Egyptian court rejects lawsuit to revoke ‘Al-Sitt’ film license

The Egyptian Administrative Court has rejected a lawsuit filed by descendants of the legendary singer Om Kalthoum seeking to revoke the screening license for the film ‘Al-Sitt’. The plaintiffs argued that the film defamed the singer’s reputation and her family.

After viewing the full film, the court ruled that the claims of defamation had ‘no basis in reality’. The judges noted that the film portrays her life journey from her upbringing in Tamay al-Zahayra to her death in Cairo, highlighting the challenges she faced and her contributions to her country. The court emphasized that the film is a dramatic work rather than a documentary, meaning it is not required to match historical facts with absolute precision, as it is ‘inspired by real events’.

The ruling underscored that artistic expression and creativity are constitutionally protected. The court stated that moments of vulnerability depicted in the film do not constitute defamation and that dramatic works possess a degree of creative license. Consequently, the court found no legal grounds to compel the administration to withdraw the license or to grant compensation to the plaintiffs.