Sharifah Amani’s Mother Stoutly Defends Her In Balding Controversy. Calls Criticizers "Bullies".

From the Malay Mail comes this news of a mother's anger and disappointment with critics from various quarters.

Leave my daughter alone! That’s the passionate appeal by Sharifah Amani’s mother, Fatimah Abu Bakar, who came out strongly on Friday to defend her daughter against the scathing criticism following Amani’s decision to shave her head for Yasmin Ahmad’s latest work — Muallaf. Stopping short of saying that her displeasure was aimed at the muftis of Selangor and Perak, Fatimah, who is an actress herself, described the criticism as “an act of bullying and ganging up against my helpless daughter.” “I am proud of her. These attacks are uncalled for. It wasn’t like she was running around naked or anything.

“I am proud that she gave herself to the role wholeheartedly.” Fatimah brushed off accusations that her daughter’s move was a gimmick and a cheap publicity stunt.

Speaking to Weekend Mail on Friday, Fatimah said: “She could have used cosmetics to appear bald but Amani saw the need to do something to get the character come alive. Her character in the film is about her being abused by her father but it carries the message of love and caring.” “So many people think it’s a fashion trend. If it was, it would be frivolous and I wouldn’t defend her and would smack her myself, but it’s not.” Fatimah said it was a family affair and no one had the right to judge her daughter or her family for their approval to have her head shaved.

“All of us consented to Amani going bald, including her father and me. We don’t do things for fun, for the sake of trends and cheap publicity,” said Fatimah.

What hurt Fatimah most was the insinuation that her daughter had given up on her religion. “I hate it when people insinuate that she’s giving up on her religion. How can they pass such a judgment on her and our family? As a mother, I am aggrieved. “Lay off my daughter.

As an art lover myself, I don’t see the criticism as a prosecution against my daughter. It’s a prosecution of the arts. Let us do what we can for the arts. “It’s sad every time someone does something good, they get chastised.

I believe in the culture of nurturing the next generation with care and love.” Fatimah said the idea of shaving Amani bald was made public several months ago. “It’s unbelievable that these people did not speak out earlier. Why make it an issue now and why not advise us before she shaved her head? If you really care about us, why vilify us now?” Fatimah believed that similar episodes would recur.

“If it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone. I know a lot of young people who are disheartened by the whole episode. There are people just waiting to punish us.”

On Thursday, the two muftis were reported to have called on the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the Information Ministry to come up with guidelines for artistes, particularly female Muslims, after news of Amani going bald appeared in the newspapers.

***** A very frank and no-nonsense response from a caring mother. Many would agree with her opinion on the issue. Do you?
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