Islamic conservatives deride Beyonce concert in Egypt

Only a couple of weeks after postponing a concert in Malaysia over costume concerns, Islamic conservatives in Egypt are calling Beyonce Knowles' planned show there an "insolent sex party" that threatens "social peace and stability," the AP reports. And they haven't even heard the music yet.

Islamic lawmakers and their supporters have waged campaigns on social networking Web sites, accusing the government of encouraging debauchery and calling for the Friday concert's cancellation, the AP reports.

"Why are you encouraging this insolent sex party?" lawmaker Hamdi Hassan, from the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, wrote in a letter to the government. "You are accused of disturbing social peace and stability, encouraging vice and debauchery."

Another Islamic lawmaker, Ali Laban, called for banning the "nudity concert." A Facebook campaign against Beyonce's concert collected nearly 10,000 supporters -- out of a nation of almost 88 million people.

Security will be in place at the show, which is taking place in the Red Sea resort town of Port Ghalib, hundreds of miles south of Cairo.

"We are Muslims too ... this will not stop Egypt from hosting an award-winning, first class artist," event organizer Ahmed Beltagi said. "We should salute her instead of criticizing her." Well, that might be taking things a bit too far in the other direction.

[Photo: Bebe at the European Music Awards in Berlin on Thursday. What's to worry about? AP]