Freedom for Egyptians

Is it finally Freedom for Egyptians?

2011-02-08T13:37:00.006-05:00

I know I have been away for more than three years. But I could not miss this time.

My Baby

2007-06-10T10:45:00.000-05:00

My baby is turning three years this month. I cannot believe how time has passed so quickly. On June 25, 2005, my baby was born in a good shape. I am an only daughter so is my baby. Elder kids like me are born independent so is my baby. She is not totally fatherless. She has a father who witnessed and “inspired” her birth. Remotely he saw her growing everyday, proud of her. He frequently fed her, though busy moving between places. She was not born within wedlock, but who cares. She does not need papers. I do not find a problem taking her anywhere and cross borders with her. I do not mind leaving her alone by herself, she knows how to strike friendships and play and talk with other people of all ages. I never worry about her. Like all kids, they change their parents’ lives. She changed my life too. However, I did not have to shut down other rooms in my life especially for her. I created a room for her in my life but not at the expense of others in my life. I look at her and I see part of me. Sometimes, I think that I am her kid. She takes all my moods and whims. She keeps my secrets. I say what I want to say in front of her without embarrassment and without abusing her. She does not mind. She is so naughty and playful. She attracts attention everywhere she goes. I get lots of comments from her viewers that I have to respond. Her friends became my friends. I had to accompany her to public gatherings and talk about her. I can never be more proud when I am applauded for her. I do not take care of her everyday as I used to be in her first months. She is getting older and she takes care of some of her stuff. Last year I thought of getting her a sibling, but I thought it is too much work. I am so busy. She has already millions of siblings from all over the world. They keep her entertained.

And because she is turning three this month, two weeks ago my baby joined baby day care while I am busy doing other things in my life. I am giving her an opportunity to mingle, deal and care for other siblings of different nationalities and also help her grow in a different healthy direction. I have been preparing her for this moment since last April and so far she is doing well. “Freedom for Egyptians”, you are three years old, but I feel as if I knew you all my life. You were somewhere in my mind all those years waiting to be born!

"Freedom for Egyptians" featured in Gulf News today

2007-05-25T14:07:00.000-05:00

"The Gulf News Web team delve into the blogosphere to bring you the best of blogging on the clashes in Lebanon that gripped the attention of the region and the world for the past three days... More."

No More Cinderella Stories!

2007-05-24T13:12:00.001-05:00

When I was a little girl, I read so many children's stories classics in Arabic and in English. It was my mom's treat to take me to a bookstore Down Town to buy the books I like.

Most of the girls' stories were ending in victory because the prince fell in love with her. The girl's happiness was always dependent on winning the heart of the prince. The only way to get out of her misry is by marrying her prince..

In today's world, men and women equally create their own happiness and such stories are no longer valid that's what got today in the new fairy tale.....

This is the fairy tale that should have been read to us when we were little:

Once upon a time
~~~~~~~~
in a land far away,
~~~~~~~~
a beautiful, independent,
self-assured princess
~~~~~~~~
happened upon a frog as she sat
contemplating ecological issues
on the shores of an unpolluted pond
in a verdant meadow near her castle.
~~~~~~~~
The frog hopped into the princess' lap
and said: " Elegant Lady,
I was once a handsome prince,
until an evil witch cast a spell upon me.
~~~~~~~~
One kiss from you, however,
and I will turn back
into the dapper, young prince that I am
~~~~~~~~
and then, my sweet, we can marry
~~~~~~~~
and set up housekeeping in your castle
~~~~~~~~
with my mother,
~~~~~~~~
where you can prepare my meals,
~~~~~~~~
clean my clothes, bear my children,
~~~~~~~~
and forever feel
grateful and happy doing so. "
~~~~~~~~
That night,
~~~~~~~~
as the princess dined sumptuously
~~~~~~~~
on lightly sauteed frog legs
~~~~~~~~
seasoned in a white wine
~~~~~~~
and onion cream sauce,
~~~~~~~~
she chuckled and thought to herself:
~~~~~~~~
I don't freakin think so

"Perfume" by German Director Tom Tykwer (2006)

2007-05-17T10:31:00.000-05:00

Perfume. The movie title could be misleading for those who did not read the novel, one of the best-selling novels worldwide. Das Parfum was written by German novelist Patrick Süskind in 1985. The book was translated into 45 languages. Finally in 2006 the novel was translated into this huge movie production that held the same name. And now it is playing in Cairo movie theaters.

