Actors back liberal and moderate Islamist candidates
Prominent stars have used Facebook and Twitter accounts to gather support and others have posted blogs
Dubai: Some used their Facebook and Twitter accounts to garner support for their favourite candidate. Others have produced videos to explain why they support certain candidates.
Egyptian actors and actresses seem to be diligently active in the Egyptian presidential race. Many have announced their positions.
Veteran actor Hussain Fahmi is supporting Amr Mousa in Egypt's presidential elections.
It is a healthy phenomenon to see a diversity of opinions among artists, he was quoted as saying in a recent television interview.
Prominent actor Khalid Al Sawy, whose picture in the middle of the crowds during the January 25 revolution was posted on several websites, is favouring the Nasserite candidate Hamdeen Sabahi.
Al Sawy, who produced a popular Ramadan drama last year titled "Solomon's Ring" focusing on the corruption in Egypt which was among the main reasons behind the revolution, used Facebook, Twitter and blogging to encourage people to vote.
The choice of the leftist candidate was taken in "order to protect Egypt's revolution and achieve its objectives," he said.
Liberal Sabahi was also the favourite candidate for many actors and actresses. At one of Sabahi's recent campaign rallies, an Egyptian media report said both Egyptian director Khalid Yousuf, who was among the leading figures during the first days of the revolution in Tahrir Square, and filmmaker Mohammad Al Adl took to the podium to express support for the Nasserite candidate.
"Sabahi's popularity is growing; he's the man of this hour," Al Adl was quoted as saying by Egyptian media.
However, many other artists in Egypt support the moderate Islamist Abdul Moniem Abu Al Fotouh. Earlier in May, Egyptian writer and director Amr Salama released a video online explaining his support for the candidate.
Hanan Al Turk, who has appeared wearing the hijab throughout her career, announced her support for Abu Al Fotouh. Other actresses who don't wear the hijab have also expressed their support for the Islamist candidate.
