Relatives of those killed in the 2005 Beny Mazar massacre in Egypt's Minya governorate have spoken out against a TV series they say has reopened old wounds. The series, "Al-Qissa Al-Kamila" (The Complete Story), dramatizes the events surrounding the massacre, in which 10 people from three families were killed. The families say the series distorts the truth and has brought back fear for their children.
The massacre occurred on December 29, 2005, when residents of the village of Shams Al-Din woke up to find 10 people slaughtered. The accused perpetrator, a local man, was later acquitted by the courts. Despite the acquittal, the families claim the series has revived the trauma and brought back the specter of revenge. They have decided to take legal action against the makers of the series.
Mohammed Yahya, 23, lost his parents and two siblings in the massacre. He says the series wrongly included a scene in which he died of a heart attack, despite being alive. Yahya and other family members have hired three lawyers to file a lawsuit against the series' producers. They claim the series includes fabricated scenes, including ones involving black magic.
Amal Al-Sayed Mahmoud, who lost four family members, says the series has caused her village and neighboring ones to taunt them about the crime and demand revenge. She says the families have been living with the pain of the tragedy for 21 years and the series has only added to their suffering. The families are seeking justice and compensation through the courts.
Mohammed Mahhtadi, a relative of the victims, says the series has renewed the pain for the families and distorted the image of their village. He has called on the Attorney General to reopen the investigation into the massacre and uncover the truth. The families are seeking answers and closure 21 years after the tragedy.
Lawyer Saced Al-Safti says the families have rejected the series' portrayal of events and have gone to the administrative courts to demand their rights and clear their names. The families claim the series has caused them further pain and suffering. The courts will now have to decide on the matter.
The Beny Mazar massacre remains one of Egypt's most shocking crimes. The acquittal of the accused perpetrator has left many questions unanswered. The TV series has brought attention to the case, but also sparked controversy and renewed pain for the families of the victims.
Key points
- The TV series "Al-Qissa Al-Kamila" has sparked outrage among the families of the Beny Mazar massacre victims.
- The families claim the series distorts the truth and has brought back fear for their children.
- The families are seeking justice and compensation through the courts.
