The film “Barshama” sparked widespread controversy in Egypt and on digital platforms, prompting the Global Fatwa Index (affiliated with Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah) to issue an analytical report on the dimensions of the crisis. This coincided with an urgent parliamentary move by the Nour Party demanding the film’s screening be halted.
The “Fatwa Trends” bulletin, issued by Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah for May, revealed that the controversy surrounding “Barshama” topped the list of “religious trends” with a 28% engagement rate, following its release on a digital platform and the widespread sharing of its clips on TikTok.
The index explained that public reactions were divided into two main camps. The first, representing conservative views (40% negative reaction), saw the film as a “sinful audacity” against sacred figures and religious symbols due to the inclusion of the names of the four imams (such as Abu Hanifa and Ahmad ibn Hanbal) in comedic jokes, as well as its portrayal of religious figures as “ignorant and backward.”
The second group, the pro-filing crowd (50% positive reaction), considered the film a legitimate social critique against “superficial religiosity” and the exploitation of religion, while the remaining audience remained neutral.
On the political front, the head of the Al-Nour Party’s parliamentary bloc submitted an urgent statement to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Counselor Hisham Badawi, demanding the immediate suspension of the film’s screening.
The statement was also addressed to Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Culture Dr. Gihan Zaki, and the head of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, Khaled Abdel Aziz, accusing the filmmakers of transgressing and committing a sinful audacity against established religious principles and sacred values.
It is worth noting that the film stars a number of prominent actors, including Hisham Maged, Mustafa Gharib, Hatem Salah, Bassem Samra, Fadwa Abed, Kamal Abu Raya, Arfa Abdel Rasoul, and Walid Fawaz. The work is written by the trio Khaled Diab, Sherine Diab and Ahmed El Zoghbi, directed by Khaled Diab, and produced by Sky Limit and Film Square.
