‘Banning is no solution': Conflicting reports in Egypt over if controversial film 'The Atheist' is banned

Contradictory reports have marred the much-awaited Egyptian film Al-Molhed (The Atheist), written by prominent author Ibrahim Eissa—after its premiere initially set for this Wednesday —has been suspended for the fourth time since the controversial project began about three years ago.

"Thought should be met with, though. It is for people to judge," the film director Mohamed El-Adl posted on his Facebook page on Monday, after positing a day prior, "Banning is no solution."

The film release has been postponed for almost two years despite being completed, according to a previous social media post by El-Adl.

The film set off heated debates on Egyptian social media over the past few weeks after viewers were given brief insight into its theme and plot.

Citing the film crew, local news outlets reported that the movie depicts how experiences of religious fanaticism can trigger converse reactions, such as atheism and opposition to religion.

The film reportedly tells the tale of a protagonist named Yahia, performed by Ahmed Hatem, who is raised by an extremist Sheikh who opposes religious tolerance. Yahia, experiencing ultraconservative ideas and extremism around him, starts having doubts about his faith, eventually turning into a disbeliever, which leads his father and other fellow fanatics to force him to atone for his sin or else face imminent death as a punishment.

Though the trailer only gives a general idea of the main plot, it has intrigued many to watch and learn more about debates commonly raised inside Egyptian society over the past decade between secularists and religious fundamentalists on renewing religious discourse.

Several lawyers and religious extremists expressed intention to file complaints before the prosecutor-general to demand the film's suspension before its official release at cinemas on the grounds of "promoting atheism".

However, the film producer Karim El-Sobky was quoted by local newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm as saying, on Monday, that the film had sustained technical issues requiring two weeks to fix.

A renowned filmmaker, who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the subject, begs to differ.

"A movie is usually ready for screening long before that. It is quite illogical for any technical errors to emerge in the post-production phase shortly before handing in copies to cinemas," the filmmaker argued.

Neither Adl nor Sobky could be reached for comment at the publication time.

Egypt witnessed a crucial transformation as of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s when many Egyptians migrated to Gulf countries—especially Saudi Arabia—to find work, with some being influenced by the extremist Wahhabi doctrine.

Whether the film in question has been suspended remains unclear. But the ongoing discussions about it may have earned it significant free publicity.