Egyptian playwright not allowed to go to Israel

From the Jerusalem Post

Ali Salem, an activist and playwright, was not permitted to leave for Israel by the Egyptians. The Egyptians say Salem did not have the proper travel documents. He had visited Israel more than ten times previously. He was going to receive an honorary degree from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev at the 35th annual Board of Governors meeting.

Salem plays are well known for attacking aspects of Egyptian society. He also wrote My Journey to Israel.

The following excerpt from his book was read aloud at the conference while his chair remained empty:

"I have no illusions as to what awaits me in Cairo; I know what I will confront. There is no limit to the pain felt by most people when you suddenly raise their curtain of illusions and lies. However, after the storm subsides, younger generations may think of my trip calmly and discover what I want them to discover – that the condition of mental war is defective and it obscures from us the sun of freedom and development. Between us and Israel there are no minefields, only the paved roads that I traveled."

Reform is desperately needed in the Middle East. I sincerely hope that his words and plays will lift the "curtain of illusions" and confront the younger generation and prompt them to call for reform. If his plays and his book can make them begin to think, truly think about what is going around them, maybe they will learn not to be afraid of the open exchange of ideas and beliefs. That with open exchange of ideas and respect of others, development will come: economic development, human rights, freedom of religion, individual rights.