Saudi woman Hissa Hilal uses a television poetry contest (The Million’s Poet) to criticize Muslim clerics, and was viewed as a response to “as a response to Sheik Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak, a prominent cleric in Saudi Arabia who recently issued a fatwa saying those who call for the mingling of men and women should be considered infidels, punishable by death.”
Hissal Hilal has since received death threats. The National reports that “The Saudi newspaper Al Watan reported that a member of the Ana al Muslim (I am the Muslim) website – which has previously posted videos about al Qa’eda operations – called for Ms Hilal’s death. One member was quoted by the newspaper as posting the message: ‘Can anyone tell me her address?'”
NDTV also reported that “Her poem got loud cheers from the audience and won her a place in the competition’s finals, to be aired on Wednesday.”
Hissa Hilal’s poetry reading on television has been translated to include the following verses:
“I have seen evil from the eyes of the subversive fatwas in a time when what is lawful is confused with what is not lawful;”
“When I unveil the truth, a monster appears from his hiding place; barbaric in thinking and action, angry and blind; wearing death as a dress and covering it with a belt [referring to suicide bombing];”
“He speaks from an official, powerful platform, terrorizing people and preying on everyone seeking peace; the voice of courage ran away and the truth is cornered and silent, when self-interest prevented one from speaking the truth.”
AP reports:
— “Protesting in verse: A Saudi woman criticizes Muslim clerics’ in a TV poetry contest”
— “It was a startling voice of protest at a startling venue. Covered head-to-toe in black, a Saudi woman lashed out at hard-line Muslim clerics’ harsh religious edicts in verse on live TV at a popular Arabic version of ‘American Idol.'”
— “Then last week, Hissa Hilal, only her eyes visible through her black veil, delivered a blistering poem against Muslim preachers “who sit in the position of power” but are “frightening” people with their fatwas, or religious edicts, and ‘preying like a wolf’ on those seeking peace.”
— “Her poem got loud cheers from the audience and won her a place in the competition’s finals, to be aired on Wednesday.”
— “It also brought her death threats, posted on several Islamic militant Web sites.”
— “Her poem was seen as a response to Sheik Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak, a prominent cleric in Saudi Arabia who recently issued a fatwa saying those who call for the mingling of men and women should be considered infidels, punishable by death.”
— “But more broadly, it was seen as addressing any of many hard-line clerics in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the region who hold a wide influence through television programs, university positions or Web sites.”
— “‘Killing a human being is so easy for them, it is always an option,’ she told the AP.”
— AFP: “Veiled Saudi poet rises to stardom after bashing clerics”
See also:
Saudi Cleric Calls for Gender Segregation or Death: Shaikh Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak
