One Bahraini member of parliament called her a sexual singer who spoke with her body, not her voice. Haifa said she was aware of the efforts to ban her from performing at the concert but chose to ignore their petty attempts to silence the diva.
"I am a performer and not a politician," Haifa said. "I know my fans want me and I am there for them. I am not concerned with the other issues."
Haifa Delivers a PG Rated Performance
Wearing far more fabric than she is normally accustomed to, Wehbe was dressed in a long green gown with a low V-neckline during the performance (pictured right).
One fan, thirty seven year old Adel Surour, commented on the event: "Her performance was measured compared to her usual demeanor. Haifa Wehbe was dressed modestly. She was almost veiled."
"We thoroughly enjoyed the show," added Surour, who attended the Wednesday night show with his family, alongside an audience consisting mainly of families, including Gulf Arabs from neighboring countries.
"I have received a lot of love from the people of this country and can already feel the warmth," she said. "I am sure this will be an event that will capture the hearts of fans."
Buzzkill Bahrain
Sunni and Shiite Islamist lawmakers approved an urgent motion in parliament asking the Bahraini government to ban the show two days prior to Thursday's May Day celebrations.
The move by the 40-member parliament, where Islamists hold three-quarters of seats, came despite assurances by organizers that Wehbe would dress modestly during the show, which would be reserved for families and respect Bahraini traditions.
Islamist MPs in Bahrain regularly campaign to ban shows and other entertainment deemed to violate Islamic tenets, which has been relatively liberal by the standards of the conservative Gulf region.
Four years ago, Sunni Islamist lawmakers close to the government forced Saudi-owned MBC satellite television to suspend the production of an Arabic version of the reality TV show Big Brother, that was being filmed in Bahrain, charging that it flouted Islamic traditions.
Tags: Bahrain, Concert, Conservative, Haifa Wehbe, Islam, Sexy, source: Ya Libnan
