A GROUP of Muslim scholars in Lebanon yesterday forced the cancellation of a planned performance by a Brazilian samba troupe in the southern coastal city of Tyre on moral and religious grounds.
Sheikh Ali Yassin, one of 50 religious leaders who had called for the cancellation, told AFP:
This is a pornographic dance group that goes against our ethics. We fear that once they start dancing nude in the streets, there will be trouble. Our society will not accept such a parade.
A samba dancer lets loose during the Rio-Style Samba Parade during the 11th Annual Brazilian Street Carnival at Long Beach California. Photo by Lawrie Margrave
He added:
The city of Tyre is a city of resistance and its history is that of a conservative Muslim city.
According to this report, the Brazilian troupe has been performing throughout Lebanon since September 23 as part of a festival and planned a final performance in Tyre on Thursday evening.
Roberto Medeiros, ministerial adviser and cultural attache at the Brazilian embassy in Beirut, said that measures had been taken to respect the sensitivities of the mainly Muslim population in Tyre, including having the dancers cover their bodies rather than perform in skimpy clothes.
We met with the local authorities and informed them that the dancers would dress respectfully with all their bodies covered.
Yassin, however, said he had been shown photographs of the costumes and still deemed them inappropriate.
Seems like nothing less than a burqua would have been acceptable.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:08 am
"We met with the local authorities and informed them that the dancers would dress respectfully with all their bodies covered."
In that case what's the point?
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:19 pm
'We don't do tolerance'.
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:24 pm
What's the point, indeed!! It baffles the imagination that a Samba troupe would be allowed into the country at all, even though I'm sure lots of people would and did enjoy the shows.
October 3rd, 2009 at 3:47 pm
But how do we know those mass demonstrations of women in Iran aren't all undercover samba dancers?
October 3rd, 2009 at 5:33 pm
They are such twisted sickos – I'm glad they will have no enjoyment in their miserable bitter hate-filled lives.
The clerics – not the samba dancers BTW.
)
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Oh, dear! Sheikh Ali Yassin has been caught out : I Shily Shake – A Sin!!
October 4th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I have often thought that it is fun to sit back and watch as the religious wallow in their own self inflicted misery. The problem being that they never tire of trying to drag everyone else down the U-bend with them.
October 4th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
I can just imagine it – taking off one burqah after another, like a lot of Russian Dolls!
October 4th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Indeed – that is their fundament – based problem. They are all arse holes.
October 4th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
"There will be trouble" – only when your lot start it!