By Pakinam Amer
First Published: November 8, 2006
Muslim Brotherhood’s student members face uphill battle
CAIRO: Salah is a clean-shaven young man dressed in worn-out jeans and a casual beige jacket. His grades imply that he is an above average achiever. He studies trade at Cairo University, regularly pays school fees and dreams of running for student union elections.
In so many ways, he is a typical student. But yet again, he is not. Salah is an active member of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and this makes all the difference.
"I cannot benefit from the years I spend in university as a student because of my affiliation with the Brotherhood," said Salah, who refused to disclose his last name in fear of being arrested by security intelligence officers.
In public universities, Islamic activists — particularly those affiliated with the Brotherhood — are banned from founding or participating in activities, from student elections and school trips. The government, which has uncontested control over state universities, usually crosses out names of islamist candidates from election lists, in many cases refusing to even accept their applications.
"This is usually the best period in a person's life: university years. But me and my colleagues from the Brotherhood spend it protesting, shouting and struggling for our simplest rights."
According to Salah, the "islamist" students are avoided like the plague by the administration. During confrontations, the university officials, the dean included, step back and let the security police clamp down upon the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated students.
"Well, then again the dean of students is as pressured as anyone else. Security police force him to take a passive stand," added Salah, in what appeared to be sympathy for the university official.
Only last week, hundreds of students from across universities in Cairo and Helwan demonstrated against what they deemed "blatant security interference" in school affairs. Union elections, for yet another year, were marred by violence, deprivation and allegations of fraud and vote rigging.
In Cairo University, the protests were the worst. Clashes were bloody; some students ended up in hospital beds with fractured knees or broken arms after the Special Security Forces had beaten them up with their truncheons.
In one incident the heavily armed riot police, who usually cordon off universities during heavy protests, held students on the Cairo University campus until 10 p.m. Faculty members had to negotiate with the dean, who in turn had to "sweet talk" security police in order to set the students free and allow them to go to their homes.
Osama El-Shaeir, eyewitness and a student who was denied candidacy, said that he was arrested during a recent union-related protest. "I don't understand why this is happening to me, though. And it makes me sad to see my rights taken away as such."
"I have not failed a course during my study. I am respected by my fellow students," added El-Shaeir.
El-Shaeir was held in custody for hours. But others have faced worse; one group of 29 Helwan University students is still being held in custody since their arrest on Monday.
The students were arrested in a pre-dawn raid on their houses for charges of belonging to a banned group, and for staging unauthorized elections. The students were trying to form a parallel union after their applications for the regular elections were rejected.
Other Helwan University students threatened to go on a hunger strike if their fellows were not immediately released. In short, union elections became a mini-war between students on one side and government-controlled entities on another.
The scenario was repeated in Ein Shams, where students appointed to the union engaged in a hand-fight with islamists who had aspired to candidacy.
Arguably, the students are fighting "their own battles for democracy."
But still the battles have not been without a price, at least according to these two stricken students.
"Clutching this freedom out of their hands gives us back our dignity, it is true," said El-Shaeir, his voice suddenly breaking. "But it's never the same."
"We lose a lot. Valuable time. People get arrested and our friends get dismissed," added an equally upset Salah. "We pay much to get our simplest rights. But hopefully the next generations will rise on our shoulders."
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3826
Showing posts with label The Daily Star Egypt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Daily Star Egypt. Show all posts
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
IHT/DSE: Analyzing a quarter century under Mubarak
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: November 6, 2006
Widely touted 25th anniversary under the microscope
CAIRO: In the wake of celebrations marking the “25th anniversary of Mubarak” (a tag used by national newspapers) last October, analyst and political veteran Osama Al-Ghazali Harb, says President Hosni Mubarak’s “peace years” have saved the country from war and conflict but not from poverty and underdevelopment.
Harb, president of the newly founded Democratic Front Party and editor of International Politics Quarterly is also a former National Democratic Party (NDP) member, who had been invited to join the NDP by the party’s deputy and president’s son Gamal Mubarak.
Harb chose to leave the party after, as he described, he realized that “it’s not the tool for reform.”
“Twenty-five years of Mubarak. These are regarded by Mubarak as peace years. However, generally any society must benefit from this time. We did not,” Harb told The Daily Star Egypt.
“In the early 1980s Egypt was very similar to South Korea in terms of development. Now we have a huge gap. Now they’re a flourishing country and Egypt is very weak.”
Last week, the President embarked upon a multi-leg Asian-European tour to discuss ways of boosting economic trade and oil exchange and to rally support for the newly publicized nuclear energy program, as national newspapers continue to focus on how Egypt is moving toward reform after two and half decades of “trust” in Mubarak.
In Al-Akhbar newspaper, NDP head Safwat Al-Sherif said in reference to Mubarak’s meeting with the NDP leaders on the eve of his trip that “enhancing political and economic reform is high on the [NDP] agenda.” Al-Sherif said that transforming welfare plans into concrete steps is one of the expected outcomes.
The president made a surprise announcement during last week’s high-profile NDP meeting, stating that the much-criticized Article 76 of the constitution will be further amended. The article had been altered to allow multi-candidacy in presidential elections, but opponents still complain that it places tough limitations on independents.
On one hand, the incumbent 78–year-old Egyptian president promised more reform.
On the other, some opposition and veteran analysts insist that reform claims by the NDP are baseless.
“What the president promised is just that: promises,” says Amr Hashem Rabie, senior analyst at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies. “These [promises] do not change the profile of political life. Article 76’s constitutional amendment will only benefit political parties and squash independents — mainly the Muslim Brotherhood — and even the benefit to the parties will be transient and restricted.”
“If there is anything that characterizes the years of Mubarak, then it’s definitely the continuation of totalitarianism and the desire from the side of the current regime to monopolize power,” says Rabie.
“We have setbacks in everything,” adds an equally outspoken Harb, who says that the past three decades have made Egypt “war-free” but not worry-free. “Where is the social development and economic reform? Egyptians are drenched in poverty.”
Harb says that even though Egypt has experienced political mobility in the past few years, the country still suffers extensively from weak political structures.
The NDP itself has become a “government bureaucracy,” says Harb, explaining that in his opinion the establishment continues to ostensibly act like a party but “in essence it is more like a state-owned institution.” According to Harb, those who lash out against the regime are subjected to harsh press campaigns from NDP-backed newspapers.
Rabie credits the government’s attitude to “the fact” that it acquired its legitimacy from military achievements like the 1952 Free Officers’ Revolution, which resulted in a republic and in turn the current regime, and the 1973 October War.
“It’s a military system … that naturally refuses any reform,” he says.
“Our country’s high ranks are dominated by non-civilian [military] big wheels.”
Not everyone paints such a dismal picture of the past 25 years, however. In fact, some experts regard the past decades under Mubarak as a period of level strength and stability. Mona Makram Ebeid, former MP and political science professor, says that “the beginning years of Mubarak were full of hope.”
“He started out as a ruler who was keen on having pluralism established … and there was great hope that Egypt was entering a new era of democratic transformation,” says Ebeid. “Then came the 1990s, an era when there was more emphasis on stability rather than democracy.”
Ebeid regards even the past period, in the 2000s, as a turning point toward more social awareness, where citizens “shed fear and apathy” and took to the streets demanding the lifting of restrictions on civil liberties.
Only in 2006, according to the veteran politician, was there a noticeable setback. “Unfortunately, in 2006 there was a setback; with more stringent restrictions on freedoms in general,” says Ebeid, referring to recent constitutional amendments believed by many to have hindered press freedom and judicial independence.
“On the social side, I don’t think that the majority of Egyptians are better off than they were 25 years ago.”
“In a nutshell, what Egyptians [still] need and have not gotten yet is a voice and a job,” says Ebeid.
According to Ebeid, there’s also been deterioration in party life. “[The political sphere] has been reduced to two main forces: the government party that continues to be reluctant to relinquish control over the political system and the so-called illegal Muslim Brotherhood who is keen on winning the hearts and minds of the majority of Egyptians.”
As the NDP continues to list achievements following 25 years of Mubarak’s reign, some like Harb continue to say Egypt “is now worse than ever.”
“The country is deteriorating in everything. It is now worse than 50 years ago. There is more pollution, no order, the streets are not clean. Cairo is one of the oldest cities in the world and look how it looks now,” says Harb, adding that “what makes matters worse” is the ignorance that is tarnishing political life.
Twenty-five years of NDP, says Harb, has left the country with many scenarios but no clear expectations of the real future of Egypt.
“There are scenarios for what will happen next; inheritance of power, coup d’etat by the armed forces, foreign intervention or perhaps total chaos,” the analyst said. “But in reality, no one really knows what will happen tomorrow. If God forbid something happened to the president, no one knows what will happen.”
Indeed one of the scenarios is that of rising Islamic militancy, a looming threat represented in the Muslim Brotherhood, which some uphold and many vehemently refuse.
Regarding talks of a rising threat of “Islamism” as a reaction to the policies of the current regime, Harb, on a more positive note, said that Islamic militancy is a far-fetched possibility but “Islamic politics” or “politicized Islam” is a potential reality.
“There’s a threat of Islamic politics to take reign; but this is just the product of authoritarian rule. Fanaticism and radical groups are only the outcome of dictatorships.”
“If the undemocratic regime collapses, the Islamic trend will automatically replace it,” said Harb.
He said that Islamic clerics are usually the hardest to crush, shedding light on why a group like the Muslim Brotherhood has survived despite a constant government clampdown over the past 25 years.
“The nature of our cultures, in Muslim societies, enables islamists to be strong under authoritarians. They are entrenched in the roots of the society and when they’re oppressed they gain the sympathy of the people,” said Harb.
In the same context, many of the opposition voices have accused the government of using the Muslim Brotherhood as an “alibi” to stay in power and “scare the US and the West.”
Hamas, came to power, hindering peace talks and engaging in bloody side battles with Fatah before falling again. This Palestinian example and the idea has arguably led the US to loosen its grip on authoritarian regimes in the Middle East, choosing stability over democracy, as some analysts earlier explained to The Daily Star Egypt.
“The main threat to this country is the despotic state; it is undemocratic rule not Islamic rule that is threatening [our stability],” says Harb.
“If worse comes to worse and the Muslim Brotherhood comes to power, they will be forced out by the people. The average Egyptian is not an extremist.”
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3796
First Published: November 6, 2006
Widely touted 25th anniversary under the microscope
CAIRO: In the wake of celebrations marking the “25th anniversary of Mubarak” (a tag used by national newspapers) last October, analyst and political veteran Osama Al-Ghazali Harb, says President Hosni Mubarak’s “peace years” have saved the country from war and conflict but not from poverty and underdevelopment.
Harb, president of the newly founded Democratic Front Party and editor of International Politics Quarterly is also a former National Democratic Party (NDP) member, who had been invited to join the NDP by the party’s deputy and president’s son Gamal Mubarak.
Harb chose to leave the party after, as he described, he realized that “it’s not the tool for reform.”
“Twenty-five years of Mubarak. These are regarded by Mubarak as peace years. However, generally any society must benefit from this time. We did not,” Harb told The Daily Star Egypt.
“In the early 1980s Egypt was very similar to South Korea in terms of development. Now we have a huge gap. Now they’re a flourishing country and Egypt is very weak.”
Last week, the President embarked upon a multi-leg Asian-European tour to discuss ways of boosting economic trade and oil exchange and to rally support for the newly publicized nuclear energy program, as national newspapers continue to focus on how Egypt is moving toward reform after two and half decades of “trust” in Mubarak.
In Al-Akhbar newspaper, NDP head Safwat Al-Sherif said in reference to Mubarak’s meeting with the NDP leaders on the eve of his trip that “enhancing political and economic reform is high on the [NDP] agenda.” Al-Sherif said that transforming welfare plans into concrete steps is one of the expected outcomes.
The president made a surprise announcement during last week’s high-profile NDP meeting, stating that the much-criticized Article 76 of the constitution will be further amended. The article had been altered to allow multi-candidacy in presidential elections, but opponents still complain that it places tough limitations on independents.
On one hand, the incumbent 78–year-old Egyptian president promised more reform.
On the other, some opposition and veteran analysts insist that reform claims by the NDP are baseless.
“What the president promised is just that: promises,” says Amr Hashem Rabie, senior analyst at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies. “These [promises] do not change the profile of political life. Article 76’s constitutional amendment will only benefit political parties and squash independents — mainly the Muslim Brotherhood — and even the benefit to the parties will be transient and restricted.”
“If there is anything that characterizes the years of Mubarak, then it’s definitely the continuation of totalitarianism and the desire from the side of the current regime to monopolize power,” says Rabie.
“We have setbacks in everything,” adds an equally outspoken Harb, who says that the past three decades have made Egypt “war-free” but not worry-free. “Where is the social development and economic reform? Egyptians are drenched in poverty.”
Harb says that even though Egypt has experienced political mobility in the past few years, the country still suffers extensively from weak political structures.
The NDP itself has become a “government bureaucracy,” says Harb, explaining that in his opinion the establishment continues to ostensibly act like a party but “in essence it is more like a state-owned institution.” According to Harb, those who lash out against the regime are subjected to harsh press campaigns from NDP-backed newspapers.
Rabie credits the government’s attitude to “the fact” that it acquired its legitimacy from military achievements like the 1952 Free Officers’ Revolution, which resulted in a republic and in turn the current regime, and the 1973 October War.
“It’s a military system … that naturally refuses any reform,” he says.
“Our country’s high ranks are dominated by non-civilian [military] big wheels.”
Not everyone paints such a dismal picture of the past 25 years, however. In fact, some experts regard the past decades under Mubarak as a period of level strength and stability. Mona Makram Ebeid, former MP and political science professor, says that “the beginning years of Mubarak were full of hope.”
“He started out as a ruler who was keen on having pluralism established … and there was great hope that Egypt was entering a new era of democratic transformation,” says Ebeid. “Then came the 1990s, an era when there was more emphasis on stability rather than democracy.”
Ebeid regards even the past period, in the 2000s, as a turning point toward more social awareness, where citizens “shed fear and apathy” and took to the streets demanding the lifting of restrictions on civil liberties.
Only in 2006, according to the veteran politician, was there a noticeable setback. “Unfortunately, in 2006 there was a setback; with more stringent restrictions on freedoms in general,” says Ebeid, referring to recent constitutional amendments believed by many to have hindered press freedom and judicial independence.
“On the social side, I don’t think that the majority of Egyptians are better off than they were 25 years ago.”
“In a nutshell, what Egyptians [still] need and have not gotten yet is a voice and a job,” says Ebeid.
According to Ebeid, there’s also been deterioration in party life. “[The political sphere] has been reduced to two main forces: the government party that continues to be reluctant to relinquish control over the political system and the so-called illegal Muslim Brotherhood who is keen on winning the hearts and minds of the majority of Egyptians.”
As the NDP continues to list achievements following 25 years of Mubarak’s reign, some like Harb continue to say Egypt “is now worse than ever.”
“The country is deteriorating in everything. It is now worse than 50 years ago. There is more pollution, no order, the streets are not clean. Cairo is one of the oldest cities in the world and look how it looks now,” says Harb, adding that “what makes matters worse” is the ignorance that is tarnishing political life.
Twenty-five years of NDP, says Harb, has left the country with many scenarios but no clear expectations of the real future of Egypt.
“There are scenarios for what will happen next; inheritance of power, coup d’etat by the armed forces, foreign intervention or perhaps total chaos,” the analyst said. “But in reality, no one really knows what will happen tomorrow. If God forbid something happened to the president, no one knows what will happen.”
Indeed one of the scenarios is that of rising Islamic militancy, a looming threat represented in the Muslim Brotherhood, which some uphold and many vehemently refuse.
Regarding talks of a rising threat of “Islamism” as a reaction to the policies of the current regime, Harb, on a more positive note, said that Islamic militancy is a far-fetched possibility but “Islamic politics” or “politicized Islam” is a potential reality.
“There’s a threat of Islamic politics to take reign; but this is just the product of authoritarian rule. Fanaticism and radical groups are only the outcome of dictatorships.”
“If the undemocratic regime collapses, the Islamic trend will automatically replace it,” said Harb.
He said that Islamic clerics are usually the hardest to crush, shedding light on why a group like the Muslim Brotherhood has survived despite a constant government clampdown over the past 25 years.
“The nature of our cultures, in Muslim societies, enables islamists to be strong under authoritarians. They are entrenched in the roots of the society and when they’re oppressed they gain the sympathy of the people,” said Harb.
In the same context, many of the opposition voices have accused the government of using the Muslim Brotherhood as an “alibi” to stay in power and “scare the US and the West.”
Hamas, came to power, hindering peace talks and engaging in bloody side battles with Fatah before falling again. This Palestinian example and the idea has arguably led the US to loosen its grip on authoritarian regimes in the Middle East, choosing stability over democracy, as some analysts earlier explained to The Daily Star Egypt.
