- Title: UAE: Lebanese singer Julia Boutros performs in Dubai for charity
- Date: 16th November 2006
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE FILING INTO UNIVERSITY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ELIAS ABU SAAB, EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF DUBAI, SAYING: "It is the American University in Dubai, just as there is an American University in Beirut. It doesn't mean that the stances of the people of this university, its students, professor and administrators, have to be the same as the stances of the American government. In America you have a nation with differing views, sometimes the people are with and sometimes against the government. We at the University of Dubai have the freedom, we are of the people who grew up with Arab causes and that will not change no matter where we are, whether it's an American University or a Turkish university or wherever." PAN FROM PORTRAIT OF RULER OF DUBAI SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM TO CROWD IN LOBBY WAITING FOR CONCERT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OMAR AL-MADFAI, UAE NATIONAL, SAYING: "Since Julia is a Lebanese artist and Lebanon is going through various struggles and there are political problems, I agree with her politically. In any case, she sings for Lebanon and not for a specific party or sect. So I am with her 100 percent." PEOPLE LOOKING AT LEBANESE FLAG MADE OF FLOWERS CLOSE OF THE ARABIC WORD '"AHIBAI", MEANING "MY LOVED ONES," WRITTEN OUT IN FLOWERS AND ARRANGED ON TOP OF FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CARMEN SAWAYA, LEBANESE RESIDENT OF DUBAI, SAYING: "First of all I am an admirer of Julia, and secondly we are here for a very important cause, something the whole world is talking about. The least we can do as Lebanese is to be hear and support her, and to raise our voices. Maybe someone in this world will hear us."
- Embargoed: 1st December 2006 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVAMJWDGY9ZVYR84QST1K5JK52U
- Story Text: Celebrated Lebanese singer Julia Boutros performed to a full house on Tuesday night (November 14) at the American University of Dubai. The concert was attended by a mix of United Arab Emirates nationals and Lebanese and other Arabs living in Dubai. A number of UAE officials, including Minister of Economy Sheikha Lubna al-Qassimi, also attended.
The well-loved singer, a Christian from southern Lebanon, is best known for her patriotic anti-Israeli songs released during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
In her latest album, Boutros incorporated into her lyrics excerpts of speeches made by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The university's executive vice-president Elias Abu Saab denied there was any irony in hosting a singer who quotes the anti-western Shi'ite leader at an American university.
"It is the American University in Dubai, just as there is an American University in Beirut. It doesn't mean that the stances of the people of this university, its students, professor and administrators, have to be the same as the stances of the American government. In America you have a nation with differing views, sometimes the people are with and sometimes against the government. We at the University of Dubai have the freedom, we are of the people who grew up with Arab causes and that will not change no matter where we are, whether it's an American University or a Turkish university or wherever," he said.
Boutros said the profits of her new single, entitled "Ahiba'i," Arabic for "My Loved Ones," will be donated to the families of the Lebanese who were killed in the 34-day Israel-Hezbollah war in July and August.
Although Boutros's "Ahiba'i" is inspired by Nasrallah's words and condemns the summer's Israeli offensive against Lebanon, Hezbollah's television station al-Manar refused to air it. Al-Manar generally confines the music it airs to military-style and ultra-patriotic songs.
Audience members said they were attending the performance out of admiration for both the singer and her country.
"Since Julia is a Lebanese artist and Lebanon is going through various struggles and there are political problems, I agree with her politically. In any case, she sings for Lebanon and not for a specific party or sect. So I am with her 100 percent," said one audience member, a UAE national.
"First of all I am an admirer of Julia, and secondly we are here for a very important cause, something the whole world is talking about. The least we can do as Lebanese is to be hear and support her, and to raise our voices. Maybe someone in this world will hear us," said a Lebanese national living in Dubai.
Boutros' Middle East tour kicked off on November 10 in Beirut, and the singer and her orchestra will next be heading to Syria for performances in Aleppo and Damascus.
Julia Boutros usually participates in the annual International Baalbeck Festival in north-eastern Lebanon, which was cancelled this year because of the Israeli-Hezbollah war. Boutros also sings in support of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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