Egyptian clerics want belly-dancing reality TV show banned

Egypt's top religious body has demanded that a new belly-dancing television show be suspended for "corrupting morals" and serving "extremists" who could use it as a pretext to depict Egyptian society as anti-Islamic.

The call on Wednesday by Dar al-Ifta, the top body that advises Muslims on religious and life issues, follows others criticising the show Dancer. But the debate is not all about it being too racy for television, but part of a concerted effort by Egypt's government to show it is challenging Islamists as a political force while still respecting the country's more conservative values.

Dancer aired only once on the Cairo and People satellite network. A famous belly dancer known as Dina was on a three-member panel that chose the most talented dancers, many of whom were not Egyptians.

In an advertisement, the network said the winner would receive the title "the best belly dancer in the world". The contestants were also depicted squabbling in the tradition of Western reality shows.

The network said it had postponed the show's second episode because the country was mourning the killing of members of the security forces in a militant attack on the Sinai peninsula.

In its statement, Dar al-Ifta said the show "serves extremists who take such matters as a justification to promote the idea that society is fighting religion".