“The main threat to this country is the despotic state; it is undemocratic rule not Islamic rule that is threatening [our stability],” says Harb.
“If worse comes to worse and the Muslim Brotherhood comes to power, they will be forced out by the people. The average Egyptian is not an extremist.”
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3796
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
IHT/DSE: Eid marred by rise in alleged attacks on women
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: October 31, 2006
Alarming accounts of sexual harassment riddle blogs
CAIRO: As Egyptians began their Eid Al-Fitr holidays last week, rumors of a wave of alleged sexual harassment tainted the joy of what is usually a family-oriented festive occasion.
The wave of harassment, manifested by public groping and touching of women accompanied by pushing and shoving and even pulling at headscarves and shirts, has stirred dismay among outspoken young women and men across some popular blogs.
Across these web spaces, which provide a free forum of expression for many, bloggers posted and shared pictures of incidents in which crowds of men harassed women.
In one picture, taken in the downtown area and posted on Misr Digital blog, a sea of men surround a single girl, the caption reading that they were groping her as she tried to squeeze herself free but the picture is inconclusive.
Another picture shows a shop owner blocking the entrance to his store, as dozens of men huddle around, with a caption explaining that the aforementioned girl had to hide in the store to escape harassment.
In another blog, called Stories, a girl named Mona related what she termed an eyewitness account of a similar incident in Alexandria, describing hordes of men encircling girls and groping their bodies with only the constant screaming finally scaring them off.
“These young men do not recognize right from wrong. They do not even distinguish between a respectful woman and one who is not,” comments the female blogger, who reportedly witnessed the incident right at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. “I do not think that these men were waiting for Ramadan to end to do all this. Whoever would do what they did would not be bothered by Ramadan in the first place.”
The blogger, who said she panicked when she saw other girls being groped while people stood by helplessly, gave general advice to girls: “Do not leave your homes during the holidays to go to central areas. The [sexual] craze has infected everyone there.”
The relating of this and other such incidents encouraged other female bloggers to boldly expose their own personal experiences. In one blog entitled Qatr Al-Nada, a female blogger encourages other girls to come out with their stories of harassment.
The outspoken blogger on Qatr Al-Nada describes the extent to which incidents of harassment, even if they were verbal and fleeting, can affect her day and her emotional state. When she is bothered by men on the street, the blogger says she “curses them sometimes, or screams or even slaps them. Sometimes I just ignore the whole thing in order not to spoil my day. But other times, I’m taken off guard [by the harassment] and I end up crying.”
Although the reactions are limited to private talks and online discussions, these numerous voices could arguably be deemed representative of many women who are bombarded by comments, name-calling, and sexual remarks (at the least) as they walk the streets of Cairo and use its ever-crowded and sometimes male-dominated public transportation.
And this phenomenon is not limited to Egyptian or Muslim women; it extends across society to include foreign non-Muslim women and girls who are often times shocked when faced with such humiliating experiences.
“Psychologically, harassment puts you in a situation when you’re constantly feeling persecuted, which means that women end up having moments of self-doubt, which could be transient, lasting for a fleeting second, or could last for a few days,” psychology professor and psychotherapist Abier El-Barbary told The Daily Star Egypt.
The victim, according to the psychologist, usually scrutinizes the reasons why the man picked her and what she could have done to avoid it. “It ends up changing the norm of how women look and dress like out there,” said El-Barbary.
A lecturer at the American University in Cairo, El-Barbary works with both local and foreign girls who have experienced on-the-street harassment, both verbal and physical. Although in most, if not all, cases the harassment does not go beyond touching and groping, the reactions to the act are different and harassment can induce trauma.
The reaction of female non-Muslims is usually more intense. “They are the ones who are in the most state of persecution,” said El-Barbary. “It doesn’t just give them a bad day but a traumatic experience.”
According to El-Barbary, some of these girls end up scared to go out on the street and their negative impression of their attackers gets generalized to apply to all Egyptian and Muslim men.
El-Barbary who gives advice to her students on how to avoid being victims of harassment said that the harassment “begins to get women to question their femininity.”
“Psychologically, they question how much femininity they are putting out in public,” said El-Barbary. Over time, negative thoughts kick in and women feel that the more femininity they manifest, the more they present an image of submission and of being a victim, according to her.
El-Barbary advises young women to carry a whistle when they walk the streets, walk straight, without smiling and without looking down — powerful body language that speaks surrender, says the psychologist. “Use the whistle. Instead of cursing, blow on it. This way you bring the public eye onto these men. Once they feel the shame of being under the spotlight, they will stop.”
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3704
First Published: October 31, 2006
Alarming accounts of sexual harassment riddle blogs
CAIRO: As Egyptians began their Eid Al-Fitr holidays last week, rumors of a wave of alleged sexual harassment tainted the joy of what is usually a family-oriented festive occasion.
The wave of harassment, manifested by public groping and touching of women accompanied by pushing and shoving and even pulling at headscarves and shirts, has stirred dismay among outspoken young women and men across some popular blogs.
Across these web spaces, which provide a free forum of expression for many, bloggers posted and shared pictures of incidents in which crowds of men harassed women.
In one picture, taken in the downtown area and posted on Misr Digital blog, a sea of men surround a single girl, the caption reading that they were groping her as she tried to squeeze herself free but the picture is inconclusive.
Another picture shows a shop owner blocking the entrance to his store, as dozens of men huddle around, with a caption explaining that the aforementioned girl had to hide in the store to escape harassment.
In another blog, called Stories, a girl named Mona related what she termed an eyewitness account of a similar incident in Alexandria, describing hordes of men encircling girls and groping their bodies with only the constant screaming finally scaring them off.
“These young men do not recognize right from wrong. They do not even distinguish between a respectful woman and one who is not,” comments the female blogger, who reportedly witnessed the incident right at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. “I do not think that these men were waiting for Ramadan to end to do all this. Whoever would do what they did would not be bothered by Ramadan in the first place.”
The blogger, who said she panicked when she saw other girls being groped while people stood by helplessly, gave general advice to girls: “Do not leave your homes during the holidays to go to central areas. The [sexual] craze has infected everyone there.”
The relating of this and other such incidents encouraged other female bloggers to boldly expose their own personal experiences. In one blog entitled Qatr Al-Nada, a female blogger encourages other girls to come out with their stories of harassment.
The outspoken blogger on Qatr Al-Nada describes the extent to which incidents of harassment, even if they were verbal and fleeting, can affect her day and her emotional state. When she is bothered by men on the street, the blogger says she “curses them sometimes, or screams or even slaps them. Sometimes I just ignore the whole thing in order not to spoil my day. But other times, I’m taken off guard [by the harassment] and I end up crying.”
Although the reactions are limited to private talks and online discussions, these numerous voices could arguably be deemed representative of many women who are bombarded by comments, name-calling, and sexual remarks (at the least) as they walk the streets of Cairo and use its ever-crowded and sometimes male-dominated public transportation.
And this phenomenon is not limited to Egyptian or Muslim women; it extends across society to include foreign non-Muslim women and girls who are often times shocked when faced with such humiliating experiences.
“Psychologically, harassment puts you in a situation when you’re constantly feeling persecuted, which means that women end up having moments of self-doubt, which could be transient, lasting for a fleeting second, or could last for a few days,” psychology professor and psychotherapist Abier El-Barbary told The Daily Star Egypt.
The victim, according to the psychologist, usually scrutinizes the reasons why the man picked her and what she could have done to avoid it. “It ends up changing the norm of how women look and dress like out there,” said El-Barbary.
A lecturer at the American University in Cairo, El-Barbary works with both local and foreign girls who have experienced on-the-street harassment, both verbal and physical. Although in most, if not all, cases the harassment does not go beyond touching and groping, the reactions to the act are different and harassment can induce trauma.
The reaction of female non-Muslims is usually more intense. “They are the ones who are in the most state of persecution,” said El-Barbary. “It doesn’t just give them a bad day but a traumatic experience.”
According to El-Barbary, some of these girls end up scared to go out on the street and their negative impression of their attackers gets generalized to apply to all Egyptian and Muslim men.
El-Barbary who gives advice to her students on how to avoid being victims of harassment said that the harassment “begins to get women to question their femininity.”
“Psychologically, they question how much femininity they are putting out in public,” said El-Barbary. Over time, negative thoughts kick in and women feel that the more femininity they manifest, the more they present an image of submission and of being a victim, according to her.
El-Barbary advises young women to carry a whistle when they walk the streets, walk straight, without smiling and without looking down — powerful body language that speaks surrender, says the psychologist. “Use the whistle. Instead of cursing, blow on it. This way you bring the public eye onto these men. Once they feel the shame of being under the spotlight, they will stop.”
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3704
IHT/DSE: Talaat El-Sadat: Chip of the old block
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 28, 2006
Outspoken government critic to run for top parliamentary position
CAIRO: In a brazen move by any independent or opposition politician, controversial Member of Parliament (MP) Talaat El-Sadat announced Wednesday that he will run for parliament's top position.
El-Sadat, a controversial lawyer, nephew of former president Anwar El-Sadat and a fierce critic of the government, claims he was urged by National Democratic Party (NDP) members to contest Fathi Sorour over head-of-parliament candidacy. Sorour has been heading the People's Assembly (lower-house of parliament) for more than a decade, holding on to his seat despite harsh criticism and accusations of corruption.
El-Sadat's statement, which implies NDP support for his unexpected decision, sounds conflicting to the usual NDP stance toward El-Sadat, who, in many occasions, bad-mouthed the ruling party and accused it of corruption.
"National Democratic Party members contacted me and encouraged me to run against Fathi Sorour," El-Sadat told the press. "They believe that the parliament has lost its executive and legal authority."
El-Sadat, in Wednesday’s statements to independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm, said that his move aims to limit the government's control and monopoly in parliament, which is currently the norm, according to him. The MP also added that his campaign to run for the head position will start next November, as the new parliamentary session kicks off.
Notably, the parliament's agenda is full, as a list of much-debated constitutional amendments top the assembly's priorities.
"A full-fledged change is needed so that people would put their trust again in the assembly," said the outspoken El-Sadat.
El-Sadat has been in the limelight lately, often issuing shocking, and sometimes comical, statements against the government and its policies. El-Sadat is also a strong supporter of jailed politician and former presidential candidate Ayman Nour.
El-Sadat had a recent row with MP and NDP big-wig Ahmed Ezz, who works closely with politician, deputy secretary general of the party and President Hosni Mubarak’s son, Gamal Mubarak. The conflict between Ezz and El-Sadat reached its peak in parliament when the latter took off one of his shoes and threatened to hit Ezz – an act which was widely circulated in the press and much-criticized for its lack of decency.
El-Sadat had raised questions about Ezz's fortune – reported to exceed LE 40 billion and had doubted the integrity of the relatively young NDP leader.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3170
First Published: September 28, 2006
Outspoken government critic to run for top parliamentary position
CAIRO: In a brazen move by any independent or opposition politician, controversial Member of Parliament (MP) Talaat El-Sadat announced Wednesday that he will run for parliament's top position.
El-Sadat, a controversial lawyer, nephew of former president Anwar El-Sadat and a fierce critic of the government, claims he was urged by National Democratic Party (NDP) members to contest Fathi Sorour over head-of-parliament candidacy. Sorour has been heading the People's Assembly (lower-house of parliament) for more than a decade, holding on to his seat despite harsh criticism and accusations of corruption.
El-Sadat's statement, which implies NDP support for his unexpected decision, sounds conflicting to the usual NDP stance toward El-Sadat, who, in many occasions, bad-mouthed the ruling party and accused it of corruption.
"National Democratic Party members contacted me and encouraged me to run against Fathi Sorour," El-Sadat told the press. "They believe that the parliament has lost its executive and legal authority."
El-Sadat, in Wednesday’s statements to independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm, said that his move aims to limit the government's control and monopoly in parliament, which is currently the norm, according to him. The MP also added that his campaign to run for the head position will start next November, as the new parliamentary session kicks off.
Notably, the parliament's agenda is full, as a list of much-debated constitutional amendments top the assembly's priorities.
"A full-fledged change is needed so that people would put their trust again in the assembly," said the outspoken El-Sadat.
El-Sadat has been in the limelight lately, often issuing shocking, and sometimes comical, statements against the government and its policies. El-Sadat is also a strong supporter of jailed politician and former presidential candidate Ayman Nour.
El-Sadat had a recent row with MP and NDP big-wig Ahmed Ezz, who works closely with politician, deputy secretary general of the party and President Hosni Mubarak’s son, Gamal Mubarak. The conflict between Ezz and El-Sadat reached its peak in parliament when the latter took off one of his shoes and threatened to hit Ezz – an act which was widely circulated in the press and much-criticized for its lack of decency.
El-Sadat had raised questions about Ezz's fortune – reported to exceed LE 40 billion and had doubted the integrity of the relatively young NDP leader.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3170
IHT/DSE: Nour objects to "democracy" letter
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 26, 2006
Wife says Interior Ministry "is trying to defame him"
CAIRO: Jailed politician Ayman Nour, his wife and supporters from El-Ghad party are furious about a letter that urges U.S. President George Bush to take action to free Nour. The letter, allegedly sent by activists living in various foreign and Arab countries, is meant “to defame Nour and destroy him morally,” comments Gameela Ismail, Nour’s wife and El-Ghad party spokesperson.
“As Arab and Muslim intellectuals and activists concerned about the promotion of democracy in our region, we urge you to reaffirm – in words and actions – America’s commitment to sustained democratic reform in the Arab world,” began the controversial letter sent out by the U.S.-based Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID).
The letter asked Bush to fulfill his promise during an earlier speech when he said “the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressor,” and that the United States will stand with those who stand for their liberty.
Notably, the letter contains the signatures of many high-profile activists and politicians, including some high profile El-Ghad members who vehemently deny ever seeing the letter.
El-Ghad published an official statement Sunday deeming the letter a “hoax” sent out by the Interior Ministry to defame Nour’s image and make him look like he was backed by the United States – backing negatively regarded by many political forces in Egypt and the Arab world.
On numerous occasions, opposition forces in Egypt have rejected what they saw as “foreign intervention” from the United States. The opposition heads said that even “goodwill” acts like imposing democracy or bolstering a political figure from their ranks were unacceptable, when done by a foreign country. Nour, himself, has publicly rejected any form of intervention as he himself was quoted as saying in a recent hearing held by the prosecution last Saturday.
The politician's “supporters,” on the other hand, stated in their letter that even though they realize that democracy "must ultimately come from within," they believe that encouragement and support from Western states is "badly need[ed]" in the Arab world.
"The minimum support the people of the region yearn for is … to break with 60 years of U.S. support for non-democratic regimes in the region, and to make that known to the world in unequivocal terms," read the letter. "This would be more consistent with the principles of the United States."
Nour's apparent “enthusiasts” urged the United States not to be affected by other countries’ experiments, and not to ignore the government’s crackdown on the opposition. The letter said that “some autocrats have recently intensified repression,” under the impression that U.S. support for democracy is wavering.
“This is a kind of political fraud,” said Amir Salem, Nour’s lawyer, in a published statement from El-Ghad headquarters. “I call this moral assassination, a personal injury to a figure [Nour] who in the first place refuses to go into discussion [about his case] with any foreign country, especially the United States.”
Strangely enough, the letter features the signature of Salem himself, who strongly denies knowing about the letter before it began circulating in the press and on the Internet. Salem said that he would never send a letter to Bush, since he regards the American leader as “another face of the coin of state terrorism.”
“The idea of contacting Bush has never crossed our minds during the past two years; not me, not Ayman Nour and not even El-Ghad party,” adds Salem.
Salem, backed by El-Ghad and Ismail, filed two complaints to the general prosecutor about the letter. Salem said he would sue the president of the center who had sent the letter in court for “stealing their names.”
In addition to El-Ghad members, the letter features names of political figures from top organizations inside Egypt, including Saad-Eddin Ibrahim’s Ibn Khaldun Center, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Sawasiya Center for Human Rights, the American University in Cairo and the Kenana Center for Research and Studies to name a few.
“This is a conspiracy,” comments Gameela Ismail in El-Ghad’s official statement in response to the letter. “Whoever is doing this is targeting Nour’s popularity and credibility among his supporters.”
“Our party believes in Nour’s innocence and in divine justice, we would never direct any calls to President Bush, or any other leader for that matter,” Ismail adds. Ismail was quoted by Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper as saying that she accuses the Ministry of the Interior of “masterminding such incidents” to defame her jailed husband and destroy him politically and morally.
Ismail had told The Daily Star Egypt last week that she does not measure American support for Nour anyway, and any statements made by President Bush, or the U.S. State Department are “all diplomatic statements, and they do not mean more than that.”
Ismail added that it is not the support of the United States that her husband awaits. "We never really gave that much attention to American support,” she said.
Nour was indicted in a forgery case in December of last year, following a fierce political battle against presidential candidates in Egypt’s first multi-candidate elections. The politician was sentenced to five years in prison, which he is currently serving in the ill-reputed Tora Mazraa Prison.
Nour was accused of faking member signatures needed to register and legitimize his liberal El-Ghad party. More charges were later added to the list. The politician was indicted with "assaulting and injuring members of the ruling party on the day of the presidential elections, insulting and distorting the image of Egypt's regime symbols and president of the state, [and name-calling] President Mubarak.”
The court of cassation had refused his lawyers’ successive requests for appeal. It has also refused to give the leader a pardon based on his medical condition, even though he suffers from diabetes and needs heart surgery.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3141
First Published: September 26, 2006
Wife says Interior Ministry "is trying to defame him"
CAIRO: Jailed politician Ayman Nour, his wife and supporters from El-Ghad party are furious about a letter that urges U.S. President George Bush to take action to free Nour. The letter, allegedly sent by activists living in various foreign and Arab countries, is meant “to defame Nour and destroy him morally,” comments Gameela Ismail, Nour’s wife and El-Ghad party spokesperson.
“As Arab and Muslim intellectuals and activists concerned about the promotion of democracy in our region, we urge you to reaffirm – in words and actions – America’s commitment to sustained democratic reform in the Arab world,” began the controversial letter sent out by the U.S.-based Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID).
The letter asked Bush to fulfill his promise during an earlier speech when he said “the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressor,” and that the United States will stand with those who stand for their liberty.
Notably, the letter contains the signatures of many high-profile activists and politicians, including some high profile El-Ghad members who vehemently deny ever seeing the letter.
El-Ghad published an official statement Sunday deeming the letter a “hoax” sent out by the Interior Ministry to defame Nour’s image and make him look like he was backed by the United States – backing negatively regarded by many political forces in Egypt and the Arab world.
On numerous occasions, opposition forces in Egypt have rejected what they saw as “foreign intervention” from the United States. The opposition heads said that even “goodwill” acts like imposing democracy or bolstering a political figure from their ranks were unacceptable, when done by a foreign country. Nour, himself, has publicly rejected any form of intervention as he himself was quoted as saying in a recent hearing held by the prosecution last Saturday.
The politician's “supporters,” on the other hand, stated in their letter that even though they realize that democracy "must ultimately come from within," they believe that encouragement and support from Western states is "badly need[ed]" in the Arab world.
"The minimum support the people of the region yearn for is … to break with 60 years of U.S. support for non-democratic regimes in the region, and to make that known to the world in unequivocal terms," read the letter. "This would be more consistent with the principles of the United States."
Nour's apparent “enthusiasts” urged the United States not to be affected by other countries’ experiments, and not to ignore the government’s crackdown on the opposition. The letter said that “some autocrats have recently intensified repression,” under the impression that U.S. support for democracy is wavering.
“This is a kind of political fraud,” said Amir Salem, Nour’s lawyer, in a published statement from El-Ghad headquarters. “I call this moral assassination, a personal injury to a figure [Nour] who in the first place refuses to go into discussion [about his case] with any foreign country, especially the United States.”
Strangely enough, the letter features the signature of Salem himself, who strongly denies knowing about the letter before it began circulating in the press and on the Internet. Salem said that he would never send a letter to Bush, since he regards the American leader as “another face of the coin of state terrorism.”
“The idea of contacting Bush has never crossed our minds during the past two years; not me, not Ayman Nour and not even El-Ghad party,” adds Salem.
Salem, backed by El-Ghad and Ismail, filed two complaints to the general prosecutor about the letter. Salem said he would sue the president of the center who had sent the letter in court for “stealing their names.”
In addition to El-Ghad members, the letter features names of political figures from top organizations inside Egypt, including Saad-Eddin Ibrahim’s Ibn Khaldun Center, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Sawasiya Center for Human Rights, the American University in Cairo and the Kenana Center for Research and Studies to name a few.
“This is a conspiracy,” comments Gameela Ismail in El-Ghad’s official statement in response to the letter. “Whoever is doing this is targeting Nour’s popularity and credibility among his supporters.”
“Our party believes in Nour’s innocence and in divine justice, we would never direct any calls to President Bush, or any other leader for that matter,” Ismail adds. Ismail was quoted by Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper as saying that she accuses the Ministry of the Interior of “masterminding such incidents” to defame her jailed husband and destroy him politically and morally.
Ismail had told The Daily Star Egypt last week that she does not measure American support for Nour anyway, and any statements made by President Bush, or the U.S. State Department are “all diplomatic statements, and they do not mean more than that.”
Ismail added that it is not the support of the United States that her husband awaits. "We never really gave that much attention to American support,” she said.
Nour was indicted in a forgery case in December of last year, following a fierce political battle against presidential candidates in Egypt’s first multi-candidate elections. The politician was sentenced to five years in prison, which he is currently serving in the ill-reputed Tora Mazraa Prison.
Nour was accused of faking member signatures needed to register and legitimize his liberal El-Ghad party. More charges were later added to the list. The politician was indicted with "assaulting and injuring members of the ruling party on the day of the presidential elections, insulting and distorting the image of Egypt's regime symbols and president of the state, [and name-calling] President Mubarak.”
The court of cassation had refused his lawyers’ successive requests for appeal. It has also refused to give the leader a pardon based on his medical condition, even though he suffers from diabetes and needs heart surgery.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3141
IHT/DSE: Human rights group reports widespread torture in Egypt’s prisons and police stations
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 26, 2006
CAIRO: Torture in Egypt’s prisons and police stations is almost systematic, claims the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) in its recent report on conditions in Egyptian prisons. With dozens dead as a result of torture, the report claims, the organization has asked for a full and independent investigation into such reports.
EOHR cited more than 150 torture cases, in which at least 80 resulted in death between the years 2000 and 2005. Degrading, inhumane and illegal treatment of prisoners was first and foremost in written complaints sent to officials and human rights groups by the prisoners themselves, their lawyers or their families.
The written petitions do not count as evidence. However, the failure of the authorities to follow up an investigation based on these complaints by performing a medical examination on the prisoners in order to confirm or disprove these allegations has led many human rights groups to believe the allegations are true.
On numerous occasions, prisons have rejected requests by international and local prisoners’ rights groups to visit their facilities and examine the conditions of the prisoners, or the prisons themselves.
“Torture continued to be used systematically in detention centers throughout the country,” read a recent Amnesty International Egypt report. “Several people died in custody in circumstances suggesting that torture or ill-treatment may have caused or contributed to their deaths.”
Both EOHR and Amnesty recounted examples of such treatment. According to EOHR, in 38 reported cases – inside police stations and detention centers – “these people were hand-beaten, punched, [and] kicked … had cigarette burns … their clothes were removed, were tied up and were beaten by water hosepipes and were dragged on the ground.”
In some cases detention is illegitimate, abrupt and secret, followed by inadequate investigation, says EOHR in its almost 50 page report published last week. “The secret detention normally leads to torture and then to death [inside the facility].”
Most of the torture victims are political prisoners, cites EOHR, supported by international organizations such as Amnesty and Committee Against Torture (CAT). Many cases are reported in prisons outside Cairo, such as the Tora Mazra Prison, where prominent Muslim Brotherhood leaders and politicians like Ayman Nour are currently held.
Amnesty, in its latest report on systematic torture in prison said that many members of the Muslim Brotherhood were reportedly “tortured for several days after being taken from Mazra’at Tora Prison (Tora Mazra), where they were held in preventive detention to the State Security Intelligence branch in Madinat Nasr (Nasr City), Cairo.”
According to Amnesty, these members were “beaten, suspended by the wrists or ankles and given electric shocks; some of them reportedly sustained broken bones and ribs as a result.”
This group of 60 members was arrested in run-up elections of the Shura Council (upper house of parliament). In this and other such cases, the members are usually initially accused of affiliation with or membership in a banned group and possession and distribution of anti-regime leaflets and flyers.
“Several others were also apparently denied medical attention in prison; one prisoner reportedly died as a result,” read Amnesty’s report. “Following his death, members of a parliamentary committee visited the detainees to investigate allegations of torture and later confirmed these allegations. The detention order for the group was renewed several times before all of them were released without charge.”
Officials in Egypt, mainly Interior Ministry spokesmen, have denied the occurrence of any acts of torture, saying that some reports are exaggerated and that many prisoners claim torture to obtain a pardon in court.
The Interior Ministry, however, often refuses to call for an immediate investigation to assess prisoners’ allegations.
In Act I in the Convention Against Torture put down by CAT, torture is defined as “Any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person…”
At the end of the report, EOHR issued recommendations on how to end what they referred to as “a phenomenon” that has plagued Egypt’s detention system. One of the main demands of the report was to abolish the decades-long Emergency Law, by which sudden and arbitrary detention is justified and sanctioned. Notably, the law is to be replaced in the course of the next two years by an anti-terror bill, which the opposition often claims is the old law “featuring a different name.”
EOHR also called upon the authorities to issue a law under which the executive authority, including police forces, would answer to the Ministry of Justice, and such an authority should agree to and abide by international prisoners’ rights laws. The prosecution should also perform methodical inquisition at the prisons and detention facilities on a periodical basis and in the presence of a committee that includes judiciary members, lawyers and a professional and independent medical team. Human rights groups should also be allowed to make their own inquiries, suggested the report.
The report published by EOHR has spurred political forces and Islamic groups like the Muslim Brotherhood to re-open what they have called “the file of prisoners of conscience,” where according to the Brotherhood their members have been discriminated against, ill treated and harassed for the past 25 years.
Mohammad Mahdi Akef, supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, told the press this week that they would re-investigate their cases and present them openly in the People’s Assembly through Brotherhood-affiliated MPs.
According to Akef, this report marks the time when the group and these “repressed” members would ask for justice and for their rights, and start questioning the Interior Ministry’s conduct towards detainees.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3135
First Published: September 26, 2006
CAIRO: Torture in Egypt’s prisons and police stations is almost systematic, claims the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) in its recent report on conditions in Egyptian prisons. With dozens dead as a result of torture, the report claims, the organization has asked for a full and independent investigation into such reports.
EOHR cited more than 150 torture cases, in which at least 80 resulted in death between the years 2000 and 2005. Degrading, inhumane and illegal treatment of prisoners was first and foremost in written complaints sent to officials and human rights groups by the prisoners themselves, their lawyers or their families.
The written petitions do not count as evidence. However, the failure of the authorities to follow up an investigation based on these complaints by performing a medical examination on the prisoners in order to confirm or disprove these allegations has led many human rights groups to believe the allegations are true.
On numerous occasions, prisons have rejected requests by international and local prisoners’ rights groups to visit their facilities and examine the conditions of the prisoners, or the prisons themselves.
“Torture continued to be used systematically in detention centers throughout the country,” read a recent Amnesty International Egypt report. “Several people died in custody in circumstances suggesting that torture or ill-treatment may have caused or contributed to their deaths.”
Both EOHR and Amnesty recounted examples of such treatment. According to EOHR, in 38 reported cases – inside police stations and detention centers – “these people were hand-beaten, punched, [and] kicked … had cigarette burns … their clothes were removed, were tied up and were beaten by water hosepipes and were dragged on the ground.”
In some cases detention is illegitimate, abrupt and secret, followed by inadequate investigation, says EOHR in its almost 50 page report published last week. “The secret detention normally leads to torture and then to death [inside the facility].”
Most of the torture victims are political prisoners, cites EOHR, supported by international organizations such as Amnesty and Committee Against Torture (CAT). Many cases are reported in prisons outside Cairo, such as the Tora Mazra Prison, where prominent Muslim Brotherhood leaders and politicians like Ayman Nour are currently held.
Amnesty, in its latest report on systematic torture in prison said that many members of the Muslim Brotherhood were reportedly “tortured for several days after being taken from Mazra’at Tora Prison (Tora Mazra), where they were held in preventive detention to the State Security Intelligence branch in Madinat Nasr (Nasr City), Cairo.”
According to Amnesty, these members were “beaten, suspended by the wrists or ankles and given electric shocks; some of them reportedly sustained broken bones and ribs as a result.”
This group of 60 members was arrested in run-up elections of the Shura Council (upper house of parliament). In this and other such cases, the members are usually initially accused of affiliation with or membership in a banned group and possession and distribution of anti-regime leaflets and flyers.
“Several others were also apparently denied medical attention in prison; one prisoner reportedly died as a result,” read Amnesty’s report. “Following his death, members of a parliamentary committee visited the detainees to investigate allegations of torture and later confirmed these allegations. The detention order for the group was renewed several times before all of them were released without charge.”
Officials in Egypt, mainly Interior Ministry spokesmen, have denied the occurrence of any acts of torture, saying that some reports are exaggerated and that many prisoners claim torture to obtain a pardon in court.
The Interior Ministry, however, often refuses to call for an immediate investigation to assess prisoners’ allegations.
In Act I in the Convention Against Torture put down by CAT, torture is defined as “Any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person…”
At the end of the report, EOHR issued recommendations on how to end what they referred to as “a phenomenon” that has plagued Egypt’s detention system. One of the main demands of the report was to abolish the decades-long Emergency Law, by which sudden and arbitrary detention is justified and sanctioned. Notably, the law is to be replaced in the course of the next two years by an anti-terror bill, which the opposition often claims is the old law “featuring a different name.”
EOHR also called upon the authorities to issue a law under which the executive authority, including police forces, would answer to the Ministry of Justice, and such an authority should agree to and abide by international prisoners’ rights laws. The prosecution should also perform methodical inquisition at the prisons and detention facilities on a periodical basis and in the presence of a committee that includes judiciary members, lawyers and a professional and independent medical team. Human rights groups should also be allowed to make their own inquiries, suggested the report.
The report published by EOHR has spurred political forces and Islamic groups like the Muslim Brotherhood to re-open what they have called “the file of prisoners of conscience,” where according to the Brotherhood their members have been discriminated against, ill treated and harassed for the past 25 years.
Mohammad Mahdi Akef, supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, told the press this week that they would re-investigate their cases and present them openly in the People’s Assembly through Brotherhood-affiliated MPs.
According to Akef, this report marks the time when the group and these “repressed” members would ask for justice and for their rights, and start questioning the Interior Ministry’s conduct towards detainees.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3135
IHT/DSE: Al-Karama rouses anger and debate
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 25, 2006
CAIRO: Cairo-based Al-Karama newspaper, published by Al-Karama political group – functioning much as a party and referring to itself as one – has stirred up anger and debate as it published a series of features about the "achievements" of Moamar Al-Gaddafi, revolutionary leader of neighboring Libya.
Al-Gaddafi, who has been in power for 37 years and shows no signs of being ready to leave office, is regarded by many as an eccentric individual.
From shocking statements, politically incorrect comments about Middle East affairs to a rather distinctive manner of dress – often donning robes, thick glasses and a turban and wearing high heels – Al-Gaddafi has often turned heads and raised eyebrows at Arab summits and high-profile meetings.
Nevertheless, Al-Karama (Dignity), a socialist, Nasserite party-like group, has chosen to sing his praises on the pages of their newly founded newspaper. The paper dedicated a full-fledged supplement to Libyan accomplishments, focusing on Al-Gaddafi's “legacy” and featuring the headline "37 years of achievement."
Al-Karama paper and party-to-be was founded by lower house MP Hamdein Sabahi and is renowned for advocating socialist ideas and denouncing internal government policies. One of its top members is Kefaya (Enough) movement co-founder Abdel-Halim Qandil.
In its headlines, the Egyptian "nationalist" newspaper has often been a fierce critic of the ruling government for "monopolizing" the ruling position for more than 25 years.
The newspaper has often accused the government of oppressing opposition and stamping out political diversity, to the point where the High Council for Journalism has questioned its conduct.
Libya, being an extremely closed country closely controlled by Al-Gaddafi and his council, features no political diversity. Democracy is not appropriately endorsed. Political parties are constitutionally banned.
Although civil societies and non-governmental organizations are permitted, their number is small, their activities are largely monitored and they are strictly required to follow national goals, outlined by the revolutionary committees.
In short, the Libyan regime is considered highly authoritarian, leaving little, if no, space for the opposition to express its opinion freely. Laws practically criminalize peaceful exercises of expression.
The media in Libya is mostly owned by the state. Censorship is systematic in the private media, which has very few outlets. Libya's foreign policies are waning; its relationship to the West is impaired and tarnished by recently-removed sanctions that had been placed on it by the United States.
Human rights abuses have been reported by international human rights groups throughout the country. Arbitrary and secret detention, torture and death in custody have also occurred periodically.
"Unfair trials, particularly before People’s Courts established in 1988, continue to be reported," said Amnesty International in its latest country report on Libya. "Legislation remained in force that provides for the death penalty for activities which solely amount to the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and association."
The New York-based Human Rights Watch also deemed the country "abusive" and published a report last week condemning Libya's conduct toward migrants and asylum seekers.
