"Republic of my Heart" stirs debate in Lebanon

By Nohad Topalian in Beirut
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-08-24

[Joseph Faddoul/Al-Shorfa] The song, "The Republic of my Heart", provoked a strong backlash from many women's groups in Lebanon.

"I respect women's rights but I wish you respected my feeling."

When these lyrics, performed by Lebanese singer Mohammad Iskandar in "Republic of my Heart" hit the airwaves a few months ago, they ignited a fierce reaction from Lebanese women's rights groups.

"We do not have girls who become employed thanks to their diplomas, we have girls who are spoiled and served by all", the song's opening line said.

Women's rights associations and supporters of women's rights said the song undermined women's dignity and promoted the concept of a male-dominated society.

The song prompted a response from Poet Tony Abi Karam in the form of a song titled "We do not want men like you", which was composed and performed by May Matar and which debuted in July.

"What's with the backwardness, ignorance and enslavement? I have a father, mother and family. They raised me and put their trust in me," Matar sang.

"Through my lyrics, my goal was to respond to the songs attacking women and not just the song of artist Mohammad Iskandar. Some are calling women liars and traitors, are disrespecting them and treating them as second-class citizens," Karam told Al-Shorfa.

"I am against macho behaviour and against those who want women to be submissive. I am also against men who believe that women's education will make them lose these women and who are scared of their strong personality and intellectual independence."

Matar said her response was against the topic and not against Mohammad Iskandar.

Between the two songs, a media battle erupted backed by civil society associations calling for the ratification of a series of laws granting more rights to women.

At the head of these demands was one made to the Lebanese parliament to ratify a modern personal status law.

"At a time when we are working to secure women's rights and the rights of partners to have a refined relationship, such songs are surfacing, being aired and repeated by many with pride," said Maria Semaan, a volunteer with the Kafa association, which fights violence against women.

Faten Abou Chakra, a project coordinate at Kafa, said the song's lyrics constitute a threat to working women.

"I personally do not like delivering ideas to people in the form of songs because they consecrate specific principles and concepts in their minds. Moreover, they have a brain washing effect," she said.

"My parents spent a lot of money to allow me to get my college degree. Should I hang it on the wall to please a male society afraid of women's success in the business world?", said Rida Azar, a 28-year-old volunteer with the Association Toward Citizenship.

Mohammad Iskandar said the commotion over "Republic of my Heart" actually "served the song".

"Women dream of hearing a man asking them to be the president of the republic of his heart," he told Al-Shorfa.

"I am not a prime minster who issues orders that should be implemented by all," he said laughing.

Mohammad's son Fares, who wrote the song's lyrics, said, "Had I not known from the beginning that the song would generate such a commotion, I would not have mentioned women's rights in one of the paragraphs."

"I am not targeting women or disrespecting them. Quite the contrary, I am telling them between the lines to be aware of the fact that they are targeted by the weak-spirited."

Fares added, "A huge deal was made about this song, especially in regard to what it said about harassment in the work place. I would like to ask at this point why we always read job advertisements asking for beautiful women, without these creating any of these reactions?".

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