I highly recommend watching “Perfume”. The story is so different. It goes beyond children’s vast imagination.

Humans’ senses and instincts reflect a balanced interest in life pleasures. Each sense and instinct build up our reactions and interactions with what we want in life. If a human being is reduced to owning a strong olfactory, consequences could be catastrophic. The main character Jean-Baptiste Grenouille that was played by Ben Whishaw is a human being who was reduced to a nose. He interacts and reacts with life through his nose. The strong powers allow him to identify smells and combine them to beautiful perfumes.

The movie takes place in the 18th century in France. One night Grenouille loses his way in Paris while following a woman that sells plum who did not even see her face. He was so attracted to her scent. He stifled her unconsciously. He could not get over the loss…the loss of the scent not the woman.
Whishaw succeeded in vacuuming his own self to play this role. On screen all you can see is a sexless void empty human being. It is very difficult to express this human voidness and soul emptiness because it is also so rare to find in real life. If you look into anyone’s eyes, it has to say something, not necessarily a smart thing but the eyes can say “I am stupid”. But at the end of the day, it says something. I was so impressed to watch Whishaw’s talent in reflecting this soul voidness and emptiness.

Every one of us has a way to capture life and love. Humans fail to capture love with the same magnitude and strength. Jean-Baptiste Grenouille tried to capture love and life in a bottle of perfume. And because he is a human being reduced only into a man with a strong sense of smell, he captured love in a fatal way that turned him into a murderer.

His attraction feelings towards the plum woman that he could not satisfy nor understand turned him into an obsessed person. He wanted to bottle the scent of humans like the rose petals. His mind could not help understand losing the scent of this woman he got attracted to her by death.

It is a very complicated and sophisticated story to be related, but the main actors and actresses personified their roles with high level of talent. The story has so many levels and aspects that can be highlighted. It reminds me of old British literature classics.

I cannot forget to mention the music of the movie. Director Tom Tykwer together with Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek, performed by Berlin Philharmonic, put the music together to bring one of the best sound tracks for any movie I have seen recently.

All I can say that Perfume is one of those movies that words fall short of giving it its due. Probably the reason is because it is an adaptation of a very well-written novel.

Recent movie blog posts:
"Un homme et Une Femme" (1966) by French director Claude Lelouch
"Ma Vie en Rose" by Belgian director Alain Berliner (1997)
Take a Life Ride with No “Amputated Spirit”
Trois Couleurs: by Krzysztof Kieślowski (1993 -1994)
“Teach Me How to Dance”, Alexis Zorba

France Goes Right

2007-05-06T15:24:00.000-05:00

French Presidential Candidate Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy is taking over the Elysee Palace on May 16 or 17 when President Chirac leaves after 12 years in power.

Sarkozy’s victory will signal a new balance of powers in Europe and worldwide. Following the war on Iraq, most of the European governments that took over were leftists or center left as the case with Spain and Italy. Sarkozy who made it clear that he is against the war on Iraq, is a right wing pro-American French politician however. Sarkozy's victory in a world charged against right wing governments that supported the war in Iraq, says something about France’s domestic affairs and the French people’s new orientation.

In his victory speech, he addressed the United States and the American people acknowledging the importance of America and its role. The White House’s spokesman congratulated the new French president on behalf of President Bush.

If the socialist leftist candidate Segolene Royal have won that would have put France in a very awkward position. Chavez’s bloc might have been a first resort for Royal, something would have soured France’s relations not only with the US but with the entire EU bloc and would add the French people frustration.

I remember a conversation with a French colleague who is a very Pro-American. She expressed her anger and disappointment at the politically-encouraged anti-American sentiments in France. She was not happy about it at all and she said that this is affecting our country economically and taking us down. Like-minded people as my friend who voted for Sarkozy will take France to a new juncture politically.

Germany, the EU current president, and France will bring a new political power to the European Union that could push for the ratification of the EU constitution that did not pass when Europe voted against it in 2005.

May 16, 2007 is bringing a new France to the world. France may not change radically its policies towards the Middle East to which it has been a friend all the past decades but France’s new political alliances will definitely affect the region indirectly. Arabs who shared with France their anti-American sentiments will no more find this resort.