"The Libyan government subjects migrants, asylum seekers and refugees to serious human rights abuses," read the report, "including beatings, arbitrary arrests and forced return."
In June, the same human rights group had published a report about possible "killings" inside Tripoli's prisons. "Stories began to filter out of Libya about a mass killing in Tripoli’s Abu Salim prison … Libyan groups outside the country said up to 1,200 prisoners had died."
Arguably, it is no surprise that political activists are "shocked" over Al-Karama's praise of the country. Some of Egypt’s top political bloggers have even accused Al-Karama of taking funds from the neighboring Arab state.
"The matter is clear, no documents are needed … photographs or videos … the supplement was printed, distributed and sold. People have in their hands material evidence of [Al-Karama's] crime," wrote Wael Abbas, political writer, Kefaya member and owner of Misr Digital blogspot. Abbas added that there is no justification for their "betrayal and receipt of funding."
Another political blogger and activist, nicknamed Assad, said that such behavior from Al-Karama implies "a double standard," where the group seems to fight an internal battle against what they deem a repressive government in Egypt while supporting yet another "abusive" regime in Libya.
"How could you swear that you will never allow succession of power from [Hosni] Mubarak to his son, while you politically campaign for the succession of Seif Al-Islam Al-Gaddafi [Al-Gaddafi's son]?" asked Assad, under the title "Pity Al-Karama."
Al-Karama has been denied a party license by the Political Parties Court for several years. The group, however, has been allowed to publish a “partisan newspaper.” They have also established an official headquarters, where they recruit members.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3120
First Published: September 25, 2006
CAIRO: Cairo-based Al-Karama newspaper, published by Al-Karama political group – functioning much as a party and referring to itself as one – has stirred up anger and debate as it published a series of features about the "achievements" of Moamar Al-Gaddafi, revolutionary leader of neighboring Libya.
Al-Gaddafi, who has been in power for 37 years and shows no signs of being ready to leave office, is regarded by many as an eccentric individual.
From shocking statements, politically incorrect comments about Middle East affairs to a rather distinctive manner of dress – often donning robes, thick glasses and a turban and wearing high heels – Al-Gaddafi has often turned heads and raised eyebrows at Arab summits and high-profile meetings.
Nevertheless, Al-Karama (Dignity), a socialist, Nasserite party-like group, has chosen to sing his praises on the pages of their newly founded newspaper. The paper dedicated a full-fledged supplement to Libyan accomplishments, focusing on Al-Gaddafi's “legacy” and featuring the headline "37 years of achievement."
Al-Karama paper and party-to-be was founded by lower house MP Hamdein Sabahi and is renowned for advocating socialist ideas and denouncing internal government policies. One of its top members is Kefaya (Enough) movement co-founder Abdel-Halim Qandil.
In its headlines, the Egyptian "nationalist" newspaper has often been a fierce critic of the ruling government for "monopolizing" the ruling position for more than 25 years.
The newspaper has often accused the government of oppressing opposition and stamping out political diversity, to the point where the High Council for Journalism has questioned its conduct.
Libya, being an extremely closed country closely controlled by Al-Gaddafi and his council, features no political diversity. Democracy is not appropriately endorsed. Political parties are constitutionally banned.
Although civil societies and non-governmental organizations are permitted, their number is small, their activities are largely monitored and they are strictly required to follow national goals, outlined by the revolutionary committees.
In short, the Libyan regime is considered highly authoritarian, leaving little, if no, space for the opposition to express its opinion freely. Laws practically criminalize peaceful exercises of expression.
The media in Libya is mostly owned by the state. Censorship is systematic in the private media, which has very few outlets. Libya's foreign policies are waning; its relationship to the West is impaired and tarnished by recently-removed sanctions that had been placed on it by the United States.
Human rights abuses have been reported by international human rights groups throughout the country. Arbitrary and secret detention, torture and death in custody have also occurred periodically.
"Unfair trials, particularly before People’s Courts established in 1988, continue to be reported," said Amnesty International in its latest country report on Libya. "Legislation remained in force that provides for the death penalty for activities which solely amount to the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and association."
The New York-based Human Rights Watch also deemed the country "abusive" and published a report last week condemning Libya's conduct toward migrants and asylum seekers.
"The Libyan government subjects migrants, asylum seekers and refugees to serious human rights abuses," read the report, "including beatings, arbitrary arrests and forced return."
In June, the same human rights group had published a report about possible "killings" inside Tripoli's prisons. "Stories began to filter out of Libya about a mass killing in Tripoli’s Abu Salim prison … Libyan groups outside the country said up to 1,200 prisoners had died."
Arguably, it is no surprise that political activists are "shocked" over Al-Karama's praise of the country. Some of Egypt’s top political bloggers have even accused Al-Karama of taking funds from the neighboring Arab state.
"The matter is clear, no documents are needed … photographs or videos … the supplement was printed, distributed and sold. People have in their hands material evidence of [Al-Karama's] crime," wrote Wael Abbas, political writer, Kefaya member and owner of Misr Digital blogspot. Abbas added that there is no justification for their "betrayal and receipt of funding."
Another political blogger and activist, nicknamed Assad, said that such behavior from Al-Karama implies "a double standard," where the group seems to fight an internal battle against what they deem a repressive government in Egypt while supporting yet another "abusive" regime in Libya.
"How could you swear that you will never allow succession of power from [Hosni] Mubarak to his son, while you politically campaign for the succession of Seif Al-Islam Al-Gaddafi [Al-Gaddafi's son]?" asked Assad, under the title "Pity Al-Karama."
Al-Karama has been denied a party license by the Political Parties Court for several years. The group, however, has been allowed to publish a “partisan newspaper.” They have also established an official headquarters, where they recruit members.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3120
IHT/DSE: Back to basics for aspiring writers
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 19, 2006
Creative writing workshop encourages young writers to express themselves in their native language
CAIRO: In an attempt to resurrect a passion for Arabic writing, Maadi’s Kotob Khan bookstore recently launched a creative writing workshop for young Arabic speakers and writers-to-be.
The program examines the rough works of young Egyptian aspiring writers; around 12 participants, mostly college students in their early and mid 20s. The participants are enthusiastic (one medical student comes from Tanta especially to attend the workshops in Cairo). But some have expressed what they perceive as “a struggle” to write in their native tongue as the interest and emphasis on foreign languages, with English topping the list, has increased across Egypt.
The participants often talk about difficulties facing them, such as a lack of confidence in their work and in their abilities, the difficulty of searching for “the right word” or the “right expression” during the course of the writing process.
The roundtable discussions and editing are usually held in a friendly and cozy atmosphere in the café area, located in the heart of the Book Market (as the name of the bookstore translates from Arabic) and moderated by the bookstore owner Karam Youssef and Yasser Abdel-Latif, a published poet and young professional writer.
The young writers show their work, read it aloud and pose questions. The work is reviewed by their peers and critiqued by the moderators as well as the other participants, who in turn pluck up the courage and come forward with their own personal writing.
Issues like structure, voice of the writer, envisioning the audience, placing the story in a specific place and time and connecting it to a larger context were all issues that came up during last week’s Wednesday session.
The moderators often gave examples from world and regional literary work, during the assessment process, and recommend readings from different genres.
“In order to write about the world, the writer has to know his [or her] self first,” was one piece of advice Abdel-Latif gave the younger amateur writers. “Through this, you recognize your tone, you find your voice and it comes out throughout your writing.”
“Reading your own history is also essential. Examine this, ‘What made me who I am?’” Abdel-Latif told the participants. “Talk about what’s personal, very personal. Confess and the people will believe you and relate [to your written words].”
In an interview with The Daily Star Egypt, Abdel-Latif confesses that he does not regard himself as being on a higher level than the young writers who have come to learn from his experience.
“The relationship is not linear,” he says.
During the workshop, the writers-to-be often present their own insight into the process of writing, at times agreeing and at others disagreeing with the moderators and their fellows.
Abdel-Latif said he perceived initiative and good potential from the positive discussions. “Some of the works are also very mature, and you see the personalities stemming out of the writings,” he comments. “This group could produce two or even three very good writers,” says Abdel-Latif. “It also gives me faith. I thought interest in Arabic literature had died here in Egypt but then I saw these people here, open-minded and young … and wanting to write in their own language.”
“I’m also happy I could help these young people fulfill their urge and find their desire from language … because it is easy to get lost. Guidance is needed,” he added.
Although for many of the participants, the workshop is a way to polish their writing skills and free the writer within, for others the activity of learning to write in their native tongue touches on deeper issues: identity, belonging or even a sense of nationalism.
“I want to learn Arabic – I want to learn it because I want to belong … and to be proud,” says Dalia El-Abd, one participant.
For El-Abd, it was apparent that the creative workshop is a way of belonging to her Arabic roots, and to her own “pride” as an Egyptian.
“This idea is a savior: to us, to the language, to the culture and to our way of thinking… It is swimming against the current,” says El-Abd, further explaining her beliefs as to how the Egyptian media, education and culture are becoming more and more westernized and “alienated from the Arabic language” and the culture it represents.
“People want to reach shore, get home. Unconsciously we feel out of place. That’s why there are trends towards religion and [learning] Arabic,” she adds, “Because we’re trying to belong.”
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3046
First Published: September 19, 2006
Creative writing workshop encourages young writers to express themselves in their native language
CAIRO: In an attempt to resurrect a passion for Arabic writing, Maadi’s Kotob Khan bookstore recently launched a creative writing workshop for young Arabic speakers and writers-to-be.
The program examines the rough works of young Egyptian aspiring writers; around 12 participants, mostly college students in their early and mid 20s. The participants are enthusiastic (one medical student comes from Tanta especially to attend the workshops in Cairo). But some have expressed what they perceive as “a struggle” to write in their native tongue as the interest and emphasis on foreign languages, with English topping the list, has increased across Egypt.
The participants often talk about difficulties facing them, such as a lack of confidence in their work and in their abilities, the difficulty of searching for “the right word” or the “right expression” during the course of the writing process.
The roundtable discussions and editing are usually held in a friendly and cozy atmosphere in the café area, located in the heart of the Book Market (as the name of the bookstore translates from Arabic) and moderated by the bookstore owner Karam Youssef and Yasser Abdel-Latif, a published poet and young professional writer.
The young writers show their work, read it aloud and pose questions. The work is reviewed by their peers and critiqued by the moderators as well as the other participants, who in turn pluck up the courage and come forward with their own personal writing.
Issues like structure, voice of the writer, envisioning the audience, placing the story in a specific place and time and connecting it to a larger context were all issues that came up during last week’s Wednesday session.
The moderators often gave examples from world and regional literary work, during the assessment process, and recommend readings from different genres.
“In order to write about the world, the writer has to know his [or her] self first,” was one piece of advice Abdel-Latif gave the younger amateur writers. “Through this, you recognize your tone, you find your voice and it comes out throughout your writing.”
“Reading your own history is also essential. Examine this, ‘What made me who I am?’” Abdel-Latif told the participants. “Talk about what’s personal, very personal. Confess and the people will believe you and relate [to your written words].”
In an interview with The Daily Star Egypt, Abdel-Latif confesses that he does not regard himself as being on a higher level than the young writers who have come to learn from his experience.
“The relationship is not linear,” he says.
During the workshop, the writers-to-be often present their own insight into the process of writing, at times agreeing and at others disagreeing with the moderators and their fellows.
Abdel-Latif said he perceived initiative and good potential from the positive discussions. “Some of the works are also very mature, and you see the personalities stemming out of the writings,” he comments. “This group could produce two or even three very good writers,” says Abdel-Latif. “It also gives me faith. I thought interest in Arabic literature had died here in Egypt but then I saw these people here, open-minded and young … and wanting to write in their own language.”
“I’m also happy I could help these young people fulfill their urge and find their desire from language … because it is easy to get lost. Guidance is needed,” he added.
Although for many of the participants, the workshop is a way to polish their writing skills and free the writer within, for others the activity of learning to write in their native tongue touches on deeper issues: identity, belonging or even a sense of nationalism.
“I want to learn Arabic – I want to learn it because I want to belong … and to be proud,” says Dalia El-Abd, one participant.
For El-Abd, it was apparent that the creative workshop is a way of belonging to her Arabic roots, and to her own “pride” as an Egyptian.
“This idea is a savior: to us, to the language, to the culture and to our way of thinking… It is swimming against the current,” says El-Abd, further explaining her beliefs as to how the Egyptian media, education and culture are becoming more and more westernized and “alienated from the Arabic language” and the culture it represents.
“People want to reach shore, get home. Unconsciously we feel out of place. That’s why there are trends towards religion and [learning] Arabic,” she adds, “Because we’re trying to belong.”
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3046
IHT/DSE: Imprisoned opposition leader Nour speaks out from prison
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 18, 2006
CAIRO: One year after President Hosni Mubarak was reelected president in Egypt's first multi-candidate elections, jailed politician Ayman Nour sent a letter from prison thanking "those who elected me and those who imprisoned me."
"One year has passed since that day on September 7, 2005 when millions of Egyptians looked for their votes in vain," Nour wrote in his letter. "The doors they knocked on were slammed in their faces because those who refused to allow them to vote using the ID cards restricted this right to 25 percent of the citizens to whom they gave the right to choose their ruler."
Nour was indicted in a forgery case in December last year, following a fierce battle against other presidential candidates, with the National Democratic Party's candidate topping the list. The activist politician was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly forging member applications needed to register and legitimize his liberal El-Ghad (the tomorrow) party.
In February this year more charges were added to the list. The politician was charged with "assaulting and injuring members of the ruling party on the day of the presidential elections, insulting and distorting the image of Egypt's regime symbols and president of the state, [and name-calling] President Mubarak," according to Nour's official Web site.
The court of cassation has refused his request for appeal.
"Today completes a year of hope and pain," wrote Nour, who is currently spending his term in Tora Mazraa Prison on the outskirts of Cairo. Tora Mazraa is one prison where many prisoners' rights have been violated, according to recent reports by local and international human rights and prisoners’ rights groups.
According to Nour, the fight for democracy will continue and the people who desire change and reform are capable of bringing about change with "their bare hands," despite difficulties and "censorship."
Using his own words, "the people's living dreams represent a statement the strongest censor can not erase. He may be able to postpone them but he does not have the power to erase them or avoid their explosion."
Recently, Nour's supporters wrote an open letter to U.S. President George Bush urging the American president for reaffirmation "in words and actions" on America's commitment to democratic reform in Egypt and the Arab world.
His supporters said they were making the request as "Arab and Muslim intellectuals and activists concerned about the promotion of democracy in our region."
"It is our belief that the main problem with U.S. policies in the Middle East (in particular in Iraq, Palestine, and elsewhere) is precisely their failure to live up to America’s democratic ideals of liberty and justice for all," wrote Nour's cohorts.
Last week in an interview, Bush praised a group of National Democratic Party (NDP) leaders close to the president’s son and NDP leader Gamal Mubarak. Bush eagerly stated that he was impressed by these "young reformers." His statement was taken to imply support, or at least accommodation, for the much-criticized ruling party, a possible blow to the fight for democracy in Egypt.
The politician's supporters, in their letter, stated that even though they realize that democracy "must ultimately come from within," they believed that encouragement and support from Western states is "badly need[ed]" in the Arab world.
"The minimum support the people of the region yearn for is … to break with 60 years of U.S. support for non-democratic regimes in the region, and to make that known to the world in unequivocal terms," read the letter. "This would be more consistent with the principles of the United States."
In his interview, when asked about the case of Ayman Nour, Bush said he was "disappointed," but showed reluctance to openly condemn the insistence of the Egyptian government to keep him behind bars. The American president said he supported Nour's release, but President Mubarak "will make those decisions [to release Nour] based upon his own laws."
Commenting, leader-at-large of Kefaya (Enough) movement George Ishaq previously told The Daily Star Egypt that, most probably, after the U.S. State Department saw Islamists such as Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood coming to power, it became indisposed to bolster democracy.
"We know that some in the United States, worried by recent Islamist gains … are having doubts about the wisdom of pushing for freedom and democracy in the Middle East," wrote the supporters, touching on the same issue that Ishaq referred to. "However, there is no way to advance liberty without inclusion of all elements that are willing to abide by democratic rules and reject violence."
"Democratic participation is the only way to combat extremism and pressure all groups, including Islamists, to moderate their stance."
Seemingly in accord with the Kefaya leader, Nour's enthusiasts, in their letter, have also expressed concern that the U.S. attitude toward democracy will be affected by the Palestinian or Egyptian experiments, and thus indirectly encourage government crackdown on opposition.
"Perhaps emboldened by the impression that America is wavering in its support for democracy, some autocrats have recently intensified repression," read the letter.
However, Gamilla Ismail, El-Ghad party spokesperson and Nour’s wife, tells The Daily Star Egypt that she sees the American statements in a different light.
"They are all diplomatic statements, and they do not mean more than that," she says, referring to Bush's aforementioned statements.
