Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women

Soheir el-Babli, a prominent figure on the Cairo stage, suddenly quit her successful career to adopt the Islamic veil. This act was part of a larger trend among female artists, including belly dancers, singers, and actresses, who left their professions for religious reasons, often appearing on television to announce their decisions and adopt the veil publicly. Shams al-Barudi, one of the first to veil, bought the rights to her old films to prevent their future showing, raising questions about the funding for such an endeavor. Sahar Hamdi (See: Key Figures), a prominent and successful belly dancer in Cairo, decided to retire from the stage for religious reasons. Brooks discusses the speculation surrounding the motivations behind these retirements, with some suggesting financial incentives from Saudi sources and others pointing to fear of religious extremists.

This wave of resignations sparked a backlash from the artistic community, leading to a critical examination of religiously-motivated retirements and fundamentalist pressure on entertainment. Nawal Saadawi, a prominent feminist and critic of distorted Islamic teachings, offered a cynical view, suggesting that the retirements were a way for artists past their prime to exit in a blaze of publicity. Saadawi’s own experiences, including threats from Islamic Jihad and eventual exile, underscore the growing danger for outspoken individuals in the arts and literature.