Iraq's Madfai sings for “Al Baghdadia” in Cairo

2007-05-05T10:48:00.000-05:00

Thousands of young Egyptians, some Iraqis and other nationalities from all over the world gathered in the Chinese Garden at Cairo Conference center for one day long of music. The musical day was organized by a private-sector initiative, Vodafone Live Music, which means it is a non-Ministry of Culture event. It was a very causal concert. You can only be standing or sitting on the grass. And the musical day was concluded with the talented Iraqi artist Ilham Al Madfai.

I was surprised to see another Egypt that I did not expect to see. I went with my friends hoping to see Iraqi artist Madfai in the first place. His singing and music is a mix between traditional Arabic lyrics and Latin American tunes. He has a band that plays on traditional Arabic and western musical instruments which makes his music close to a mystical international blend that appeals to all tastes. One reason of his success is that he does not claim to be sticking to the authentic Arabic music nor being a copy from western or Latin American Music. His music is his own original invention that only sticks to global taste. Some Arab fanatic musicians take pride in being nothing but Arab musicians, but Madfai created an international fusion of music, very difficult to be missed by any audience anywhere.

As for the crowd that came to attend the concert, they were mainly this generation that was born in the 80’s. They are a very open and free youth socially and my assumption they are all still in school and college. The new private universities established in Egypt recently brought new style of youth that I believe divided the society into two extremes. Those new private universities include the German, French, British and Canadian, and regrettably before the American university which was in a way invaded by the Ikhwan (Egypt's Islamists) style, enroll young Egyptians that you can see in any school in any country in the world. Needless to say that the state-run universities became the hotbeds and pockets for Islamists in Egypt and the wall paper for extremist ideas and political Islamist fanatisim, despite the long history of those Egyptian universities like Cairo Univeristy. I had the chance to talk to some of those young students but not enough to learn about what is going on in their minds. However, appearance wise, they look like any western students in my own opinion. Some of them do not speak except a foreign language. I have heard strong American accents. It just tells me one thing about the huge gap between the leadership of the country and the new rising generations. Most of the Egyptian leadership is calling for maintaining our Egyptian and Arab identity as if they have hired themselves to be guardians to an undefined identity that does not longer exists except by devaluation in the global market to determine its real value. Those thousands that I saw yesterday are a beautiful hybrid of modern life and Egyptianism. There is nothing in their attitude that says what the country’s leadership is saying about sticking to our Arab/Egyptian identity. Three of the Egyptian bands that played yesterday were playing their original music in English. In modern world, normal people normally become magnets to diversity and to the values of tolerance that encompass anything that appeals to human senses in general. There is no more ownership to human history and civilizations or universal culture. And that’s what I have seen yesterday.
A group of Iraqi youth came yesterday to cheer Madfai. When he started to sing for “Al Baghdadia” (a woman for Baghdad) you could easily know where they are. Madfai replaced the “Al Baghdadia” with the Egyptian and Lebanese women and that led to more whistles and applause as if it was a competition. Part of the Iraqi flavor that was added to the night was the Iraqi Dabka. A group of young Iraqi guys were dancing between the standing crowd. Another big cosmopolitan circle that included Asians, westerners, Middle Easterners and Egyptians continued dancing all night with different versions of dances, some of them I had never seen in my life. But they brought such a wonderful positive energy to the scene. My friends and I were dancing too and to my surprise no intimidation from any one around.

This does not mean that there was no intimidation on part of the government. But while talking yesterday to a member from the participating bands, he told me that his band had to change their name because of clashes with state security over the lyrics by one of the popular opposition poets that they sing. The good news is that they do not give up. They came back with a new name and started working again because they have an audience that motivates them. One of the organizers also told me that three Iraqis artists who were supposed to come with Madfai from Amman, Jordan, were denied visas to Egypt. The claim is that Egypt does not grant Iraqis and Palestinians visas any more! I guess refugees problem. Despite complications of visa procedures, the music of Madfai reached out to the hearts of thousands of Egyptians last night who gathered to celebrate and cheer such an important Iraqi artist in the Middle East and worldwide.