"Bush and the U.S. State Department know very well that politically and economically reform is not existent and has not yet been achieved," says Ismail, who adds that she does not believe any American support to the NDP "was seriously meant."
Whether the support for Nour has decreased, a notion suggested by some, Ismail said that Nour and his supporters never tried to measure the support the Americans had given the politician before.
"We never really gave that much attention to the American support, as to whether it's increasing or decreasing."
Meanwhile, the imprisoned political leader's family continues to fight for his release. In June, his family announced that they had collected signatures of 110 "honest representatives" in parliament, from different political and partisan backgrounds, on a document calling for a pardon for Nour.
In an Internet statement, the family deemed the representatives’ support a move which "rises above political disagreements and that goes beyond party agreement, a [move] that translates the missing spirit which we regain during hard times and find that we all share, regardless of where we stand or our different points of view."
Reportedly, opposition MP Talaat El-Sadat, a controversial figure in parliament and a relative of former President Anwar El-Sadat, has adopted the initiative of pushing to release Nour in parliament. The MP's idea was supported by Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated MPs and leaders from Al-Wafd, Al-Tagammu and Al-Karama political groups, who all signed the petition.
Whether she believes it is effective enough to change the status of the jailed political leader, Ismail said that “so far” the petition is getting no response.
"Apparently, it’s a personal issue between Mubarak and his family [on one side] and Ayman Nour [on another]. Clearly, the support of America … or even almost two thirds of the [People's] Assembly … will not differ much."
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3026
First Published: September 18, 2006
CAIRO: One year after President Hosni Mubarak was reelected president in Egypt's first multi-candidate elections, jailed politician Ayman Nour sent a letter from prison thanking "those who elected me and those who imprisoned me."
"One year has passed since that day on September 7, 2005 when millions of Egyptians looked for their votes in vain," Nour wrote in his letter. "The doors they knocked on were slammed in their faces because those who refused to allow them to vote using the ID cards restricted this right to 25 percent of the citizens to whom they gave the right to choose their ruler."
Nour was indicted in a forgery case in December last year, following a fierce battle against other presidential candidates, with the National Democratic Party's candidate topping the list. The activist politician was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly forging member applications needed to register and legitimize his liberal El-Ghad (the tomorrow) party.
In February this year more charges were added to the list. The politician was charged with "assaulting and injuring members of the ruling party on the day of the presidential elections, insulting and distorting the image of Egypt's regime symbols and president of the state, [and name-calling] President Mubarak," according to Nour's official Web site.
The court of cassation has refused his request for appeal.
"Today completes a year of hope and pain," wrote Nour, who is currently spending his term in Tora Mazraa Prison on the outskirts of Cairo. Tora Mazraa is one prison where many prisoners' rights have been violated, according to recent reports by local and international human rights and prisoners’ rights groups.
According to Nour, the fight for democracy will continue and the people who desire change and reform are capable of bringing about change with "their bare hands," despite difficulties and "censorship."
Using his own words, "the people's living dreams represent a statement the strongest censor can not erase. He may be able to postpone them but he does not have the power to erase them or avoid their explosion."
Recently, Nour's supporters wrote an open letter to U.S. President George Bush urging the American president for reaffirmation "in words and actions" on America's commitment to democratic reform in Egypt and the Arab world.
His supporters said they were making the request as "Arab and Muslim intellectuals and activists concerned about the promotion of democracy in our region."
"It is our belief that the main problem with U.S. policies in the Middle East (in particular in Iraq, Palestine, and elsewhere) is precisely their failure to live up to America’s democratic ideals of liberty and justice for all," wrote Nour's cohorts.
Last week in an interview, Bush praised a group of National Democratic Party (NDP) leaders close to the president’s son and NDP leader Gamal Mubarak. Bush eagerly stated that he was impressed by these "young reformers." His statement was taken to imply support, or at least accommodation, for the much-criticized ruling party, a possible blow to the fight for democracy in Egypt.
The politician's supporters, in their letter, stated that even though they realize that democracy "must ultimately come from within," they believed that encouragement and support from Western states is "badly need[ed]" in the Arab world.
"The minimum support the people of the region yearn for is … to break with 60 years of U.S. support for non-democratic regimes in the region, and to make that known to the world in unequivocal terms," read the letter. "This would be more consistent with the principles of the United States."
In his interview, when asked about the case of Ayman Nour, Bush said he was "disappointed," but showed reluctance to openly condemn the insistence of the Egyptian government to keep him behind bars. The American president said he supported Nour's release, but President Mubarak "will make those decisions [to release Nour] based upon his own laws."
Commenting, leader-at-large of Kefaya (Enough) movement George Ishaq previously told The Daily Star Egypt that, most probably, after the U.S. State Department saw Islamists such as Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood coming to power, it became indisposed to bolster democracy.
"We know that some in the United States, worried by recent Islamist gains … are having doubts about the wisdom of pushing for freedom and democracy in the Middle East," wrote the supporters, touching on the same issue that Ishaq referred to. "However, there is no way to advance liberty without inclusion of all elements that are willing to abide by democratic rules and reject violence."
"Democratic participation is the only way to combat extremism and pressure all groups, including Islamists, to moderate their stance."
Seemingly in accord with the Kefaya leader, Nour's enthusiasts, in their letter, have also expressed concern that the U.S. attitude toward democracy will be affected by the Palestinian or Egyptian experiments, and thus indirectly encourage government crackdown on opposition.
"Perhaps emboldened by the impression that America is wavering in its support for democracy, some autocrats have recently intensified repression," read the letter.
However, Gamilla Ismail, El-Ghad party spokesperson and Nour’s wife, tells The Daily Star Egypt that she sees the American statements in a different light.
"They are all diplomatic statements, and they do not mean more than that," she says, referring to Bush's aforementioned statements.
"Bush and the U.S. State Department know very well that politically and economically reform is not existent and has not yet been achieved," says Ismail, who adds that she does not believe any American support to the NDP "was seriously meant."
Whether the support for Nour has decreased, a notion suggested by some, Ismail said that Nour and his supporters never tried to measure the support the Americans had given the politician before.
"We never really gave that much attention to the American support, as to whether it's increasing or decreasing."
Meanwhile, the imprisoned political leader's family continues to fight for his release. In June, his family announced that they had collected signatures of 110 "honest representatives" in parliament, from different political and partisan backgrounds, on a document calling for a pardon for Nour.
In an Internet statement, the family deemed the representatives’ support a move which "rises above political disagreements and that goes beyond party agreement, a [move] that translates the missing spirit which we regain during hard times and find that we all share, regardless of where we stand or our different points of view."
Reportedly, opposition MP Talaat El-Sadat, a controversial figure in parliament and a relative of former President Anwar El-Sadat, has adopted the initiative of pushing to release Nour in parliament. The MP's idea was supported by Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated MPs and leaders from Al-Wafd, Al-Tagammu and Al-Karama political groups, who all signed the petition.
Whether she believes it is effective enough to change the status of the jailed political leader, Ismail said that “so far” the petition is getting no response.
"Apparently, it’s a personal issue between Mubarak and his family [on one side] and Ayman Nour [on another]. Clearly, the support of America … or even almost two thirds of the [People's] Assembly … will not differ much."
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3026
IHT/DSE: Opposition forces say American president’s statements imply he wants Gamal in office
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 14, 2006
CAIRO: U.S. President George Bush’s praise for a group of top National Democratic Party (NDP) members close to the president’s son and high-profile NDP figure Gamal Mubarak has sparked angry remarks from principal political forces.
Bush’s eager statements were taken to imply support, or at least accommodation, for the much-criticized ruling party. If this is the case, the support empowers the party and, in turn, a government that has been in office for more than 25 years.
In his statements Tuesday, Bush told the press that he is impressed by “young reformers” close to the younger Mubarak, who is currently the head of the NDP’s political policies committee. Bush also included Rachid Mohamed Rachid, minister of trade and industry, in his praise.
"I've talked to ... a group of young reformers who are now in government. There's an impressive group of younger Egyptians, the trade minister and some of the economic people, that understand the promise and the difficulties of democracy," Bush told The Wall Street Journal in an interview Sunday. Notably, the “younger Egyptians” that President Bush seems to be referring to are mostly in their fifties.
George Ishaq, leading opposition leader, commented that Bush’s statements imply support for an “undemocratic regime.”
Recently, especially since forces like the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas reached power through elections, the American government has come to follow a policy that “stability” is better than democracy, said Ishaq, founder and leader-at-large of Kefaya (enough) movement. “This has dramatically lowered their credibility.”
“The American administration speaks of values that only serve their interests, and not the interest of Egypt or its people,” says Ishaq. “Bush’s recent statements serve Gamal Mubarak.”
Ishaq, like many leaders of Egypt’s independent and opposition forces, have deemed that praising the young Mubarak and his counterparts suggests that the American administration is ready to recognize “the scenario of power succession” from President Hosni Mubarak to his son, and even bolster it.
“The scenario of power succession is in effect. The undertone of Bush’s statement says the succession is supported by the U.S. administration.”
The notion, says Ishaq, shows that the U.S. foreign policy chiefs cannot be trusted to bring about reform.
“We do not trust the American government,” Ishaq tells The Daily Star Egypt. “I assure you that the constitutional amendments will happen in November. Gamal Mubarak will be nominated as a presidential candidate in December. [And] we are against this with full power.”
Bush’s statements coincide with fierce debates ongoing between political forces on one side and the ruling NDP on another. As discussion of amendments to the constitution are scheduled to continue in the People Assembly’s upcoming session, independent and opposition MPs continue to say that NDP-affiliated MPs “tailor” the constitution to fit their interests and “open the way” for Gamal Mubarak and his “party” to hold on to power.
Hussein Abdel-Razeq, senior leader of Al-Tagammu socialist party, in agreement with Ishaq, deems the time frame of Bush statements significant. The opposition leader tells The Daily Star Egypt that he finds it “clear that the American administration supports, one way or another, the current Egyptian administration and supports its tendency to impose power succession.”
“They want to create a democracy model that suits their vision,” Abdel-Razeq says. “They are imposing a democracy that guarantees that the current political group is in contact and accord with American policies and interests.”
“This kind of support, contrary to what America believes, alienates the regime and the current political circle of power from the rest of Egypt’s political parties and those whom Egyptian politics may concern,” he added.
In his statements to the American newspaper, Bush also mentioned the case of jailed politician Ayman Nour. Nour was indicted last December for forging signatures needed to form his liberal El-Ghad party.
Nour was sentenced to five years in prison.
The national hero, as he was described by some at the time, endured a fierce political battle against other presidential candidates in last year’s violence-marred elections. Nour came in second after Mubarak. Shortly afterwards, he faced trial.
His demand for appeal was rejected, amid much criticism from his supporters.
Although Bush told the paper that members of the U.S. government “were disappointed” about the decision to sentence Nour and that they had not given up on his case, his position toward Nour was regarded as weak. The criticism of the regime concerning the case seems to be waning, from the side of the U.S. State Department.
"I have spoken to Mubarak a lot about democracy," Bush commented. “But [Mubarak will] make those decisions based upon his own laws,” he added.
“I believe that the U.S. government had injured Ayman Nour in the first place,” says Abdel-Razeq, referring to the American position on Nour. “Nour was a head of a party … his tone was strong and firm, and he could have gained even more support from the Egyptian people if not for the American support.”
“U.S. intervention and the pressure from Washington have injured the image of Ayman Nour in the eyes of political forces and in the eyes of people,” the leader said. “It almost alienated him from his people. American support always brings about a negative reaction and a strong backlash.”
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2982
First Published: September 14, 2006
CAIRO: U.S. President George Bush’s praise for a group of top National Democratic Party (NDP) members close to the president’s son and high-profile NDP figure Gamal Mubarak has sparked angry remarks from principal political forces.
Bush’s eager statements were taken to imply support, or at least accommodation, for the much-criticized ruling party. If this is the case, the support empowers the party and, in turn, a government that has been in office for more than 25 years.
In his statements Tuesday, Bush told the press that he is impressed by “young reformers” close to the younger Mubarak, who is currently the head of the NDP’s political policies committee. Bush also included Rachid Mohamed Rachid, minister of trade and industry, in his praise.
"I've talked to ... a group of young reformers who are now in government. There's an impressive group of younger Egyptians, the trade minister and some of the economic people, that understand the promise and the difficulties of democracy," Bush told The Wall Street Journal in an interview Sunday. Notably, the “younger Egyptians” that President Bush seems to be referring to are mostly in their fifties.
George Ishaq, leading opposition leader, commented that Bush’s statements imply support for an “undemocratic regime.”
Recently, especially since forces like the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas reached power through elections, the American government has come to follow a policy that “stability” is better than democracy, said Ishaq, founder and leader-at-large of Kefaya (enough) movement. “This has dramatically lowered their credibility.”
“The American administration speaks of values that only serve their interests, and not the interest of Egypt or its people,” says Ishaq. “Bush’s recent statements serve Gamal Mubarak.”
Ishaq, like many leaders of Egypt’s independent and opposition forces, have deemed that praising the young Mubarak and his counterparts suggests that the American administration is ready to recognize “the scenario of power succession” from President Hosni Mubarak to his son, and even bolster it.
“The scenario of power succession is in effect. The undertone of Bush’s statement says the succession is supported by the U.S. administration.”
The notion, says Ishaq, shows that the U.S. foreign policy chiefs cannot be trusted to bring about reform.
“We do not trust the American government,” Ishaq tells The Daily Star Egypt. “I assure you that the constitutional amendments will happen in November. Gamal Mubarak will be nominated as a presidential candidate in December. [And] we are against this with full power.”
Bush’s statements coincide with fierce debates ongoing between political forces on one side and the ruling NDP on another. As discussion of amendments to the constitution are scheduled to continue in the People Assembly’s upcoming session, independent and opposition MPs continue to say that NDP-affiliated MPs “tailor” the constitution to fit their interests and “open the way” for Gamal Mubarak and his “party” to hold on to power.
Hussein Abdel-Razeq, senior leader of Al-Tagammu socialist party, in agreement with Ishaq, deems the time frame of Bush statements significant. The opposition leader tells The Daily Star Egypt that he finds it “clear that the American administration supports, one way or another, the current Egyptian administration and supports its tendency to impose power succession.”
“They want to create a democracy model that suits their vision,” Abdel-Razeq says. “They are imposing a democracy that guarantees that the current political group is in contact and accord with American policies and interests.”
“This kind of support, contrary to what America believes, alienates the regime and the current political circle of power from the rest of Egypt’s political parties and those whom Egyptian politics may concern,” he added.
In his statements to the American newspaper, Bush also mentioned the case of jailed politician Ayman Nour. Nour was indicted last December for forging signatures needed to form his liberal El-Ghad party.
Nour was sentenced to five years in prison.
The national hero, as he was described by some at the time, endured a fierce political battle against other presidential candidates in last year’s violence-marred elections. Nour came in second after Mubarak. Shortly afterwards, he faced trial.
His demand for appeal was rejected, amid much criticism from his supporters.
Although Bush told the paper that members of the U.S. government “were disappointed” about the decision to sentence Nour and that they had not given up on his case, his position toward Nour was regarded as weak. The criticism of the regime concerning the case seems to be waning, from the side of the U.S. State Department.
"I have spoken to Mubarak a lot about democracy," Bush commented. “But [Mubarak will] make those decisions based upon his own laws,” he added.
“I believe that the U.S. government had injured Ayman Nour in the first place,” says Abdel-Razeq, referring to the American position on Nour. “Nour was a head of a party … his tone was strong and firm, and he could have gained even more support from the Egyptian people if not for the American support.”
“U.S. intervention and the pressure from Washington have injured the image of Ayman Nour in the eyes of political forces and in the eyes of people,” the leader said. “It almost alienated him from his people. American support always brings about a negative reaction and a strong backlash.”
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2982
IHT/DSE: EOHR says government not doing enough to protect citizens in the West and Gulf
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 13, 2006
CAIRO: In its latest humanitarian report, the Cairo-based Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) has examined the complicated cases of Egyptians working abroad and illegal immigration to the West. The organization also shed light on what it perceives as the government’s failure to secure its citizens’ rights.
Egyptians working and living abroad number around 3.5 million; many of them are located in the Gulf and Arab countries, where wages and working conditions are deemed better than Egypt’s.
In its full report, the EOHR said they had been monitoring conditions of Egyptians holding jobs in foreign countries, and have concluded that their rights – domestic and foreign – are forfeited in most cases. The issue of illegal immigration received additional attention after the case of 11 university students who left their one-month exchange program in the United States dominated local headlines this month.
Seventeen Egyptian students had left Egypt on an exchange mission between Al-Mansoura University and Montana University in New York. Only six arrived at the university while 11 others fled in order to search for work.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an intense manhunt and captured the students. The Egyptians, who are not associated with a terrorist organization and pose no security threat, are still held in FBI custody. The students are charged with violating U.S. visa and immigration laws. The Egyptian Embassy in New York has reportedly hired lawyers to work on the students’ cases and negotiate their release and return to Egypt. The students should be deported to Egypt soon.
