The Ban:

Officials at the Kuwaiti Information Ministry have confirmed that its �Censorship Department� has refused a request for a concert during the Muslim holiday Eid Al Fitr for Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram.

A committee member stated that Nancy should not be allowed to sing at public celebrations in Kuwait and supported the Ministry�s decision to ban her. I was told that Egyptian singer Ruby is also banned from performing in Kuwait.

Welcome onboard, Kuwait (previously Morocco).

Al Hejran:

The organizers of the reality TV program �Al Wadi� (The Ranch) have announced that they received a formal letter from the managing office of Lebanese singer Haifa Wahbi informing them of her withdrawal from the show.

Haifa�s departure from the �Ranch� was filmed live and she had requested the camera man to stop filming saying �If you are filming me pack stop, I want to leave, I am fed up and want to be alone.� The singer left her room at the ranch in tears seeking solitude and some peace of mind.

Ya 7aram!

And Kan Zaman:

Once more, photographs of Lebanese singer Alissa are splashed across Western magazines, after winning the �2005 World Music Award� for highest record sales in the Middle East and Northern Africa. Alissa is the first Arab to receive the prestigious award.

But this time it was not Alissa�s accomplishments as a singer that drew the attention of American magazine �US,� instead it was to compare the dress she wore to the awards ceremony to the same one worn by American pop star Jennifer Lopez at an event in New York.

Wallahe it looks better on Elissa. Kan Zaman ya Jenny, you are getting old!

I can't believe I'm writing about all this :-)

The Habalan:

Well, actually when I came across these stories today, they reminded me of the headline on Al-Arabiya (in Arabic) that these ladies are serious threat to the Israel:

Official Israeli report (by the General Agency for Israeli Cinema and Arts, September 2) denounced Nancy Ajram, Hayfa Wehbi, Maria and other Lebanese popstars as posing a destructive and serious threat to the Israeli state because of their �political activities which have great influence in the Arab world due to their great popularity.�

Well, I like to believe what the Israeli report said. In fact I believe that they are "destructive", but to Israel?

Hence, I've decided to promote these brigade artists. Who knows, we might get our rights and occupied lands on their hands one day!

Long live Nancy, Haifa, Maria, Elissa, Marwa, Khadejeh (Future SuperStar), etc...