"Un homme et Une Femme" (1966) by French director Claude Lelouch

2007-03-29T15:10:00.000-05:00

“Un homme et Une Femme” , 1966, is starring Annouk Aimee and Jean-Louis Trintignant. It is one of the classics of the French movie industry and winner of best foreign movie from the Academy and the Grand Prix from Cannes Film festival.

Sometimes when ideas are simple and are about every day life of everyone they become more capturing and real and surprisingly of stronger impact than expected. Dating, love stories and missing old beloveds happen to everyone with no discrimination.

The movie is simply capturing the moment of second chances in the love lives of Aimee and Trintignant. Both of them have lost their partners. Aimee was so in love with her husband that she still talks about him as if he is alive. But because life is not about lingering in the past, it offers her a new chance by meeting Trintignant who is also a widow.

The music of “Un homme et Une Femme” by Francis Lai is the most famous in the 60’s era. Most of the Egyptian love movies borrowed the music. As an Egyptian I could immediately recognize it and feel that I am back to some scenes of the old Egyptian movies.

Annouk and Trintignant meet by chance after spending their Sunday with their children who are in the same board school. He offers her ride back to Paris. And here comes their first unplanned date. They share the car in a journey mixed with a talk about her past memories. She talked about her past as if it was her present. She was clinging too much to her past and living it as it had never passed. However, meeting Trintignant was about her new present and coming future. The scene leaves us in suspense about their availability. They seem single but Annouk is speaking about her deceased husband as if alive. Both of them are wearing rings. The suspense level is accentuated by the bad weather factor.

Interior scenes are black and white while external scenes are colored. My first interpretation for the black and white scenes is that they are made like the dreams. We are usually not very sure about the colors of our dreams. But to my surprise it was a budget issue, according to the director. The flip flopping between the black and white, and the colored scenes was made so precisely that you can never guess it is a budget issue. The fact that exterior scenes were in colors made me believe that the openness of life are usually the true colors of life while what we live in our interior self is only made by us thus defined by two colors because it is so limited. The continuous swinging between the white and black and colored scenes is so life-like. We keep living two lives; one that’s happening to us which we are sure and certain of and the other is uncertain because it did not happen yet. And this how the movie continues to unfold. And because we lived the past, we can define it. So, those past scenes were produced in the movie in colors.

Life is a journey. The first encounter in the movie between Aimee and Trintignant was in his car. He gave her a ride to Paris. Car travel scenes were stressed in the movie due to the fact that Trintignant was a car racer and tester. And I guess about the idea that life journeys have a destination that we decide to take when we receive a chance.

The movie brings the idea of women as memory creatures. Aimee keeps remembering her husband when Trintignant is not really recalling lots of memory scenes with his wife.

Trintignant is always confused and keeps thinking every time Aimee sends him a love gesture. She was the one who even took the initiative to say the “I love you” word. He ran to meet with her, traveling thousands of miles after a car race that he won. But all the way to Paris he was thinking constantly what he should do or tell her. The director made it clear how men can be so insecure to react when they fall in love.

A climax scene in the movie is when Aimee and Trintignant go on a date that ends in an hotel room. He realizes that he is the only one involved in the relationship. She is not entirely with him as she keeps remembering her husband while making love to him. She suddenly distances herself from him after the scene. The climax scene is so classical. It is about this angle of life that widens suddenly until it comes to a full circle when things become so meaningful and clear.

Clinging to the past as Aimee did could be a decision to deny the self a second chance in life and happiness. She accepted to live her present and share the happy future with Trintignant when she let the past pass.

Recent movie blog posts:
"Ma Vie en Rose" by Belgian director Alain Berliner (1997)
Take a Life Ride with No “Amputated Spirit”
Trois Couleurs: by Krzysztof Kieślowski (1993 -1994)
“Teach Me How to Dance”, Alexis Zorba

Washington, DC, Demonstration on Monday March 26

2007-03-23T15:48:00.000-05:00

Washington, DC in front of the Egyptian Embassy
26 March 07
11am - 1pm
3521 International Court, NW

Egyptians are also protesting else where
Cairo: Sunday March 25 at Tahrir Square 6pm
London: Monday March 26 at Egyptian Embassy 12 - 3 pm
New York: Monday March 26 at Egyptian Consulate 12:30 - 1:30 pm, 1110 Second Avenue, NYC 10022 (shehabfakhry@yahoo.com 917-392-9408) More details Here in English and Arabic!