The EOHR report cites this and other such cases, saying that the local problems and obstacles that the labor force faces in Egypt and the rising rate of unemployment are what have lead to such incidents and driven Egyptians to flee to Gulf and Western countries in pursuit of false dreams. “It became only natural to witness a huge increase in the number of Egyptians traveling to work abroad, a trend that flourished in the 1970s.”
According to the report, Egyptians abroad – as a result of underemployment and lack of employment in their destination countries – had “to do jobs not consistent with the general principles of immigrants’ rights. Some of them were subject to trade, lived in inhuman conditions less than the conditions of workers from other states, because they don't have the necessary documents (illegal immigration).”
“Besides, many of them faced imprisonment and illegal detention because the Egyptian embassies abroad ignored them and didn't intervene to protect them from imprisonment and violations,” read the report.
According to EOHR, the Egyptian embassies abroad have waning roles, and fail to appoint delegations to monitor Egyptians working and living abroad.
The report also blames the Egyptian constitution for ignoring the rights of citizens abroad. According to the human rights group, because of the absence of Egyptian laws, citizens working abroad, especially in Gulf countries, become slaves to the kafeel (sponsorship) system.“In the 1990s, and especially during the second Gulf war, Egyptians started returning to the Gulf states, at rates less than their counterparts at the start of the 1980s,” read the report.Lower rates are not the only price that Egyptian workers face with the kafeel system. Although some Egyptians, especially those working in multi-national companies in the Gulf, have contracts, many others follow the much-criticized sponsorship system imposed by Gulf states. The oppressive system outlines regulations whereby a national guarantees the worker, without a contract. This happens mostly with low-profile jobs such as farming and technical crafts.“The sponsorship system represents a serious violation to Egyptians in the Arab states,” reads the report published by EOHR in late August. “Egyptians, due to this system, face illegal detentions, banning from traveling, giving the sponsor the right to confiscate passports and cancel residence rights, making an Egyptian citizen face the possibility of losing his belongings, fearing illegal arrests and detention.”
The system, which the Egyptian government is notably silent on, violates the universal declaration of human rights stating that: “Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. [And] everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”According to the EOHR, it also violated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Treatment different from this directed towards nationals should be explained and well-justified, according to international laws.The Egyptian constitution, established in 1971, does not include articles pertaining to Egyptian citizens’ rights abroad, or the mechanism for their political participation. Article 52 only states that: "Citizens shall have the right to permanent or temporary immigration."“While other constitutions in other states state the right of citizens abroad to the diplomatic protection of their states,” reads the EOHR report. “[For instance] the sponsorship system violates many international instruments regulating human rights,” nothing has been done regarding this issue from the side of the Egyptian government. The report also cites other violations against Egyptians in the Gulf that include “arbitrary retention, discrimination, torture and inhuman treatment, loss of financial belongings, violations of economic and social rights, murder, abduction, and illegal arrests.”Citizens do not receive adequate diplomatic protection from their respective Egyptian embassies, according to the EOHR.
”The state should protect Egyptians abroad and establish their contact with Egypt,” suggests EOHR. The human rights group proposed that seminars and workshops should be carried out in Egypt and abroad aimed at studying the problems of immigrants.“That can be established by delegating representatives for taking care of Egyptians' interests abroad, from diplomatic officials.” The ministry concerned with foreign labor should also protect all Egyptians abroad, whatever the reason for traveling, taking measures toward guaranteeing the rights of all Egyptians and providing safeguards for them, including assurances of their ability to practice their constitutional rights, recommends the 25-page report.“A balance [should be provided] between the citizens' rights abroad and the interest of the society [in Egypt],” said EOHR.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2974
First Published: September 13, 2006
CAIRO: In its latest humanitarian report, the Cairo-based Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) has examined the complicated cases of Egyptians working abroad and illegal immigration to the West. The organization also shed light on what it perceives as the government’s failure to secure its citizens’ rights.
Egyptians working and living abroad number around 3.5 million; many of them are located in the Gulf and Arab countries, where wages and working conditions are deemed better than Egypt’s.
In its full report, the EOHR said they had been monitoring conditions of Egyptians holding jobs in foreign countries, and have concluded that their rights – domestic and foreign – are forfeited in most cases. The issue of illegal immigration received additional attention after the case of 11 university students who left their one-month exchange program in the United States dominated local headlines this month.
Seventeen Egyptian students had left Egypt on an exchange mission between Al-Mansoura University and Montana University in New York. Only six arrived at the university while 11 others fled in order to search for work.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an intense manhunt and captured the students. The Egyptians, who are not associated with a terrorist organization and pose no security threat, are still held in FBI custody. The students are charged with violating U.S. visa and immigration laws. The Egyptian Embassy in New York has reportedly hired lawyers to work on the students’ cases and negotiate their release and return to Egypt. The students should be deported to Egypt soon.
The EOHR report cites this and other such cases, saying that the local problems and obstacles that the labor force faces in Egypt and the rising rate of unemployment are what have lead to such incidents and driven Egyptians to flee to Gulf and Western countries in pursuit of false dreams. “It became only natural to witness a huge increase in the number of Egyptians traveling to work abroad, a trend that flourished in the 1970s.”
According to the report, Egyptians abroad – as a result of underemployment and lack of employment in their destination countries – had “to do jobs not consistent with the general principles of immigrants’ rights. Some of them were subject to trade, lived in inhuman conditions less than the conditions of workers from other states, because they don't have the necessary documents (illegal immigration).”
“Besides, many of them faced imprisonment and illegal detention because the Egyptian embassies abroad ignored them and didn't intervene to protect them from imprisonment and violations,” read the report.
According to EOHR, the Egyptian embassies abroad have waning roles, and fail to appoint delegations to monitor Egyptians working and living abroad.
The report also blames the Egyptian constitution for ignoring the rights of citizens abroad. According to the human rights group, because of the absence of Egyptian laws, citizens working abroad, especially in Gulf countries, become slaves to the kafeel (sponsorship) system.“In the 1990s, and especially during the second Gulf war, Egyptians started returning to the Gulf states, at rates less than their counterparts at the start of the 1980s,” read the report.Lower rates are not the only price that Egyptian workers face with the kafeel system. Although some Egyptians, especially those working in multi-national companies in the Gulf, have contracts, many others follow the much-criticized sponsorship system imposed by Gulf states. The oppressive system outlines regulations whereby a national guarantees the worker, without a contract. This happens mostly with low-profile jobs such as farming and technical crafts.“The sponsorship system represents a serious violation to Egyptians in the Arab states,” reads the report published by EOHR in late August. “Egyptians, due to this system, face illegal detentions, banning from traveling, giving the sponsor the right to confiscate passports and cancel residence rights, making an Egyptian citizen face the possibility of losing his belongings, fearing illegal arrests and detention.”
The system, which the Egyptian government is notably silent on, violates the universal declaration of human rights stating that: “Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. [And] everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”According to the EOHR, it also violated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Treatment different from this directed towards nationals should be explained and well-justified, according to international laws.The Egyptian constitution, established in 1971, does not include articles pertaining to Egyptian citizens’ rights abroad, or the mechanism for their political participation. Article 52 only states that: "Citizens shall have the right to permanent or temporary immigration."“While other constitutions in other states state the right of citizens abroad to the diplomatic protection of their states,” reads the EOHR report. “[For instance] the sponsorship system violates many international instruments regulating human rights,” nothing has been done regarding this issue from the side of the Egyptian government. The report also cites other violations against Egyptians in the Gulf that include “arbitrary retention, discrimination, torture and inhuman treatment, loss of financial belongings, violations of economic and social rights, murder, abduction, and illegal arrests.”Citizens do not receive adequate diplomatic protection from their respective Egyptian embassies, according to the EOHR.
”The state should protect Egyptians abroad and establish their contact with Egypt,” suggests EOHR. The human rights group proposed that seminars and workshops should be carried out in Egypt and abroad aimed at studying the problems of immigrants.“That can be established by delegating representatives for taking care of Egyptians' interests abroad, from diplomatic officials.” The ministry concerned with foreign labor should also protect all Egyptians abroad, whatever the reason for traveling, taking measures toward guaranteeing the rights of all Egyptians and providing safeguards for them, including assurances of their ability to practice their constitutional rights, recommends the 25-page report.“A balance [should be provided] between the citizens' rights abroad and the interest of the society [in Egypt],” said EOHR.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2974
IHT/DSE: MPs protest detainment of Palestinian officials
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 12, 2006
Protests demand that government get serious in demands for Hamas officials release
CAIRO: Sunday’s parliament session saw heavy protests as a large number of opposition MPs decided to bring the issue of captured Palestinian government officials to the top of the assembly’s agenda. The protests, however, went largely uncovered by national newspapers.
Opposition, independent and Muslim Brotherhood MPs sat in for an hour in one parliament hall, threatening to kick-off a strike if the Egyptian government does not take a “serious” position toward freeing 50 captured Palestinian deputies and MPs in Israeli prisons. The imprisoned Palestinian government members are affiliated with militant resistance group Hamas, whose assassinated spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was an off-shoot of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood.
The Muslim Brotherhood has long been supportive of Hamas amid criticism from the West, especially since the latter won the majority of seats in the Palestinian parliament around five months ago and formed a government.
In their sit-in, the MPs held anti-American and anti-Israeli banners and signs. “We refuse a conspiracy on the Hamas government,” read one banner. “The Zionist enemy is breaking all the rules, [and] violating UN resolutions and everyone is silent,” read another.
During the protest, several MPs had threatened to continue protesting for a few days “consecutively,” but later changed their minds, saying that their protest calls will resume in upcoming parliamentary sessions.
“The Egyptian system is a weak system and the Egyptian position is unable to influence world and regional political affairs,” Gamal Zahran, an independent MP, said in his statement during the sit-in. “[On the internal level] the parliament has become so weak that it cannot even oversee its own government.”
“Although we – the Muslim Brotherhood, opposition and independents – only represent the minority in the People’s Assembly, we are strong and influential,” Zahran added to the Muslim Brotherhood’s official Web site.
From their side, the Muslim Brotherhood MPs said that there is a tendency to alienate Egypt from Arab issues and causes, clearly referring to the Egyptian ruling party members. “Where was Egypt during the offensive on Lebanon?”
Another Muslim Brotherhood MP said that there are some “top National Democratic Party members” whose interests’ are in accord with those of Israel and the West. The MP was quoted by the official Brotherhood news Web site as saying that these top NDP members, in turn, pressure their deputies in parliament.
The criticism was not exclusive to Egypt. Arab states, primarily Syria’s and Jordan’s assemblies, were criticized for failing to pressure Israel to free the jailed parliamentarians.
“Apparently there is a conspiracy against the Hamas government,” editor-at-large of Al-Osbou, Mustapha Bakri a strong opposition member, was quoted as saying during the one-hour-long protest. “It’s all in the interest of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and for U.S., Zionist interests. They want to overpower Hamas. [They want it] to be bankrupt.”
In the end, the MPs told the press personnel present at the protest that their first and foremost demand is a freeze on all economic relations between Egypt and Israel and the withdrawal of the Egyptian ambassador from Tel Aviv.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2953
First Published: September 12, 2006
Protests demand that government get serious in demands for Hamas officials release
CAIRO: Sunday’s parliament session saw heavy protests as a large number of opposition MPs decided to bring the issue of captured Palestinian government officials to the top of the assembly’s agenda. The protests, however, went largely uncovered by national newspapers.
Opposition, independent and Muslim Brotherhood MPs sat in for an hour in one parliament hall, threatening to kick-off a strike if the Egyptian government does not take a “serious” position toward freeing 50 captured Palestinian deputies and MPs in Israeli prisons. The imprisoned Palestinian government members are affiliated with militant resistance group Hamas, whose assassinated spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was an off-shoot of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood.
The Muslim Brotherhood has long been supportive of Hamas amid criticism from the West, especially since the latter won the majority of seats in the Palestinian parliament around five months ago and formed a government.
In their sit-in, the MPs held anti-American and anti-Israeli banners and signs. “We refuse a conspiracy on the Hamas government,” read one banner. “The Zionist enemy is breaking all the rules, [and] violating UN resolutions and everyone is silent,” read another.
During the protest, several MPs had threatened to continue protesting for a few days “consecutively,” but later changed their minds, saying that their protest calls will resume in upcoming parliamentary sessions.
“The Egyptian system is a weak system and the Egyptian position is unable to influence world and regional political affairs,” Gamal Zahran, an independent MP, said in his statement during the sit-in. “[On the internal level] the parliament has become so weak that it cannot even oversee its own government.”
“Although we – the Muslim Brotherhood, opposition and independents – only represent the minority in the People’s Assembly, we are strong and influential,” Zahran added to the Muslim Brotherhood’s official Web site.
From their side, the Muslim Brotherhood MPs said that there is a tendency to alienate Egypt from Arab issues and causes, clearly referring to the Egyptian ruling party members. “Where was Egypt during the offensive on Lebanon?”
Another Muslim Brotherhood MP said that there are some “top National Democratic Party members” whose interests’ are in accord with those of Israel and the West. The MP was quoted by the official Brotherhood news Web site as saying that these top NDP members, in turn, pressure their deputies in parliament.
The criticism was not exclusive to Egypt. Arab states, primarily Syria’s and Jordan’s assemblies, were criticized for failing to pressure Israel to free the jailed parliamentarians.
“Apparently there is a conspiracy against the Hamas government,” editor-at-large of Al-Osbou, Mustapha Bakri a strong opposition member, was quoted as saying during the one-hour-long protest. “It’s all in the interest of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and for U.S., Zionist interests. They want to overpower Hamas. [They want it] to be bankrupt.”
In the end, the MPs told the press personnel present at the protest that their first and foremost demand is a freeze on all economic relations between Egypt and Israel and the withdrawal of the Egyptian ambassador from Tel Aviv.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2953
IHT/DSE: Renovating an old favorite
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 11, 2006
Privatization of Biscomisr has led to product improvement
CAIRO: The Egyptian company for foods, Biscomisr, which has recently undergone full privatization, is ready to launch new products and expand on its exports after it has reclaimed its old fame, says Samir Sabet, chairman and managing director.
“New products are, and will be, formulated but the old products will be developed under the same name,” Sabet tells The Daily Star Egypt. “Currently we are in the process of encouraging more investment, and undergoing major restructuring and restoration.”
According to Sabet, budget expenditure was set at LE 50 million for a restoration plan covering a period of 30 months. “We want to restore our major and our top position. We doubled the export percentage from 5 to 10 percent, with [the] objective to reach 30 percent in two to three years.”
The company, which produces chocolate, cookies, chewing gum, candy and sweets, sends exports to the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
Biscomisr, one of Egypt’s leading biscuit and cereal companies, was established in 1957. The company was originally a public sector company owned by the state until 1997, when it was partially privatized. But not until its full privatization at the end of May 2005, following a final decision by the general committee, did the company begin to experience a rise in its sales and the quality of its products.
The initial decision to sell the company was made in January the same year, when the state-owned company was then offered publicly. According to Al-Ahram Weekly, the consortium of private sector companies, which had originally offered to buy 5.86 million shares, eventually acquired all of the 6.46 million offered by investors.
According to the weekly newspaper, seven Egyptian companies paid LE 156.3 million for 56.5 percent of the company at the time, with the holding company retaining a 36 percent stake in Biscomisr, which was valued at LE 83 million.
The new government management stemmed from the general committee, according to Sabet, who further explained that although the company featured a new board – headed by Concord, the largest shareholder – all the company’s original 2,700 employees were kept on board. Also, the main production line of the company had to be maintained.
“One of the principal conditions outlined in the sale agreement was the continuity of the company’s main line of production which is confectionary. We also wanted to maintain the original labor force. The salaries of the employees had to be increased as well.[It’s true that] a restructuring of labour force is being done,” says Sabet.
The lack of investment was one of the key reasons behind the decision to sell the company to the private sector. No investments had been made since 1985, explains Sabet, adding that there had been no maintenance to production lines, buildings or machinery.
“Previously, the whole focus was on making profit,” says Sabet. “The factories were in need of refurbishment; it was hard to go on under these conditions. Money had to be pumped into the company in order to revamp the factories and install new production lines.”
The company, which owns three full-size factories in Alexandria and Cairo, had suffered problems in maintaining product quality in the few years before the privatization was fully implemented; something that caused people to lose trust in the company’s merchandise.
“All the old products are now renewed. We went back to respecting the ingredients of products. We improved the quality of packaging,” explains Sabet.
“All the old products have now been renewed. We went back to respecting the ingredients of products. We increased the quality of packaging. The product now reaches people without losing its distinctiveness,” says Sabet, stressing that even the presentation of the products is now “more refined.” “The most recent cookie season was very successful as a result. People regained their trust in Biscomisr’s cookies.”
