After the controversy surrounding Suleiman Eid's funeral, Mohamed El Sebaei and Aya Samaha apologize.

Director Mohamed El Sebaei sparked widespread controversy on social media after posting photos taken during the funeral of the late artist Suleiman Eid, accompanied by comments that many journalists and photographers considered direct insults to them and the nature of their work. The post, shared by his wife, actress Aya Samaha, with a supportive comment, further fueled anger, particularly among photojournalists who saw the incident as a violation of their professional and personal dignity while performing their duties.

The Photographers' Union responds: "Unacceptable insults"

In response to the post, the Photojournalists Division of the Journalists Syndicate issued a strongly worded statement expressing its complete condemnation of what it described as "blatant verbal insults," which it considered an assault on the dignity of the journalistic profession. The statement emphasized that the actions of Al-Sabai and Samaha constitute an insult to funeral photographers who document the event, not to intrude, emphasizing their respect for privacy in such circumstances.

Al-Sabai apologizes: “I did not mean to offend anyone.”

In an attempt to contain the crisis, director Mohamed El Sebaei posted a statement on his Facebook account clarifying his position and offering a veiled apology. The statement read:

“I respect all journalists and photographers in Egypt and the Arab world, most of whom are friends or relatives… but what happens at funerals is painful and touches on the sanctity of death.” He noted that he did not intend to offend anyone in particular, but was expressing his "extreme anger" at behaviors he considered to be contrary to tradition and decency.

Aya Samaha clarifies her position: “We respect everyone.”

For her part, Aya Samaha issued a clarification via her accounts, saying:

“All appreciation and respect to the journalists and photographers. We did not mention anyone by name. Their role is always important as partners in success.” She noted that the comment she wrote was not directed against any particular person, but rather came in the context of her support for her husband, emphasizing her commitment to her full respect for the journalistic profession.