MBC 'not at fault for airing music legend's biography'

12 Oct 2006

Dubai: The dispute over broadcasting the late Egyptian music legend Abdul Haleem Hafez's biographical series on Dubai-based satellite TV station MBC should be settled with the production company, a court heard yesterday.

MBC is a third party with "lawful intention" which is only broadcasting the series and is not the party that should be sued, the channel's legal advisor, Dr Habib Al Mulla, told the temporary and urgent cases section at Dubai Civil Court.

One of the Egyptian legend's heirs, M.C., had asked the court to stop the series. However, the court rejected the appeal last week and the heir contested that decision.

M.C. said according to a contract with the production company "the heir's pre-approval on the script and the cast is needed before the series is broadcast."

He claimed MBC started broadcasting the series without his consent.

Abdul Halim Hafez was known among his fans as Al Andaleeb Al Asmar or the Dark Nightingale. The case was adjourned until next week.