One of the main highlights of the Biscomisr brand name, in its public sector days, were the prices of the goods with the unit price for most products generally ranging between 25 and 50 piasters, making the merchandise largely affordable to the middle class. “The prices have not changed,” Sabet says.” The unit price of 80 percent of our products is still between 25 and 50 piaster[s]. The refurbishment (in an attempt to increase productivity) is on the top of the company’s agenda now. The refurbishment is continuous,” says Sabet. “Our main aim is to increase productivity and quality; we’re expanding our factories by installing new production lines and new machinery.”
The restoration (in an attempt to increase productivity) is on the top of the company’s agenda now. The restoration is continuous,” explains Sabet. “Our main aim is to increase productivity; we’re expanding our factories to include new production lines and new machinery.”
“That means that the aim is to have a cheap product, to decrease its price and increase its quality,” explains Sabet, adding that eventually by covering the entire market, the company can make “good profit.”
The company has also launched new advertisement campaigns, which have been ongoing for two months. “We also have 5,000 prize coupons inside our products. We also have a grand prize of LE 25,000. We’re also planning another campaign in preparation for the cookie season, starting the 15th of Ramadan.”
“People have started to trust the quality of the product,” says Sabet, adding that they regularly do market assessments through surveys and through sales in order to specify their position in comparison to other local companies that specialize in the same activity.
“Many selling outlets were also revamped and new ones were added, especially in sports clubs. People see it everywhere now; prestigious venues, better sellers, better service and products.”
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2938
First Published: September 11, 2006
Privatization of Biscomisr has led to product improvement
CAIRO: The Egyptian company for foods, Biscomisr, which has recently undergone full privatization, is ready to launch new products and expand on its exports after it has reclaimed its old fame, says Samir Sabet, chairman and managing director.
“New products are, and will be, formulated but the old products will be developed under the same name,” Sabet tells The Daily Star Egypt. “Currently we are in the process of encouraging more investment, and undergoing major restructuring and restoration.”
According to Sabet, budget expenditure was set at LE 50 million for a restoration plan covering a period of 30 months. “We want to restore our major and our top position. We doubled the export percentage from 5 to 10 percent, with [the] objective to reach 30 percent in two to three years.”
The company, which produces chocolate, cookies, chewing gum, candy and sweets, sends exports to the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
Biscomisr, one of Egypt’s leading biscuit and cereal companies, was established in 1957. The company was originally a public sector company owned by the state until 1997, when it was partially privatized. But not until its full privatization at the end of May 2005, following a final decision by the general committee, did the company begin to experience a rise in its sales and the quality of its products.
The initial decision to sell the company was made in January the same year, when the state-owned company was then offered publicly. According to Al-Ahram Weekly, the consortium of private sector companies, which had originally offered to buy 5.86 million shares, eventually acquired all of the 6.46 million offered by investors.
According to the weekly newspaper, seven Egyptian companies paid LE 156.3 million for 56.5 percent of the company at the time, with the holding company retaining a 36 percent stake in Biscomisr, which was valued at LE 83 million.
The new government management stemmed from the general committee, according to Sabet, who further explained that although the company featured a new board – headed by Concord, the largest shareholder – all the company’s original 2,700 employees were kept on board. Also, the main production line of the company had to be maintained.
“One of the principal conditions outlined in the sale agreement was the continuity of the company’s main line of production which is confectionary. We also wanted to maintain the original labor force. The salaries of the employees had to be increased as well.[It’s true that] a restructuring of labour force is being done,” says Sabet.
The lack of investment was one of the key reasons behind the decision to sell the company to the private sector. No investments had been made since 1985, explains Sabet, adding that there had been no maintenance to production lines, buildings or machinery.
“Previously, the whole focus was on making profit,” says Sabet. “The factories were in need of refurbishment; it was hard to go on under these conditions. Money had to be pumped into the company in order to revamp the factories and install new production lines.”
The company, which owns three full-size factories in Alexandria and Cairo, had suffered problems in maintaining product quality in the few years before the privatization was fully implemented; something that caused people to lose trust in the company’s merchandise.
“All the old products are now renewed. We went back to respecting the ingredients of products. We improved the quality of packaging,” explains Sabet.
“All the old products have now been renewed. We went back to respecting the ingredients of products. We increased the quality of packaging. The product now reaches people without losing its distinctiveness,” says Sabet, stressing that even the presentation of the products is now “more refined.” “The most recent cookie season was very successful as a result. People regained their trust in Biscomisr’s cookies.”
One of the main highlights of the Biscomisr brand name, in its public sector days, were the prices of the goods with the unit price for most products generally ranging between 25 and 50 piasters, making the merchandise largely affordable to the middle class. “The prices have not changed,” Sabet says.” The unit price of 80 percent of our products is still between 25 and 50 piaster[s]. The refurbishment (in an attempt to increase productivity) is on the top of the company’s agenda now. The refurbishment is continuous,” says Sabet. “Our main aim is to increase productivity and quality; we’re expanding our factories by installing new production lines and new machinery.”
The restoration (in an attempt to increase productivity) is on the top of the company’s agenda now. The restoration is continuous,” explains Sabet. “Our main aim is to increase productivity; we’re expanding our factories to include new production lines and new machinery.”
“That means that the aim is to have a cheap product, to decrease its price and increase its quality,” explains Sabet, adding that eventually by covering the entire market, the company can make “good profit.”
The company has also launched new advertisement campaigns, which have been ongoing for two months. “We also have 5,000 prize coupons inside our products. We also have a grand prize of LE 25,000. We’re also planning another campaign in preparation for the cookie season, starting the 15th of Ramadan.”
“People have started to trust the quality of the product,” says Sabet, adding that they regularly do market assessments through surveys and through sales in order to specify their position in comparison to other local companies that specialize in the same activity.
“Many selling outlets were also revamped and new ones were added, especially in sports clubs. People see it everywhere now; prestigious venues, better sellers, better service and products.”
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2938
IHT/DSE: Mosque imam faces charges over fatwa termed anti-Semitic
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 6, 2006
CAIRO: Mosque Imam Safwat Hijazi is facing a legal investigation by Egyptian authorities for a fatwa that he issued earlier allowing the killing of Israeli military officials and soldiers visiting Egypt. The Cairo imam was called into Egypt’s supreme state security court on Monday, facing charges as a result.
“I only said that we should kill their fighters,” Hijazi told the press a few days before his trial. “Then after consulting with my sheikhs, I understood that the Islamic sharia respects the orders of the head of the state and respects agreements.”
According to Hijazi, he immediately retracted the fatwa after realizing it violated the peace treaty between Egypt and the Jewish state. He also told Al-Arabiya TV network that he is aware that, in the worst-case scenario, he could go to prison over his statements. He also added that he is generally a “very moderate sheikh; I do not incline towards extremism or violence.”
Hijazi had issued the controversial fatwa in the wake of the Israeli offensive on Lebanon. Hijazi, according to Agence-France Presse (AFP), has called on Muslim worshippers to kill "any Zionist anywhere in wartime," specifying that the use of "fire arms, knives and poison" should be preferred to suicide bombings "in order to spare innocents." "I myself am ready to slash the throat of any Israeli I meet," he was quoted by AFP as saying.
However, following much uproar from the public over such an edict and from Al-Azhar (Egypt’s foremost authority on Islamic matters) the cleric made an about-face and withdrew his fatwa. He has been prohibited by the Islamic institution from giving sermons and his case was immediately transferred to the authorities, who pressed charges.
Al-Azhar, shortly afterwards, issued a statement criminalizing the killing of Jews in Egypt and deeming it a terrorist act. Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa also told the press that Israelis granted visas, who enter Egypt as visitors, are guests and should not be harmed, even if there is an ongoing war between Egypt and Israel.
The imam, who received his doctorate in Islamic studies in France, told Al-Arabiya television network that his fatwa had been misunderstood and misquoted and that after consulting with his senior clerics, he decided to retract it completely.
The much-criticized fatwa coincides with the minister of religious endowment’s anger over extreme opinions on Arabs and Muslims reportedly published in a Jewish magazine that has been termed Zionist. In a recent instance, according to the minister, an article referred to the Arabs as “beasts” and a vile nation. The minister deemed the magazine article disrespectful of Muslim feelings.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2867
First Published: September 6, 2006
CAIRO: Mosque Imam Safwat Hijazi is facing a legal investigation by Egyptian authorities for a fatwa that he issued earlier allowing the killing of Israeli military officials and soldiers visiting Egypt. The Cairo imam was called into Egypt’s supreme state security court on Monday, facing charges as a result.
“I only said that we should kill their fighters,” Hijazi told the press a few days before his trial. “Then after consulting with my sheikhs, I understood that the Islamic sharia respects the orders of the head of the state and respects agreements.”
According to Hijazi, he immediately retracted the fatwa after realizing it violated the peace treaty between Egypt and the Jewish state. He also told Al-Arabiya TV network that he is aware that, in the worst-case scenario, he could go to prison over his statements. He also added that he is generally a “very moderate sheikh; I do not incline towards extremism or violence.”
Hijazi had issued the controversial fatwa in the wake of the Israeli offensive on Lebanon. Hijazi, according to Agence-France Presse (AFP), has called on Muslim worshippers to kill "any Zionist anywhere in wartime," specifying that the use of "fire arms, knives and poison" should be preferred to suicide bombings "in order to spare innocents." "I myself am ready to slash the throat of any Israeli I meet," he was quoted by AFP as saying.
However, following much uproar from the public over such an edict and from Al-Azhar (Egypt’s foremost authority on Islamic matters) the cleric made an about-face and withdrew his fatwa. He has been prohibited by the Islamic institution from giving sermons and his case was immediately transferred to the authorities, who pressed charges.
Al-Azhar, shortly afterwards, issued a statement criminalizing the killing of Jews in Egypt and deeming it a terrorist act. Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa also told the press that Israelis granted visas, who enter Egypt as visitors, are guests and should not be harmed, even if there is an ongoing war between Egypt and Israel.
The imam, who received his doctorate in Islamic studies in France, told Al-Arabiya television network that his fatwa had been misunderstood and misquoted and that after consulting with his senior clerics, he decided to retract it completely.
The much-criticized fatwa coincides with the minister of religious endowment’s anger over extreme opinions on Arabs and Muslims reportedly published in a Jewish magazine that has been termed Zionist. In a recent instance, according to the minister, an article referred to the Arabs as “beasts” and a vile nation. The minister deemed the magazine article disrespectful of Muslim feelings.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2867
IHT/DSE: Opposition calls for Human Rights meeting
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 2, 2006
Muslim Brotherhood arrests and custody renewals prompt move
CAIRO: Members of Egypt’s opposition forces, including some 100 who are represented in parliament, are calling on the People’s Assembly (lower house of parliament) to convene an emergency meeting of its human rights committee, in protest of the rounding up of Muslim Brotherhood members.
In the past two weeks, custody was renewed for two top Muslim Brotherhood leaders who had been promised a pardon. Two dozen other junior and senior members were arrested; some were even picked up following a wedding.
On Thursday, the police raided a bookstore that sells Islamic books and tapes of sermons recorded by sheikhs in Minya, south of Cairo. According to Muslim Brotherhood sources, police forces stormed the bookstore whose owner is affiliated with the Brotherhood and confiscated books and tapes.
According to MiniaOnline, a Web site dedicated to a Muslim Brotherhood faction in Minya, people in the southern city were “astonished at the number of security police, and reproachful of their [raid] on such a respectful and valued bookshop.” The Web site added that the police “are used to raiding Islamic bookshops, especially before the holy month of Ramadan.”
Such behavior from security police is common Moussa Ghanoum, Muslim Brotherhood MP, was quoted as saying, “This is but one picture of the repression that the security is upholding and which should be reviewed and changed.”
“The case against the Brothers that are temporarily arrested is strictly political,” said Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Maksoud, the group’s principle lawyer in a Brotherhood press release. “There is no basis for their arrest; there is no reason that backs their detainment anyway.”
Muslim Brotherhood lawmakers and MPs have joined their fellows in requesting a meeting of parliament. The Islamic group claims that most of the arrests were unwarranted and the renewals of detention were unfounded.
Meanwhile, the prosecution has pressed charges against those arrested; membership in a banned group and propagating for unlawful ideas are on top of the list of charges.
“Detaining the Brothers is old news now,” said Muslim Brotherhood leader and Supreme Guide Mohammed Mahdi Akef in a statement to the press Thursday. “[The arrests] never made us weaker. They gave us strength, faith and perseverance.”
The Muslim Brotherhood, although represented through independent affiliates in parliament, is sometimes tolerated but essentially outlawed. The Muslim Brotherhood bloc is the largest opposition force in the lower house, a fact that has prompted the government to propose a law that would ban independent candidates from running in elections. The opposition deemed the proposal an attempt by the government to “throttle” the group and limit their legal representation.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2823
First Published: September 2, 2006
Muslim Brotherhood arrests and custody renewals prompt move
CAIRO: Members of Egypt’s opposition forces, including some 100 who are represented in parliament, are calling on the People’s Assembly (lower house of parliament) to convene an emergency meeting of its human rights committee, in protest of the rounding up of Muslim Brotherhood members.
In the past two weeks, custody was renewed for two top Muslim Brotherhood leaders who had been promised a pardon. Two dozen other junior and senior members were arrested; some were even picked up following a wedding.
On Thursday, the police raided a bookstore that sells Islamic books and tapes of sermons recorded by sheikhs in Minya, south of Cairo. According to Muslim Brotherhood sources, police forces stormed the bookstore whose owner is affiliated with the Brotherhood and confiscated books and tapes.
According to MiniaOnline, a Web site dedicated to a Muslim Brotherhood faction in Minya, people in the southern city were “astonished at the number of security police, and reproachful of their [raid] on such a respectful and valued bookshop.” The Web site added that the police “are used to raiding Islamic bookshops, especially before the holy month of Ramadan.”
Such behavior from security police is common Moussa Ghanoum, Muslim Brotherhood MP, was quoted as saying, “This is but one picture of the repression that the security is upholding and which should be reviewed and changed.”
“The case against the Brothers that are temporarily arrested is strictly political,” said Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Maksoud, the group’s principle lawyer in a Brotherhood press release. “There is no basis for their arrest; there is no reason that backs their detainment anyway.”
Muslim Brotherhood lawmakers and MPs have joined their fellows in requesting a meeting of parliament. The Islamic group claims that most of the arrests were unwarranted and the renewals of detention were unfounded.
Meanwhile, the prosecution has pressed charges against those arrested; membership in a banned group and propagating for unlawful ideas are on top of the list of charges.
“Detaining the Brothers is old news now,” said Muslim Brotherhood leader and Supreme Guide Mohammed Mahdi Akef in a statement to the press Thursday. “[The arrests] never made us weaker. They gave us strength, faith and perseverance.”
The Muslim Brotherhood, although represented through independent affiliates in parliament, is sometimes tolerated but essentially outlawed. The Muslim Brotherhood bloc is the largest opposition force in the lower house, a fact that has prompted the government to propose a law that would ban independent candidates from running in elections. The opposition deemed the proposal an attempt by the government to “throttle” the group and limit their legal representation.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2823
IHT/DSE: Two deaths dominate Egyptian news
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: September 1, 2006
CAIRO: News of the death of modern Egypt’s greatest author Naguib Mahfouz, 94, the first Egyptian to win a Nobel Prize, dominates headlines in national and independent newspapers alike. Inside pages were dedicated to extensive coverage of the author’s biography and achievements.
Mahfouz was hospitalized in July due to a fall. His death is attributed to a bleeding ulcer. His death sent shockwaves through the Egyptian community, who regard him in considerably high esteem, especially since his books have been the inspiration for some of Egypt’s greatest motion pictures. The author, during his writing career, explored the struggles of ordinary men in the heart of Cairo, in its old and modern streets, bringing them to life through his words.
“Mahfouz is a genius, a creative novelist,” President Hosni Mubarak was quoted by Al-Ahram Thursday as saying. “He was [passionate] towards the people of Egypt and he spread the values of enlightenment and forgiveness among the people.”
Mahfouz was arguably one of the best and most acclaimed writers of the Middle East. During his life, Mahfouz was known for his simple life and brave spirit. After surviving an assassination attempt, and with a fatwa declaring his life forfeit, the author refused to alter his life’s course; pursuing his work and clinging to small habits like walking to his favorite oriental coffee shop everyday.
Egypt also suffered another loss in the death of 22-year-old football player Mohammed Abdel Wahab. Abdel Wahab died Thursday morning of a heart attack during a regular training session. The soccer player had collapsed on the pitch and was hurried to the hospital. However, he died shortly before he arrived there.
"He did not clash with another player, he just fell to the ground," a club spokesman told Amr Shaheen of BBC Sport. "It might be a heart attack but we are not sure yet," the team doctor said. Abdel Wahab has been on loan to the popular Al-Ahli, one of Egypt’s two leading clubs, for the past two years.
