Egyptian writers, intellectuals and artists released a press statement on Wednesday denouncing the designation of the position of Minister of Culture to Osama al-Ghazaly.
Ghazaly was appointed to the position by new Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, who is in charge of forming a new government following the resignation of Hazem el-Beblawy, the prime minister who served eight months in the Cabinet.
“We, intellectuals, artists and writers refuse the appointment of Osama al-Ghazaly Harb as the new Minister of Culture… and consider it an act undermining the ministry, and reflecting a short-term vision that does not realize the role of culture in building the intellectual future of Egypt,” read the statement.
The main criticism is that Ghazaly is “not related” to the cultural profession administratively or technically. Furthermore, they denounced the fact that Ghazaly served in former president Hosni Mubarak’s National Democratic Party before the January 25 Revolution.
They demanded Mahlab reconsider, and revoke his decision.
On Feb. 19, members of an independent syndicate for the Ministry of Culture and a number of intellectuals had protested to demand the resignation of ministry members and former minister Mohamed Saber Arab for being incompetent, damaging Egyptian culture and wasting public funds.
