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Monday, 13 June 2016

Consumer Protection Agency takes Juhayna, Birell, Cottonil, Dice ads off air

Following yesterday’s move to pull Juhayna’s “dondoo” ad, the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has ordered Ahram Beverages’ Birell, Cottonil, and Dice to pull ads the agency claims “violate community traditions and public tastes,” Al Masry Al Youm reports. Hala Mahran, CEO of Nile Productions AD, which produced the Cottonil ad, is adamant that the company will not pull the spots. The CPA says the companies must comply or face sanctions, Al Mal reports.

What have the offending ads allegedly done? According to the CPA:

  • Juhayna (watch): [Redacted] innuendo related to milk produced by human mammary glands; “promotion of unhealthy eating and drinking habits to children.”
  • Birell (watch or watch): [Redacted] innuendo from the use of a flip-flopping logo and one character examining another’s netherparts in a public restroom.
  • Cottonil (watch): [Redacted] innuendo in a scene showing women exercising; promoting unsafe behavior by showing a family of five on Vespa.
  • Dice (watch or watch): Again with the [redacted] innuendo and a closing shot showing a woman’s torso in briefs.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives was recently overtaken by a fit of reasonable-ness: The House committee on legislative and constitutional affairs has discussed abolishing articles that criminalize contempt of religion. Two representatives, including Al Azhar professor Amena Nosseir, have submitted bills that would amend the criminal code to abolish the offense entirely, Al Mal reported. Nosseir said the “contempt of religion” articles had been used to stifle freedom of expression, which she characterized as being enshrined in Islam.

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