The crisis involving Ragheb Alama has returned to square one after new statements from Mostafa Kamel, the head of the Egyptian Musicians’ Syndicate. Kamel affirmed his insistence on an official investigation into the incident and for Ragheb Alama to appear before the designated committee, just hours after Alama had announced the end of the crisis in a public post.
Mostafa Kamel denied that the purpose of the investigation was to impose a financial fine or accept any monetary donations, stressing that the issue is about applying the law and respecting union procedures without any leniency.
The Crisis Continues Despite Attempts at De-escalation
Despite the intervention of some mediators and Ragheb Alama’s attempts to calm the situation through social media posts, the head of the Musicians’ Syndicate indicated in his latest statements that the incident will not be overlooked. He affirmed his position and stated that he would not be swayed by the opinions of others on this matter.
Mostafa Kamel clarified that Ragheb Alama’s behavior on stage contradicts Egyptian customs and traditions. He noted that the incident was not limited to just one fan, as the concert witnessed several similar situations documented by video clips circulated on social media, including embraces and kisses exchanged between the artist and his female fans.
The Syndicate’s Perspective
Despite the criticism Mostafa Kamel received and the public’s support for Ragheb Alama, particularly with the endorsement of his family and wife for this interaction, the Syndicate’s head believes this behavior is not in line with the values of Egyptian society. He warned that it could open the door for a repetition of such situations by other stars.
Kamel confirmed he would not make any statements about Ragheb Alama’s upcoming concerts, including his scheduled performance in Marassi on September 18, until the official investigation is concluded. In response to a question about the possibility of resolving the crisis with a financial fine, he said: “Our syndicate does not take donations, and we are not an authority for imposing fines or collecting donations; we apply the law with firmness.” He affirmed that he maintains a relationship of mutual respect with Ragheb Alama but refuses to end the matter without an official investigation.
Ragheb Alama Announces the End of the Crisis
The Lebanese artist, Ragheb Alama, had previously revealed new details regarding the crisis of his ban from singing in Egypt. The controversy began after a video circulated from his last concert on the North Coast, showing a female fan suddenly kissing him on stage. The video sparked widespread debate, prompting the Musicians’ Syndicate, led by Mostafa Kamel, to issue a temporary decision to ban Alama from performing and summon him for an investigation.
In an attempt to end the controversy, Ragheb Alama published a statement on the X platform, clarifying the details of his phone call with Mostafa Kamel. He confirmed that the conversation was positive and stressed that continuing the dispute would not be in anyone’s interest.
Ragheb Alama said the call was full of mutual love and respect, adding: “The conversation was that it’s not in anyone’s interest for this situation to escalate. I don’t accept any dispute, and whoever attacks the Syndicate’s head is also attacking me and is harming my audience.” He also expressed his great respect for the Musicians’ Syndicate and his intention to visit its headquarters soon, confirming that the entire crisis was like a “passing summer cloud,” as he put it.
In his statement, Ragheb Alama insisted on maintaining good relations with the Egyptian art scene, saying: “I am honored to visit the Syndicate at any time, and I appreciate the Syndicate’s head, Mostafa Kamel, as a comprehensive artist. Our duty is to make the audience happy, not to create division among people.” He added: “Our image must remain beautiful, and we consider everything that happened to be a simple disagreement that has been overcome. The call between me and my brother Mostafa was full of love and transparency. What matters is that Egypt remains a primary destination for every artist and creator; it is always the Hollywood of the East.”
Ragheb Alama’s Clarifications
In his first comment on the video, Ragheb Alama asserted that the situation was greatly exaggerated, pointing out that the camera angle was misleading. He said: “The fan was not Egyptian; she was just expressing her joy. The video gave an inaccurate impression; she pulled me suddenly, and there was nothing that warranted all this controversy.” He also defended himself by saying that the spontaneous interaction between an artist and his audience should not be interpreted negatively, clarifying that the kiss was not intentional and did not deserve all this media exaggeration. He added that the stage is the responsibility of the concert organizers and the security team, not the artist.
Mostafa Kamel Clarifies the Syndicate’s Position
For his part, Mostafa Kamel had confirmed that the suspension decision was temporary, with the sole purpose of listening to Ragheb Alama’s point of view. He said the Syndicate does not seek escalation but aims to preserve the image of artists and respect public taste. He affirmed that what happened was not a crime so much as a behavior outside the accepted framework.
With the friendly call and exchange of respectful messages, it seemed that the crisis between Ragheb Alama and the Musicians’ Syndicate in Egypt had been completely resolved, with both parties affirming that what unites artists is far greater than what divides them, and that Egypt will always remain a venue for art, love, and openness.