Also in the news is the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s announcement that Egypt should experience a fall in merchandise prices. According to the minister, in order to protect consumers, a plan to control inflated prices has been put into effect especially taking into consideration the fact that the holy month of Ramadan is a few weeks away.
Egypt has been experiencing a rise in consumer inflation, greatly affecting the prices of food, oil and fuel and leading to an uproar among Egyptians. Prices of popular consumer goods such as sugar have also increased. The price inflation has also been grounds for criticism of the government from opposition parliament members.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2817
First Published: September 1, 2006
CAIRO: News of the death of modern Egypt’s greatest author Naguib Mahfouz, 94, the first Egyptian to win a Nobel Prize, dominates headlines in national and independent newspapers alike. Inside pages were dedicated to extensive coverage of the author’s biography and achievements.
Mahfouz was hospitalized in July due to a fall. His death is attributed to a bleeding ulcer. His death sent shockwaves through the Egyptian community, who regard him in considerably high esteem, especially since his books have been the inspiration for some of Egypt’s greatest motion pictures. The author, during his writing career, explored the struggles of ordinary men in the heart of Cairo, in its old and modern streets, bringing them to life through his words.
“Mahfouz is a genius, a creative novelist,” President Hosni Mubarak was quoted by Al-Ahram Thursday as saying. “He was [passionate] towards the people of Egypt and he spread the values of enlightenment and forgiveness among the people.”
Mahfouz was arguably one of the best and most acclaimed writers of the Middle East. During his life, Mahfouz was known for his simple life and brave spirit. After surviving an assassination attempt, and with a fatwa declaring his life forfeit, the author refused to alter his life’s course; pursuing his work and clinging to small habits like walking to his favorite oriental coffee shop everyday.
Egypt also suffered another loss in the death of 22-year-old football player Mohammed Abdel Wahab. Abdel Wahab died Thursday morning of a heart attack during a regular training session. The soccer player had collapsed on the pitch and was hurried to the hospital. However, he died shortly before he arrived there.
"He did not clash with another player, he just fell to the ground," a club spokesman told Amr Shaheen of BBC Sport. "It might be a heart attack but we are not sure yet," the team doctor said. Abdel Wahab has been on loan to the popular Al-Ahli, one of Egypt’s two leading clubs, for the past two years.
Also in the news is the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s announcement that Egypt should experience a fall in merchandise prices. According to the minister, in order to protect consumers, a plan to control inflated prices has been put into effect especially taking into consideration the fact that the holy month of Ramadan is a few weeks away.
Egypt has been experiencing a rise in consumer inflation, greatly affecting the prices of food, oil and fuel and leading to an uproar among Egyptians. Prices of popular consumer goods such as sugar have also increased. The price inflation has also been grounds for criticism of the government from opposition parliament members.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2817
IHT/DSE: Cabinet reshuffle tops the news
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: August 29, 2006
Rumor of a possible train drivers’ strike reported by Al-Masry Al-Youm
CAIRO: A minor shuffle in the cabinet is in effect, read Monday’s headlines. Three ministries out of the 31 headed by Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif have been restructured.
Nazif remains in office despite previous reports falsely predicting his discharge.
According to Al-Ahram newspaper, President Hosni Mubarak has appointed three new ministers and three governors. The new members of cabinet took the oath of office on Monday.
When former Justice Minister Mahmoud Abu Leil submitted his resignation from office less than two weeks ago, Mubarak accepted it and issued a decree appointing Mamdouh Marie in his stead.
Marie was previously the head of the supreme constitutional court. He was also head of the 2004 presidential elections commission, a government-established entity that supervised the elections, registered and approved candidacy, set rules for campaigning and arbitrated conflicts.
Othman Mohammed Othman, who was formally the Minister of Planning, was chosen for the newly founded post of minister for economic development. Mohammed Mahgoub, former governor of Alexandria, took Othman’s old post.
The new governors are Mohammed Shaarawi for the city of Beheira, Adel Labib for Alexandria, and Mohsen Al-Noemani Hafez for Sohag, in southern Egypt.
Rumors, reported by independent newspapers (mainly Al-Masry Al-Youm), that Nazif was going to be sent home seem now to be just that, as the cabinet changes are finally revealed. Al-Masry Al-Youm had reported that Nazif was facing swelling opposition among the members of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) and that the prime minister might “very likely” be relieved of his post in “the coming cabinet reshuffle.” Al-Masri Al-Youm had implied that unnamed insider sources from the NDP had confirmed the piece of information.
For many, the most significant of the changes is that of Minister Abu Leil, whose reason for resignation was not explained. Press reports carried no details. Abu Leil, however, had been harshly criticized by the press and many political forces for calling a disciplinary hearing for two judges who had blown the whistle on vote rigging and corruption in last year’s presidential elections.
Following this decision, fierce protests erupted and the political scene experienced a period of unrest and instability as people from different political affiliations rushed to the streets to demonstrate in solidarity with the judges. The judges were seen as heroes and the minister of justice was deemed “a puppet” in the hands of “an oppressive regime.” Banners and signs during protests featured pictures of Abu Leil crossed out with Xs, along with captions slamming the cabinet official and calling for his resignation. The security police’s attitude additionally inflamed anger because of the harsh treatment protestors received, often being harassed, beaten and arrested.
Also in the news are updates of the aftermath of a train tragedy that killed at least 50 and wounded around 140 people in the city of Qalyoub. According to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Egypt’s principle railway station experienced major disorder as many of the trains were delayed with around 50 percent of passengers canceling their seat reservations as a result.
The newspaper mentions talk of a possible strike by all 600 station workers and drivers, but gave no further details. Officials at the station, however, ruled out the possibility, saying that the “confusion” arose when the Minister of Transportation issued instructions urging the station to keep all trains out of service that had not gone through a complete safety check. The decision caused a traffic jam and resulted in some delays, said Al-Masry Al-Youm’s official sources.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2783
First Published: August 29, 2006
Rumor of a possible train drivers’ strike reported by Al-Masry Al-Youm
CAIRO: A minor shuffle in the cabinet is in effect, read Monday’s headlines. Three ministries out of the 31 headed by Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif have been restructured.
Nazif remains in office despite previous reports falsely predicting his discharge.
According to Al-Ahram newspaper, President Hosni Mubarak has appointed three new ministers and three governors. The new members of cabinet took the oath of office on Monday.
When former Justice Minister Mahmoud Abu Leil submitted his resignation from office less than two weeks ago, Mubarak accepted it and issued a decree appointing Mamdouh Marie in his stead.
Marie was previously the head of the supreme constitutional court. He was also head of the 2004 presidential elections commission, a government-established entity that supervised the elections, registered and approved candidacy, set rules for campaigning and arbitrated conflicts.
Othman Mohammed Othman, who was formally the Minister of Planning, was chosen for the newly founded post of minister for economic development. Mohammed Mahgoub, former governor of Alexandria, took Othman’s old post.
The new governors are Mohammed Shaarawi for the city of Beheira, Adel Labib for Alexandria, and Mohsen Al-Noemani Hafez for Sohag, in southern Egypt.
Rumors, reported by independent newspapers (mainly Al-Masry Al-Youm), that Nazif was going to be sent home seem now to be just that, as the cabinet changes are finally revealed. Al-Masry Al-Youm had reported that Nazif was facing swelling opposition among the members of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) and that the prime minister might “very likely” be relieved of his post in “the coming cabinet reshuffle.” Al-Masri Al-Youm had implied that unnamed insider sources from the NDP had confirmed the piece of information.
For many, the most significant of the changes is that of Minister Abu Leil, whose reason for resignation was not explained. Press reports carried no details. Abu Leil, however, had been harshly criticized by the press and many political forces for calling a disciplinary hearing for two judges who had blown the whistle on vote rigging and corruption in last year’s presidential elections.
Following this decision, fierce protests erupted and the political scene experienced a period of unrest and instability as people from different political affiliations rushed to the streets to demonstrate in solidarity with the judges. The judges were seen as heroes and the minister of justice was deemed “a puppet” in the hands of “an oppressive regime.” Banners and signs during protests featured pictures of Abu Leil crossed out with Xs, along with captions slamming the cabinet official and calling for his resignation. The security police’s attitude additionally inflamed anger because of the harsh treatment protestors received, often being harassed, beaten and arrested.
Also in the news are updates of the aftermath of a train tragedy that killed at least 50 and wounded around 140 people in the city of Qalyoub. According to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Egypt’s principle railway station experienced major disorder as many of the trains were delayed with around 50 percent of passengers canceling their seat reservations as a result.
The newspaper mentions talk of a possible strike by all 600 station workers and drivers, but gave no further details. Officials at the station, however, ruled out the possibility, saying that the “confusion” arose when the Minister of Transportation issued instructions urging the station to keep all trains out of service that had not gone through a complete safety check. The decision caused a traffic jam and resulted in some delays, said Al-Masry Al-Youm’s official sources.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2783
IHT/DSE: Muslim Brotherhood members arrested
By Pakinam Amer
First Published: August 28, 2006
Akef continues to slam government through statements
CAIRO: The Muslim Brotherhood’s secretary general and 16 other leading group members were arrested during a recent meeting. State security has also revoked an earlier decision to release three senior group leaders, including the Brotherhood’s official spokesman Essam Al-Arian.
“Through this excessive measure, [the government] has confirmed that it will continue its aggressive policy against [Egypt’s] biggest opposition force in order to throttle its actions and stop its expansion,” said the Muslim Brotherhood in a statement released Saturday.
“However, we tell them [their hope is far-fetched]. You have arrested more than 20,000 of our members in the past 10 years, and it only increased people’s love for the group and their support for it.”
In this latest crackdown, members were rounded-up on Friday as they discussed their plans for future sessions of parliament, a body in which the Muslim Brotherhood constitutes the largest opposition bloc. The arrests come less than a week after Al-Arian was granted a promise of release. The senior leader had spent more than two months in custody.
“Prison never changed thought,” reads a phone message Muslim Brotherhood members have been circulating in the wake of these arrests. “For us, it brings reward, God willing.”
Less than a week earlier, another 16 senior members of the Muslim Brotherhood were arrested following a wedding party north of Cairo. The Muslim Brotherhood affiliates are originally from the Nasr City district in Cairo, but were celebrating an Islamic-style wedding of one their friends in the Menufiyya governorate hours before they were rounded-up.
A friend, who is also a member of the religious group, had asked them to spend the night at his house instead of going back to Cairo. However, close to dawn, shortly following the party, he and the 15 members were rounded up from his house, according to Muslim Brotherhood sources. The group of 16 was primarily charged with affiliation with a banned group and propagating for the group’s beliefs. The members are expected to undergo questioning and will remain in custody for 15 days.
The Muslim Brotherhood is recognized through legal representation in the upper house of parliament, but the MPs were elected as independents. Membership in the group is often grounds for charges and even imprisonment.
The group has an office that acts as headquarters, called the Guidance Office, from which their supreme leader and senior members operate. The address of the office is not a secret, though. Most of the Brotherhood statements originate from there and the group often holds press conferences from the office.
Meanwhile, Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohammed Mahdi Akef gave a statement to the press in which he recounted his life experiences, stressing the fact that he had been jailed during his early years. “Being imprisoned in the cells of the tyrants increased my faith. It was never an obstacle in the path of working for the religion of God.”
The prison served more as spiritual nourishment, said the leader in what seems to be a message to the government, and a “real” preparation for hardships during the fight for the way of God.
The leader also continues to slam Egyptian and Arab regimes for foreign and local policies. Late last week, Akef, in another statement to the press, laid responsibility for Monday’s train crash on the government, saying that their negligence led to the tragic event.
The railway accident in Qalyoub, 20 km from Cairo, killed at least 60 people and injured more than 140, according to the latest reports. Such incidents are not uncommon in Egypt where poor train safety and maintenance is infamous. As recently as 2002, a train fire broke out due to a gas cylinder explosion in one carriage, killing over 300 people in the wake of an Islamic holiday break.
“Like always, in such events, the responsibility was laid on the shoulders of an [ordinary] employee,” Akef said in his Tuesday statement. “The authorities have completely overlooked [the accountability of] the ‘perfect’ executive systems that are swarming with negligence, apathy, and corruption.”
Akef added that the Muslim Brotherhood calls for a serious in-depth investigation by an independent non-governmental entity into the event. Akef’s heated statements were also coupled with intense criticism of the regime and its “lack of supervision” over executive systems in the country.
As the leader’s condemnation of the regime increases, his tone becoming fiercer, the state security’s tolerance for the Brotherhood continues to wane.
Only last week, Akef condemned Egyptian and Arab leaders and blamed them for the latest conflicts in Lebanon. In his violent rhetoric, the Islamist leader told the press that, “Had [the leaders] not been monotheists (declared faith in one God), we would have killed them all,” adding that they are worse than the Israelis and more oppressive than the Americans. The statement shocked even Muslim Brotherhood sympathizers, according to press reports.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2765
First Published: August 28, 2006
Akef continues to slam government through statements
CAIRO: The Muslim Brotherhood’s secretary general and 16 other leading group members were arrested during a recent meeting. State security has also revoked an earlier decision to release three senior group leaders, including the Brotherhood’s official spokesman Essam Al-Arian.
“Through this excessive measure, [the government] has confirmed that it will continue its aggressive policy against [Egypt’s] biggest opposition force in order to throttle its actions and stop its expansion,” said the Muslim Brotherhood in a statement released Saturday.
“However, we tell them [their hope is far-fetched]. You have arrested more than 20,000 of our members in the past 10 years, and it only increased people’s love for the group and their support for it.”
In this latest crackdown, members were rounded-up on Friday as they discussed their plans for future sessions of parliament, a body in which the Muslim Brotherhood constitutes the largest opposition bloc. The arrests come less than a week after Al-Arian was granted a promise of release. The senior leader had spent more than two months in custody.
“Prison never changed thought,” reads a phone message Muslim Brotherhood members have been circulating in the wake of these arrests. “For us, it brings reward, God willing.”
Less than a week earlier, another 16 senior members of the Muslim Brotherhood were arrested following a wedding party north of Cairo. The Muslim Brotherhood affiliates are originally from the Nasr City district in Cairo, but were celebrating an Islamic-style wedding of one their friends in the Menufiyya governorate hours before they were rounded-up.
A friend, who is also a member of the religious group, had asked them to spend the night at his house instead of going back to Cairo. However, close to dawn, shortly following the party, he and the 15 members were rounded up from his house, according to Muslim Brotherhood sources. The group of 16 was primarily charged with affiliation with a banned group and propagating for the group’s beliefs. The members are expected to undergo questioning and will remain in custody for 15 days.
The Muslim Brotherhood is recognized through legal representation in the upper house of parliament, but the MPs were elected as independents. Membership in the group is often grounds for charges and even imprisonment.
The group has an office that acts as headquarters, called the Guidance Office, from which their supreme leader and senior members operate. The address of the office is not a secret, though. Most of the Brotherhood statements originate from there and the group often holds press conferences from the office.
Meanwhile, Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohammed Mahdi Akef gave a statement to the press in which he recounted his life experiences, stressing the fact that he had been jailed during his early years. “Being imprisoned in the cells of the tyrants increased my faith. It was never an obstacle in the path of working for the religion of God.”
The prison served more as spiritual nourishment, said the leader in what seems to be a message to the government, and a “real” preparation for hardships during the fight for the way of God.
The leader also continues to slam Egyptian and Arab regimes for foreign and local policies. Late last week, Akef, in another statement to the press, laid responsibility for Monday’s train crash on the government, saying that their negligence led to the tragic event.
The railway accident in Qalyoub, 20 km from Cairo, killed at least 60 people and injured more than 140, according to the latest reports. Such incidents are not uncommon in Egypt where poor train safety and maintenance is infamous. As recently as 2002, a train fire broke out due to a gas cylinder explosion in one carriage, killing over 300 people in the wake of an Islamic holiday break.
“Like always, in such events, the responsibility was laid on the shoulders of an [ordinary] employee,” Akef said in his Tuesday statement. “The authorities have completely overlooked [the accountability of] the ‘perfect’ executive systems that are swarming with negligence, apathy, and corruption.”
Akef added that the Muslim Brotherhood calls for a serious in-depth investigation by an independent non-governmental entity into the event. Akef’s heated statements were also coupled with intense criticism of the regime and its “lack of supervision” over executive systems in the country.
As the leader’s condemnation of the regime increases, his tone becoming fiercer, the state security’s tolerance for the Brotherhood continues to wane.
Only last week, Akef condemned Egyptian and Arab leaders and blamed them for the latest conflicts in Lebanon. In his violent rhetoric, the Islamist leader told the press that, “Had [the leaders] not been monotheists (declared faith in one God), we would have killed them all,” adding that they are worse than the Israelis and more oppressive than the Americans. The statement shocked even Muslim Brotherhood sympathizers, according to press reports.
Link: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2765
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