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Moroccan singer Basma Bousil sparked wide controversy in recent hours after releasing a promotional video for her new song “Abu Hob.”
In the video, she appears wearing a tight white dress with a head covering, while the minarets of Sultan Hassan Mosque and Al-Rifai Mosque in Egypt are seen in the background.
Bousil faced backlash for dancing in front of mosque minarets, with some criticizing her for filming the video near a mosque.
“A mosque is not a place for dancing and singing. Out of all places, she chose to perform near mosques,” some social media users commented.
Others in Egypt called on the Ministry of Endowments to intervene and stop the song release. The controversy prompted her to disable comments on the post.
Meanwhile, Bousil has remained silent. Her mother stepped into the controversy, clarifying on her Instagram account that her daughter did not film the music video inside a mosque but at the Citadel of Salah al-Din, and that she had obtained an official permit to shoot at the site.
“Artist Bousil filmed at the Citadel of Salah al-Din, not at the Sultan Hassan Mosque. All circulating claims are false and completely baseless,” she said in a social media post.
It is not the first time Bousil has stirred social media debate. She has often been a controversial figure with her statements regarding her relationship with her ex-husband, Egyptian singer Tamer Hosny.
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