endorsement of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Additional reporting by Omar El-Adl