Egyptian Blogger Abdel Karim Suleiman Did Not Blow Himself Up in a Train Station

2007-03-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

As an Egyptian fellow blogger I stand with Karim, because I will never side with processes meant to terrorize innocent citizens who are exercising their innate right to freedom of expression and because I will never be part of a tribunal of inquisition in the 21st century. Those tribunals judged arbitrarily and without appeal like the current Emergency Laws and military courts applied in Egypt.

During the Middle Ages between the 5th and the 15th centuries, the Catholic Church was not only a religious institution, but also an immensely rich financial establishment that interferes and influences politics in the West. The largest Sunni religious institution in Egypt and the Middle East, Al-Azahr, has the right to give its say in politics and referring people accused of heresy to courts and prisons. If the measure cannot be damaging enough to send people to prisons like Egyptian blogger Abdel Karim, an irreversible Fatwa (religious opinion) can lead an Islamic fanatic or extremist to put an end to a person exercising his freedom of expression by spilling his blood. The Cairo-based religious institution is financed by the government and their employees are civil servants.

It is worth mentioning that during the Middle Ages that the more economic and political power and influence of the Church have increased, the more its genuine religious and spiritual strength has weakened. It is clear that Egypt is showing less tolerance and spirituality over the dominance of more support to terrorist ideology that does not believe in supporting basic human rights like freedom of expression. Back in the eleventh century, the Catholic Church made the gradual change from the spiritual to worldly matters with institution of tribunal of Inquisition. Religion had to be imposed and enforced with the appointment of unqualified and misappropriate men of the holy orders which became a matter of inheritance that led to the degeneration of the spiritual life. Many of them did not know how to read and had forgotten how to say a mass. In Egypt today, informal mosques became a job for the unempolyed uneducated people to release fatwas and earn a living through people’s “Zakat” and donations. These tax-free informal mosques attract unemployed Egyptians and non-Egyptians. Any male, who volunteer to stay from dawn to sun set and call for prayers, is qualified to release fatwas and be a politician, if needed, to decide on terrorizing Egyptians before non-Egyptians and judging the level of their faith and spirituality.

Egyptian blogger Abdel Karim did not wear a suicidal belt around his waist or threaten to blow up himself in malls or metro stations. Abdel Karim was like any normal person in any free country, he worked out his mind to think about issues in life as any young budding youth. He put his ideas on his blog. In the civilized world, ideas can be always argued or refuted but never killed. Needless to say that human are in continuous process of evolution at the intellectual, emotional and psychological levels and that interrupting these processes is totally against the laws of nature. Abdel Karim was made a criminal and terrorist by his Al-Azhar University in collaboration with the government and state security agencies. He was made a terrorist in the eyes of the society by Al-Azahr Institution. By sentencing Abdel Karim to 4 years, he is denied the right to grow and develop. It is worth mentioning here that Al-Azhar fails to make straight forward condemnation for the real terrorists who blow up themselves, killing innocent people but it succeeds to bring a four year sentence to a 22-year old innocent student to trial.

This Monday, on March 12 in Alexandria, Egypt, will be the first session of appeal for Egyptian blogger Abdel Karim. The world is watching one of the tribunals of Inquisition happening in Egypt in the 21st century. Karim was sentenced to four years in prison for insulting the religion and the President of Egypt.

Egyptian Bloggers live up to their Human Universal Commitment

2007-03-10T13:55:00.000-05:00

Many questions have been thrown about the Egyptian blogosphere. I was asked last summer whether the Egyptian bloggers can become a political movement in Egypt. My personal answer was no, because I thought blogging is an individual activity in the first place, however it could be highly engaging. But as the time passes while observing the gruesome government clampdown on the Egyptian blogosphere, I am realizing that Egyptian bloggers have become a vocal power and highly respected by the entire the world. Everyday, they are snatching part of the information power that has remained in the hands of the government for decades. I have been following the Egyptian blogosphere with admiration for over three years now. I agree and disagree but I still have very high appreciation to all of them. From what I have seen over the past three years I can say that:

