In bold statements that brought renewed attention to one of the most serious societal issues, Egyptian artist Bushra revealed painful details about her personal experiences with harassment, stressing that this suffering was the main driving force behind her enthusiasm for producing and starring in the film “678”, which was produced in 2010 and caused a wide uproar at the time.

Details of the three harassment incidents

During her appearance on the "Secrets" program, which airs on Al-Nahar TV, Bushra bitterly recounted three instances of harassment she experienced at different ages. The story began in her childhood, specifically in elementary school, when she was harassed while riding a bus to a private lesson.

That wasn't the only incident in her childhood. Bushra recounted another that occurred while she was on her way to learn to play the piano. "I faced a terrifying situation in one of Cairo's streets," she said. "A man chased me and tried to catch me, but I managed to escape thanks to my speed." She described her escape by saying, "I slipped right through his legs.".

The third and most shocking incident occurred within her artistic work environment, where she revealed that she had been subjected to harassment attempts by some individuals in the industry, specifically a producer and a journalist. She described the seriousness of the situation, which once led her to take refuge in the bathroom and call a friend to rescue her from an attempted assault that nearly ended in disaster.

The film "678": Art confronts reality

Bushra emphasized that the film "678" was not merely a fleeting cinematic work, but rather a cry against societal silence regarding the issue of harassment. Written and directed by Mohamed Diab, the film is considered one of the first Egyptian cinematic works to address the phenomenon of sexual harassment directly and explicitly, portraying the suffering of women from different social classes.

Bushra revealed a strange incident that occurred during the filming of the movie, as the crew was subjected to actual harassment situations during the filming of scenes of gathering in the street, which prompted the intervention of the director, Mohamed Diab, personally to protect the actresses, in addition to using the police forces to control the situation, which proves the realism of the issue raised by the work.

The importance of work and its societal impact

Bushra's statement takes on particular significance given the historical context of the film "678." When it was released in 2010, discussing harassment was considered taboo in Egyptian society. The film played a major role in breaking the silence and encouraging women to report harassers, paving the way for societal and legal discussions that later led to stricter penalties for harassment in Egyptian law.

The film received widespread international acclaim and won awards at international festivals for its success in conveying a realistic picture of the suffering of Egyptian women, and for emphasizing the need to confront this phenomenon with awareness and firmness, a message that Bushra continues to emphasize to this day.

Saba Mubarak praised the exceptional artistic career of Tunisian star Hend Sabri , describing her as the best and most successful Arab actress in breaking into the Egyptian market and leaving an indelible mark on the public's conscience.

Certificate of appreciation in "Snakes and Ladders"

Saba Mubarak's remarks came during her guest appearance on the program "The Ladder and the Snake," where she emphasized that Hend Sabry's achievements in Egypt were not merely fleeting success, but rather the establishment of a unique artistic school. Saba stated, "Hend Sabry possesses an exceptionally rich experience and broad cultural background, and she has honed her talent by collaborating with leading directors in Egypt, enabling her to leave a clear and powerful mark on both Egyptian drama and cinema.".

Mubarak added, explaining the reasons for this excellence: “Hind’s success was not a coincidence, but rather the result of continuous effort and precise and intelligent artistic choices that contributed to establishing her position as one of the most important first-class stars in the Egyptian market,” considering that Hind Sabri’s experience is “the model that should be emulated” for any Arab artist who aspires to work and succeed in “the Hollywood of the East.”.

Hend Sabri: A journey of rise from Tunisia to the top of the Egyptian pyramid

Saba Mubarak's praise comes within a historical context that underscores Egypt's status as a nurturing ground for Arab talent. Hend Sabry, since her early days at the beginning of the new millennium, has been able to overcome the barrier of dialect and fully integrate into Egyptian society. Her bold journey began with renowned directors such as Inas El-Degheidy and Daoud Abdel Sayed, after which she seamlessly transitioned between serious cinema and comedy, eventually reaching television dramas that have become household names in Egypt.

Hend Sabri's success is a phenomenon worthy of study. She didn't simply rely on being a "beautiful face" from Tunisia; she boldly and realistically addressed deeply personal Egyptian social issues (such as spinsterhood and divorce), making the Egyptian public see her as "one of them." This complete integration is what Saba Mubarak pointed out as the true measure of success in the highly competitive Egyptian market.

Details of the series "220 Days"

On another note, regarding her latest artistic endeavors, Saba Mubarak continues to strengthen her presence in Egyptian drama through her new series, "220 Days ." The series is written by Mahmoud Zahran and directed by Karim El-Adl.

Saba Mubarak stars in this highly anticipated drama alongside Karim Fahmy, as well as a distinguished cast including Ali Tayeb, the veteran actress Hanan Suleiman, and the star Aida Riyad. Audiences eagerly await the series, which is expected to offer a unique social drama, adding to Saba Mubarak's impressive portfolio of successful projects in recent years.

In a surprising turn of events within the Egyptian Musicians Syndicate, the syndicate decided to postpone referring artist Helmy Abdel-Baqi, the syndicate's first deputy, to the disciplinary board. The hearing was scheduled for today, Sunday, but the decision to postpone it until March 10th was issued just hours before the scheduled time, without any official statement explaining the reasons behind this sudden postponement.

Helmy Abdel Baqi's shock and the behind-the-scenes details of the crisis

Artist Helmy Abdel-Baqi expressed his profound astonishment at the decision to refer him to the disciplinary board, emphasizing in media statements that he had not been officially notified of this procedure and that he was unaware of the true motives behind it. Abdel-Baqi described what was happening as a systematic attempt to remove him from the union scene and from the board of directors, especially after his resounding success in the Musicians' Syndicate elections and his gaining the confidence of the general assembly.

During his appearance on a television program with journalist Tamer Abdel Moneim, Abdel Baqi categorically denied committing any violations that would warrant disciplinary action. He also addressed the rumors circulating about the existence of audio recordings attributed to him containing insults against the head of the syndicate, Mustafa Kamel, asserting that these allegations are completely baseless and unfounded, and are merely tools used in internal conflicts.

A history of union conflicts

This incident once again highlights the administrative instability that the Musicians Syndicate experiences from time to time. Historically, the syndicate has witnessed numerous internal conflicts and power struggles between council members and the syndicate president at various times, often impacting the syndicate's operations. The relationship between the president and council members is a cornerstone of the syndicate's stability, and any rift in this relationship negatively affects the services provided to musicians.

The importance and impact of the event

This crisis is particularly significant given Helmy Abdel-Baqi's stature as an artist with a long history and his position as the union's first deputy, making his referral for disciplinary action an unusual event in the artistic community. The music scene in Egypt and the Arab world is eagerly awaiting the outcome of the March 10th hearing, as the results of this investigation could reshape the union's administrative structure. Observers fear that these disputes could disrupt the interests of its members and undermine the union's fundamental role in protecting musicians' rights and promoting public taste.