Hala Shiha’s return to film industry spurs a controversy

SEE – August 22nd: Hala Shiha, the Egyptian star who quit the glamorous film industry a decade ago to embrace a more religious lifestyle, spurred a controversy when she decided to return back to her acting career and shun the hijab.

The highly publicized reversal this month by the 39-year-old actress immediately ignited a storm in social media, the press and on TV talk shows, with liberals lauding her move as an exercise in personal freedom and conservatives mourning that choice.

Shiha, often cast in dreamy, romantic roles, sought to distance herself from the often- acrimonious argument over her decision to take off the hijab and seek a more secular lifestyle.

"I never meant to insult or offend anyone," she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "Just because I took off my hijab, doesn't mean I am against it. Not at all."

"At the end, this is a personal decision and it's my choice. I am an actress and I don't want to be dragged into any political conflicts," she said. She cited "personal reasons" for her decisions — both to quit acting the first time and to resume her career — and didn't elaborate on what was behind them.

But a recent video posted on Instagram may have made things worse for the Islamists. It showed her flashing a broad smile and telling a hairdresser at a salon: "I came here to change my hair color a bit. I hope it turns out well. I am sure it will be surprising."

According to her father and sister, she only recently opened an Instagram account, with about 149,000 followers.