NP Rank:
Iran's film on President Anwar Sadat: the 'Assassination of a Pharaoh'
Iran's documentary film 'Assassination of a Pharaoh' on the assassination of President Anwar Sadat arouse anger and protest in Egypt. 70 millions 'Nuclear Iranians' are confronting 75 millions 'Non Nuclear Egyptians' on a documentary propaganda film. Who knows what will trigger president Mubarak to have his own bomb.
Here is a quote from YNET;
...."Sadat family enraged over 'traitor' label in Iranian film
Tehran documentary glorifies assassin of late President Anwar Sadat as martyr who killed 'traitor'Under the sensationalist title of 'Assassination of a Pharaoh' – a new Iranian film exalting the assassination of late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat has stirred outrage in Cairo.
Recently screened on the sidelines of a festival organized by the Committee for Commemoration of Martyrs of the Global Islamic Movement in Iran, the film has generated considerable heat amongst Egyptian scholars and filmmakers. Incensed, Sadat's family has also vocally rejected the film and is reportedly considering a lawsuit against the Iranian producers."..... see here
Here is a report by Egyptian daily 'Al-Masri Al-Youm' on Sunday:
....."6/7/2008
The project of Iranian film 'the execution of the pharaoh' about the assassination of the late President Anwar Sadat stirred wide controversy among Egyptian pundits and cinema professionals, as well as Sadat's family.They all expressed their indignation of the Iranian film, which was showed on the sidelines of the festival of the international committee to honor martyrs of Islamic renaissance.
The film of the execution of the pharaoh points out that the reason of assassination is that the 'traitor', as the film describes the late president, signed Camp David treaty.
The film showed what he called the 'revolutionary assassination of the Egyptian traitor president by the martyr Khalid Islambouli'. The one-hour film displayed testimonies of politicians and security experts of the incident and parts of the assassination process.
Sadat's family, meanwhile, threatened to sue the producers of the Iranian film. Ruqaia Sadat, daughter of late president, said to al-Masry al-Youm that film producers should have taken the prior approval of the family. She stressed that any slander will be met with a strong reaction.
Talaat Sadat, niece of late president, criticized Iran and said that all Tehran's actions toward the late president are 'magian'; and that producing a film like that is a wicked attempt to tarnish the image of the man and falsify history.
Pundits and cinema professionals expressed their indignation of the film. Mamdouh el-Leithi, chief of cinema syndicate, described the Iranian film as 'impolite' and said; "The film shows lies."
He indicated; "Iranians should reconsider showing the film, as Sadat was a real hero; had it not been for Sadat, we would not have restored Sinai. What Sadat achieved with Israel is now sought by Syria, Palestine and other states which objected to Sadat's decision. Sadat was rather the most courageous as he went to the Knesset.
Scenarist Wahid Hamid said; "The film is for propaganda and should not be treated as an artistic work. It is produced based on a state's politics. This is the Iranian's point of view for so long, as they named one of the streets after Islambouli".
He added; "The Iranian film does not need a diplomatic response, but rather an artistic work to refute such claims". He expected that the film clamor will end within the next days.
For his side, a top leader of the Islamic group organization, which participated in the assassination of Sadat, declared the organization rejection of describing Sadat as traitor, stressing that he was the great man of October victory. He said that Khalid Islambouli, killer of Sadat, was a righteous man and killed the president thinking it was the right thing.
But the group sees now that if days were to come back, such things would have never happened. He added that Sadat was the only president who gave great freedom on his own to Islamic movements but the movement did not utilize such freedom at best.
Almasry, Alyoum,Iranian film, Anwar Sadat,Egypt,traitor,lies,propaganda,".....see here.
Are these the new Iran-Egyptian talks?
UPDATE, 9 Jul 2008 . Iran take an apologetical stance.
..."‘Assassination of the Pharaoh’ not Iran’s official stance
Tehran Times Political DeskTEHRAN – An informed official at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said the Iranian movie praising the assassin of late Egyptian president does not represent Tehran’s official stance.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the head of the Iranian representation in Cairo to protest a documentary film called “Assassination of the Pharaoh” which glorified the killer of late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat."....
...."The documentary has been produced by a private organization… and does not represent Iran’s official stance,” the official, who requested anonymity, told the Mehr News Agency.
Given the freedom of speech in Iran, private organizations do not necessarily speak for the government on different issues, he stated.
He asserted that Iranian leaders are determined to expand brotherly relations with Egypt based on mutual respect".... see here.





Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (18)
at 14:24 on July 6th, 2008
korzac, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 14:32 on July 6th, 2008
isn't this a lot more inflammatory than a cartoon?
at 14:42 on July 6th, 2008
This angers me too. I greatly admired Sadat. He did so much that is so unappreciated in his own country. But I can understand their fury at Iran's insult. Hey, he was theirs.
at 23:08 on July 6th, 2008
Pseudo non official Iran ( the documentary), appropriated Sadat's killer as his own martyr. Well this a new sort of import. My bet is that the whole dispute will fade away and that they will find a way for an appeasement.
Rene, thanks for the comments and the GS.
at 21:11 on July 6th, 2008
korzac, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 23:17 on July 6th, 2008
Barry, in your subsequent reply you clarified the 'bad saying' situation.
Thanks for the comments and the GS.
at 22:00 on July 6th, 2008
ekh!
i don't like you bad say for my land!iran
at 22:31 on July 6th, 2008
Baiadha, they are not saying bad things about the Iranian People, they are commenting on the Politicians, not the people. There is a difference.
at 22:46 on July 6th, 2008
baiadha, quoting what the Egyptian and Israeli newspaper publish is news and information not 'bad saying.'
As for my own introductory words, they are perhaps ironic and with some humor, but by no means 'bad saying'. Anyway, if I offended you, this was not my intention.
at 05:59 on July 7th, 2008
Sadat was a leader that took great risk in leading Arab nations toward peace. Taking that risk made him a good man. His assassination was a tragic lost to a world that so much needed more men of his character and commitment.
at 09:25 on July 17th, 2008
urbano411, I hope that more Arab leaders, not scarred by extremists, will fulfill what's the best for their people.
Thanks for the comment.
at 15:13 on July 8th, 2008
Where can I find the movie?
at 14:23 on July 12th, 2008
As soon as I heard about the film but haven't seen it. I hope to see it to feel how great Sadat was, how witty he was, how brave he was, how patriotic he was, how loving he was. I see that Sadat exceeds his peers more than forty years as they try but very little to achieve what he did after our defeat in 1967. They breathe hard to achieve even 1%100 of what he did. Those who call him a traitor, they themselves are traitorous against peace. he was a good example of a peace-maker, decision maker and prosperity achiever. The best reply against those who made this film is that we (Egyptian institutions) make a film for Sadat as the peace-maker who delivered Allah's message on earth i.e. making peace.
at 09:05 on July 17th, 2008
Yasser Wahba, I quote you "The best reply against those who made this film is that we (Egyptian institutions) make a film for Sadat as the peace-maker who delivered Allah's message on earth i.e. making peace."... This is a good point.
Thanks for the comment.
at 23:33 on July 15th, 2008
Sadat was and still the greatest Arabian leader for long years , my brothers in Islam , and in Arabic world, make your mind think abit , about the man who beated Israel, and told them his famous warning words on their land at their home , Sadat was brave man , if you would like to know the real Sadat go to Sinai in Egypt, see what he indeed did and achieved,I have honor to be Egyptian , one of people born on time Sadat was our leader
at 09:01 on July 17th, 2008
mfarahat, I fully agree with you. He did the right thing at the right time, and showed the world how bitter conflicts can come to an end, to the benefit of Egypt and Israel.
Thanks for the comment
at 02:20 on July 19th, 2008
hi ,inorder to create a fair judgement about president we need toseek knowledge from different sources ( like TV documentry channels, Books from well know writters,..etc) and seek general feedback from different people who u know and trust their opinions.
Ingeneral i think he did a lot in term of october war and taking decision for war , he managed to collect all arab for the first time and one decision and he got all their support.He took right descision to go for peace process and he opened the country infront of foreign investments.
In the mean time, he managed to to broke arab union by taking peace descision solely (although it was right descision) and he managed war in very bad manner using his political skills not based on military calc. which was not appreciated by his military leaders.
During his age specially his last 5 years he arrested all people against his way ( musleims, christians,..etc). He was soo keen on foreign investments so he gave more facilities than it should be and the benifit of these investments went mainly to his closest family / friends to support him.The main issue is he destroies all big manufacturing insitituation that was built in nasser age and before.
it will be good to read who killed him and what was reason behind it to create fair judgement about him.
at 21:22 on July 19th, 2008
MM, with in the background the release and screening of the 'Assassination of a Pharaoh' in Iran, the discussion about president Anwar Sadat achievements on his presidency term until his assassination, as you tell it is interesting. Thanks for the comment.