Egyptian bloggers embraced the universal culture of freedom of expression exercised everywhere without really saying it. So the world embraced them as result.
They are a bunch of young Egyptians, many of them students or young professionals who started blogs for honest lucid dialogues with themselves or with others without fear.
They made themselves global citizens without traveling anywhere with a high level of interaction with nationalities from all over the globe despite the complicated visa and immigration procedures in today’s world.
They believed in themselves and in the power of knowledge and information after decades of state-run media and government monopoly.
They were heard by other fellow bloggers all over the world that they had never met, because they were able to speak the same language. They succeeded in striking real honest partnerships with peoples who share their concerns.
Egyptian bloggers showed exemplary level of patriotism by standing next to other fellow helpless citizens who are abused and harassed by the government and helping them get their rights.
They have worked as independent human rights organizations, without being paid by anyone except their own conscience, by exposing frequent torture and abuse cases and fraudulent political processes.
They are taking the level of media to unprecedented level of freedom of expression in a very short time after decades of censorship exercised by state security armored by the crippling Emergency Law.
Egyptian bloggers succeeded in making Egypt the priority number one after decades of media diversion to other regional and international issues that do not bring much dignity to the Egyptian citizen. Addressing Egyptian issues and fixing home before looking outside became a genuine concern. Domestic issues are no more neglected or overlooked as the case with domestic media outlets. They are trying to make the government accountable.
They won international awards for best blogs on their own away from the widely-spread corruption and nepotism in Egypt. They believed in themselves and the world believed them.
Their ideas have shown continuous evolution, flexibilty maturity and development over the course of events.

To My Girls... Happy Woman's Day

2007-03-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today is Woman’s Day. I am dedicating this blog post to a very special dear group of friends. It happened that this group is all made of the greatest girlfriends I had ever had in my life. Despite places, travel, work, studies, husbands, children and different time zones, we always find a way to connect, communicate and remain together as group. It was very difficult for the eight of us during the past few years to meet together physically in one place. The internet, however, can bring all of us together. We did not plan to have a group of women only, but it happened that our department or my class at university had the most refined girls but the worst men ever (no offense). Today, I want to celebrate my girls and I want to thank them for:

Being my best friends;
The best four years of my life in college and the following years;
All the jokes we share;
Our continuous attempts to grow mature in vain;
Keeping the uniqueness of each one of us;
Making fun of each other without being judgmental;
Sharing families, parents, sisters and brothers;
Being funny yet with some little brains;
Accepting all the differences we have;
Insisting on going to the same places;
Almost dying in some car accidents;
All the fun we make of guys;
Sharing the love stories and heartbreaks;
Knowing that we are never alone;
All those funny string emails that we keep replying to;
Saying stupid and nonsense things;
The Hilarious time every time we meet;
Laughing loud;
Playing games;
Giving Nicknames;
Celebrating birthdays, engagements, weddings, and children;
The Travels and trips;
Getting naughty and feeling sexy about it;
Making jokes about getting old;
Fighting without getting angry or upset;
Sharing the pain and tears;
Being there for each other;
Remembering our memories;
Giving needed and unneeded advice;
The sisters I never had;
Dreaming together and;
So many other things.....

Today, I do not feel like saying speeches about women’s history or day. I simply want to celebrate my friends who make the best women group in the world. A toast to all of us where ever we are! For the very special friendship that brings happiness and laughter to our lives every day…. Happy Woman's Day my Girls!...

US Department of State's Human Rights Report Scandalizes Egypt's Regime

2007-03-06T23:30:00.000-05:00

The United States' Department of State released its annual human rights report for 2006 in a major event inaugurated by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The report brings to the attention human rights violations worldwide by country.

The number of incidents for human rights violations in Egypt in the report is scandalous. The report is extremely comprehensive and detailed. Literally if you were abused by the regime of Egypt and you could not find your name or your incident you have to report back to the Department of State. The report is a reminder and sum up to all incidents of human rights violations in the year 2006 in Egypt.

Internet Freedom for the first time!
This is this the first time in the history of the annual human rights of the US Department of State to dedicate one whole section for Internet Freedom in Egypt with specific emphasis on all human rights violations against Egyptian bloggers like Alaa Seif Al-Islam , Malek Mostafa, Karim Al Shaer, Mohamed Adel, Mohamed Sharkawy, Hala Helmy Boutros and Abdel Karim Nabil Suleiman.

