Former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat
צילום: יעקב סער, לע"מ
Sadat family sues over dog named after former president
Daughter of former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat enraged over screening of American movie with character's dog named after late father, demands film be pulled from Egyptian theatres
A new American film character's dog named after the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat has angered many Egyptians, and in particular the late president's daughter, who took the matter to court on Thursday, demanding the film be removed from local theatres.
The film, titled "I love you, man" shows one of the main characters, Peter, walking along with his dog and telling his friend he named it: "Anwar Sadat: after Anwar Sadat, the former president of Egypt".
When asked whether this is because he admires Sadat's policies, the character replies: "No, because they look exactly alike" and the film cuts to a shot of the dog.
This scene enraged the former leader's family and many Egyptians; with many local bloggers complaining about the film saying it is an insult to their country and their former president's reputation.
The al-Arabiya network reported on Thursday that the late president's daughter Rukiya Sadat filed a lawsuit against Egyptian Minister of Information Anas el-Fiqqi.
The suit, filed by attorney Samir Sabri, demands an immediate halt of the screening of the film that "defames President Anwar Sadat's reputation. The film also harms Egypt and its standing in the Middle East, and I am certain this was intentional degradation," the lawyer said.
On Wednesday, Egyptian media reported that Sadat's daughter also demanded an inquiry into the showing of the film and asked the US embassy for an apology. Her attorney also filed a claim demanded all copies of the film currently being played in Egypt be handed over to him.
A memo was also sent to all the relevant legal bodies calling on them to take all the necessary steps to stop the film's screening.
Meanwhile, Sadat's nephew Talaat Sadat reacted differently to the movie, and told Egyptian newspaper al-Shuruq: "It's just a commercial film that is not worthy of a response."
He said he knows what the film includes, but would rather not address it since it is nothing more than a commercial film based on a comedy. "It's enough for us that the late President Anwar Sadat is so well known to the American people, to the point where one of the films uses his name in a comedy."
Talaat also addressed the Egyptian culture minister and heads of the local film industry urging them to produce movies that document the works of former presidents, to ensure that future generations are education on their country's past.
This would also serve as a suitable response to western and Iranian films that portray Egypt and its symbols in a negative light, he said, also referring to an Iranian film released last year titled 'Assassination of a Pharaoh' that exalts the assassination of his late uncle.
