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...

Jordan's Ministry of Culture rejected Islamists' requests to ban two Arab women singers from entering Jordan because of their allegedly provocative videos.

Culture Minister Amin Mahmoud rejected the request by the Islamic Movement to prohibit Egyptian singer - Ruby and Lebanese singer - Maria from participating in a local festivals.

The Jordanian Islamists cited moral and ethical reasons for their request. Despite the heated opposition voiced by Islamist Parliament members, who were backed by a number of local newspapers, over Ruby's performance, sources from the administration of the festival asserted that there were no cancellations. Sources added that Jordan is a country that has never forbidden artists from entering and the audiences are the ones who decide who they want to listen to despite opposing views of some politicians.

The two singers are known for their physically provocative shows, which are largely popular among Arab youth. They have been harshly criticized in Egypt, where parliament members asked to ban the broadcast of their shows.

Islamists in Jordan strongly denounce local festivals which use international performers, saying such activities encourage poor morality. A member of parliament argued that Ruby's performance at the festival is a source of corruption for Jordanian youth, who attend such events, and criticized the government for allowing singers like Ruby to enter the country.