Other Areas where Human Rights are Violated in Egypt from the Report:
Respect for the Integrity of the Person
Prison and Detention Center Conditions
Role of Police and Security Apparatus
Arrest and Detention
Amnesty
Trial Procedures
Political Prisoners and Detainees
Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies
Freedom of Speech and Press
Internet Freedom
Academic Freedom and Cultural Events
Freedom of Assembly
Freedom of Association
Freedom of Religion
Societal Abuses and Discrimination
Freedom of Movement within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation
Protection of Refugees
Elections and Political Participation
Government Corruption and Transparency
Women
Children
Trafficking in Persons
Persons with Disabilities
Worker Rights

Here is the Report: Egypt's Human Rights Violations in the Year 2006 by the US Department of State.

Tom Palmer Describes Egyptian Embassy's Response to the Washington Post's Editorial as "Pathetic"

2007-03-06T23:20:00.000-05:00

On February 28, 2007, one of the Washington Post 's editorials was about the oppression of freedom of expression highlighing Egyptian blogger Abdel Kareem Nabil Soliman's four year sentence.

On March 5, the Egyptian press attache in Washington publishes the government's response to the newspaper 's editorial describing unrealistic standards for freedom of expression that are supposedly applied in Egypt. Not to mention that he is not referring to the crime of insulting the president that Karim has to spend one year for it in prison. This crime that does not exist in any law in Egypt!!

Same day, Tom Palmer describes the Egyptian Embassy's response as "Pathetic".

Tom Palmer is a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute and director of Cato University. In addition to his work at the Cato Institute, he is on the board of trustees of the Foundation for Economic Education and work with a number of other organizations.He frequently lectures in America, Europe, Eurasia, and the Middle East on the history of liberty and constitutionalism, globalization and free trade, individualism, public choice, and the moral and legal foundations of individual rights.

"Ma Vie en Rose" by Belgian director Alain Berliner (1997)

2007-03-06T00:08:00.000-05:00

I recently watched “Ma Vie En Rose” (1997) by Belgian director Alain Berliner. The movie simply addresses trans-sexuality which is a well-trodden theme especially in the western movie industry. However the novelty of the movie comes from addressing trans-sexuality for a child at the age of 7. It is certainly a crisis when a person believes that his or her body does not reflect his or her true 'inner' gender. How about for a little kid? In “Ma Vie En Rose”, it is not a problem for the boy, who wants to be a girl, however, it turns to be a real nightmare for the family. As a matter of fact, the boy is lucid about his own needs and his future dreams. He does not hide from his difference, may be because he is not yet aware of it as the parents do.

In a religious context, trans-sexuality is simply sin. In other contexts, it is possibly a wide range of all kinds of disorder.

The story of Ludovic (played by Georges Du Fresne) in “Ma Vie En Rose” is the greatest fear in families all over the world. Most of the Egyptian families or parents for example keep reminding their boys at the very early years of their lives that they are men. They make jokes with their boys about flirting with other little girls in the family or the neighborhood even when the boy is two-year old. It is to remind him all the time that he is a boy. In the rural areas in Egypt, families take the flirting jokes to a commitment of marrying his cousin. So the boys and girls in the families grow with the assertion of their gender regardless of their real inner tendencies. If an individual was proven to be a gay or trans-sexual, social aggression and communal violence can mount to the tensest kinds of retaliation. It is not that this is going to be the rule that everyone will grow to be different, but difference should not be a crime to pay for.

The family and neighborhood of Ludovic could not accept the fact that he wants to be a girl. They made fun of him. He was sent to a psychologist, but he kept dreaming about being a girl. The movie confirms the innocence of Ludovic of being honest about his gender inclinations versus the hypocrisy of society where he lives. Adults in the neighborhood are full of moral deviations, yet they continue to hide them to claim a perfect world that normally does not exist.

The best part about the movie is the music, songs and the dancing. It is indeed reflecting the ambience of la vie en rose.

