Ihab Tawfiq: Fear of Islamists not behind cancelled concert

Egyptian singer Ihab Tawfiq has denied rumours that he cancelled a concert set for Eid al-Adha out of fear of harassment by Islamists, after a number of them attacked a concert in al-Minya. “The rumours about me cancelling my concert out of fear of fundamentalists after the Minya incident are not true,” he told Arabstoday. “I announced the cancellation before the incident due to my mother’s illness as we had to take her out of the country. I am still abroad and will be back by mid-week after my mother’s condition has become stable.”  Tawfiq is currently recording a new album which he hopes to release for the New Year celebrations.