ABU DHABI, 20 April 2008 — The Al-Mahabbah Awards festival started two years ago in response to a series of blasphemous cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in a Danish newspaper. In the aftermath of global protests against the cartoons, a group of young Muslims decided to establish a festival to promote artistic expressions of love for the Prophet (pbuh).

Now, two years later, hundreds of works have been submitted for nomination and this year a select few have been chosen to take part in the world-class awards festival that rivals all other appreciation events and provides the world with a chance, through modern media channels, to reflect on Islamic artistic works.

With less than one week for the start of the festival, organizers have lined up a variety of activities, including conferences, exhibitions and concerts, to make it an unforgettable event dedicated to celebrating the love of the Prophet (pbuh). Thursday’s opening ceremony will feature a number of star performers.

Among the international star guests attending the awards are Mona Abdelghani, a former Egyptian actress and singer; Egyptian pop stars Ehab Tawfik, Mohammed Foad and Hamada Helal; and Saeed Saleh, Mahmoud Gendy, Gamal Ismael and Mahmoud Yassin, Egyptian film actors.

Other guests include well-known Egyptian preacher and TV personality Amr Khaled and Dr. Amal Al-Kahlawi, dean of Islamic and Arabic Studies at Al-Azhar University. Malek Akkad, son of the late film director Mostapha Akkad, will also attend this year with Ahmed Beder, director of the central Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and Mohammed Riyad of the British Conservative Party.

The concerts being showcased will feature artists from all around the globe performing their latest hits for the love of the Prophet (pbuh). The youth concert will include Nasheed artist Zain Bhaka from South Africa, African-American band Native Deen, Nasheed Artist Kurtus from Macedonia and popular Arabic singer Mohammed Al-Mazem from the UAE. Live audiences will also hear the nine nominees in the songs category perform and will be given the opportunity to vote for the winners live.

The Islamic Film Conference to be held on Friday at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage will include speakers such as Pyramedia CEO and Director of the Middle East International Film Festival Nashwa Al-Ruwaini; award winning British-Yemeni film director Bader Ben Hirsi, professor Cynthia Schneider from Georgetown University and President of Festival Networks Chris Shields. The Classical Concert at Al-Raha Beach Theater will follow the conference and will feature Moroccan band Al-Safa, singer Al-Maled and Malaysian Nasheed Group Raihan.

On the last day of the festival there will be a special women-only concert with appearances by several artists, stage performers and speakers. The three-day festival will conclude with a stunning awards ceremony on Saturday.