Egyptian singer Ruby is facing a new lawsuit against her, this time by music distributor Ahmad Al Jabali demanding 5 million Egyptian pounds in compensation from the singer. Ahmad stressed that Ruby had signed a contract with him in 1997 giving him full rights to all her entertainment activities, and making any other contract signed since that period invalid.
According to the London based daily, Al Sharq Al Awsat, the contract has been automatically extended for five years, based on a condition in the contract that states an extension for five years will be made unless one of the two parties states otherwise. Neither Ruby nor Ahmad had requested otherwise and so the extension occurred giving Ahmad rights to Ruby’s activities until the year 2009.
On her part Ruby refused to give out any comments regarding the lawsuit. The singer added that she will leave the matter for the court to decide, and she is hopeful a verdict will be reached in her favor.
Ruby is also scheduled to stand trial after being accused of practicing the profession of singing without obtaining a permit from the Egyptian Music Syndicate. The trial date has been set to be in mid-June after, the head of the Syndicate, Hassan Abu Saoud, filed a lawsuit against the singer because she has broken the law.
Hassan revealed that the Syndicate sent many warning to Ruby threatening to take her to court if she does not register and obtain a permit, but the singer ignored the matter and resumed singing. He added that Ruby was given enough time to correct her situation and to their disappointment she just kept running away.
The Syndicate has called a war on songs they have labeled as “pornographic songs” by starting a legal campaign against artists who cross the line of decency. The syndicate had filed a lawsuit against Ruby, claiming that she is not being a member and is singing without a permit.
The syndicate board formed a fact-finding team to follow Ruby’s concerts and contracts, because all of this constitutes new violations of the law, in an attempt to stop her from singing by force or put her on trial for practicing the profession of singing illegally.
The campaign has reached the People’s Assembly, where the Ministry of culture and information held a special hearing to discuss ways of confronting the phenomenon and the measures to be taken. The parliamentarians issued a call to the Egyptian people to boycott these songs and a call to the owners of satellite stations to reconsider what they broadcast. –Albawaba.com
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
