Sherine Abdel Wahhab denies Sudan ban

Egyptian singer Sherine Abdel Wahhab has told Arabstoday that she was deeply concerned by recent reports that the Sudanese parliament had banned her from entering Sudan for her Easter concert. The ban was recently blamed on an assumption that her singing would make Sudanese youth less enthusiastic to join the armed forces, at a time when relations between Sudan and South Sudan are at a boiling point. She said: “I confirm that I have not been banned from entering Sudan but the organisers notified me of the difficulty to hold a concert in Sudan these days due to security reasons. I understood that it is not feasible to hold a concert under security concerns.” She added: “I hope the press, particularly websites, ensure accuracy in reporting news, especially as my relations with Sudanese officials are based on mutual respect. None of them would talk about me in a way like what was reported in the news. Whoever fabricated this rumour is clearly unaware of the good relationship I share with my Sudanese brethren.”