“Al-Sitt” is permissible, legally

Egypt’s Administrative Court has settled the controversy surrounding the film “Al-Sitt” (The Lady), which depicts the life of Umm Kulthum, the “Lady of Arab Song.” The court rejected a lawsuit seeking to revoke the film’s license and halt its distribution on the grounds that it defamed the artist and her family.

Actress Mona Zaki portrays the late “Star of the East,” Umm Kulthum, in “Al-Sitt,” which was produced and released in Egypt in 2026.

The Third Chamber of the Administrative Court, presided over by Counselor Dr. Fathi Muhammad Sayed Helal, Vice President of the State Council, ruled to dismiss the lawsuit and ordered the plaintiffs to bear the costs and attorney’s fees.

After viewing the entire film, the court stated that the plaintiffs’ claims that the work defamed Umm Kulthum and her reputation “have no basis in reality.” The court affirmed that the film chronicles her journey from her origins in the village of Tamai al-Zahira to her death in Cairo, focusing on the difficulties and challenges she faced at the beginning of her artistic career before she achieved her prominent status in Egypt and the Arab world.

The court clarified that the film also addressed aspects of Umm Kulthum’s relationship with her father and brother, as well as her role in serving her country. It considered the overall portrayal of the artist and her family in the work to be positive, noting that the inclusion of scenes depicting moments of weakness or vulnerability does not necessarily constitute defamation or diminish her stature.

The court emphasized that “Al-Sitt” is a dramatic work, not a documentary, and therefore it is not required that all its details and dialogues align strictly with historical facts. Instead, it is sufficient that the content is derived from reality and engages with it, especially since the creators stated from the outset that the film is “inspired by true events.”

The court further noted that dramatic works inherently possess a degree of imagination and creativity in portraying characters and events. It held that the film’s content falls within the scope of artistic freedom of expression protected by the constitution, and cannot be treated as absolute historical truth or a documentary reference for Umm Kulthum’s life.

Several of Umm Kulthum’s grandchildren had filed the lawsuit, demanding the revocation of the film’s license and the cessation of its screening. They objected to what they considered defamation of the “Lady of Arab Song” and her family’s reputation. The lawsuit followed a wave of controversy surrounding the work since its announcement and release to the public.