Egyptian singer summoned to court over photo with Israeli celebrity — reports

An Egyptian pop star caught on camera with an Israeli celebrity in Dubai has been summoned before a court to explain himself, according to Egyptian media reports.

Mohammad Ramadan, a megastar whose songs have dominated the Egyptian charts for years, did not seem to expect the outrage his selfie with Israeli musician Omer Adam would generate.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Arabic-language page shared the photo, which promptly went viral. In his defense, Ramadan explained on Facebook that he does not care about “religion or citizenship or gender” when someone asks to take a photo with him.

الفن دوما يجمعنا.. عرض الإعلامي الإماراتي حمد المزروعي صورة للنجم المصري محمد رمضان مع المطرب الإسرائيلي عومير آدام في دبي ???????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/sv4X3r5nUb

— إسرائيل بالعربية (@IsraelArabic) November 21, 2020

Ramadan has been accused of “provoking the Egyptian people” and will be brought before a court for a hearing next month.

— Aaron Boxerman