The movie reminded me of a conversation that took place between me and my brother. I was talking to my brother over the internet one day and he was fuming but also being sarcastic. I guess it is running in the family. I asked him what’s wrong? He told me there is one gay (he named him with the Egyptian slang word which is a very nasty one) living with us in the apartment, everyone knows except me. He was so angry about it. My brother does not live in Egypt and he is sharing an apartment with some room mates where he lives. I told him what is your problem with him? He said nothing. I told him, this is personal freedom. My brother has no personal problem with him but he has a cultural problem with being associated with a gay in a place I guess. He probably also cannot digest that the fact that an Arab is a gay. In most of the Middle Eastern countries, masculinity is a big thing, even if being hypocrite about so many other things in life. The second time we talked about his gay roommate was at the Valentine’s Day. He was talking about the big celebrations where he lives and that he saw his roommate with his partner having fun and he was ok about it. My brother is not related to this guy by any means, however he was extremely angry and could not take or tolerate the idea. I do not know what would he have been the situation if we had a brother who is a gay or trans-sexual? I do not want even to think about the answer. But I guess one way of accepting the difference is living the experience and acknowledging it in public which is not happening in any Arab country so far at any level.

The climax of “Ma Vie en Rose” comes at the very end when the mother insists on pulling her son from his fantasy world, but instead of pulling him, she falls down herself to pass out for a while. She wakes up to realize that she fell because instead of reaching out to the reality of her son’s world, she was trying aggressively to bring him to a world where he does not belong. Failure becomes a consequence.

Recent movie blog posts:
Take a Life Ride with No “Amputated Spirit”

Trois Couleurs: by Krzysztof Kieślowski (1993 -1994)

“Teach Me How to Dance”, Alexis Zorba

Egyptian Blogo-activisim By the Daily Star, Egypt

2007-03-03T16:53:00.000-05:00

I came across an article by Frederick Deknatel, published by the Daily Star, Egypt. The article is about blogo-activisim. And I guess I am coining a new word here, blogo-activisim. At the forefront of the article, Deknatel is referring to my blog post about the first Israeli Arab Muslim Minister's appointment.

The article also starts with the dilemma of Karim Amer, the Egyptian blogger who was sentenced to four years in prison for insulting religion and the President. He almost got a sentence like the imprisoned political leader Ayman Nour who is spending five years in prison for challenging the President at the presidential elections.

The article also referres to some very popular bloggers in Egypt like Sandmonkey, 3arabawy, authored by journalist Hossam El-Hamalawy, Big Pharaoh, Wael Abbas’s at misrdigital.blogspirit, Arabist’s Issandr El Amrani, and “Torture in Egypt" . The article is just mentioning samples of what is going on in the Egyptian blogosphere that has become a role model and exemplary for many other Arab countries in the region.

The successful and stronger the Egyptian blogosphere turns, the more ferocious the state security agencies in Egypt will become.... The clamp down that has started early by Karim Amer and Alaa Abdel Fataah in 2005 and 2006 was just a beginning to new successful meduim or a giant that revealed the real status for the freedom of expression and speech in Egypt that government keeps mouthing off about in all international fourms.

Here is: Political activisim continues to create a buzz on Egypt’s political by Frederick Deknatel.

Four year old Girl, New Human Case of Avian Flu in Egypt

2007-03-01T20:57:00.000-05:00

Of the 23 bird flu cases that have been confirmed to date in Egypt, 13 have died, according to the World Health Organization. Egypt is recorded as the hardest hit country outside Asia by bird flu.

Same month last year Egypt has declared the first human death of the bird flu. One year later after outbreak of the virus in Feb, life is not getting any better for Egyptians.

CAIRO (AFP) - "A four-year-old girl became Egypt's latest victim of bird flu, the 23rd to be diagnosed since the virus was detected in the country, the official MENA news agency said on Wednesday." More

Washington Post on Oppression of Freedoms in Egypt

2007-03-01T10:14:00.000-05:00

Blogger on Ice
Once again Egypt's Hosni Mubarak shows zero tolerance for a secular democratic dissenter.

"THE BUSH administration has tolerated Egypt's brutal crackdown on domestic dissent and the broader reversal of its democratic spring of 2005 in part because President Hosni Mubarak argues that his adversaries are dangerous Islamic extremists. It's true that the largest opposition movement in Egypt is the Muslim Brotherhood; how dangerous it is can be debated. But what is overlooked is that Mr. Mubarak reserves his most relentless repression not for the Islamists -- who hold a fifth of the seats in parliament -- but for the secular democrats who fight for free elections, a free press, rights for women and religious tolerance." More

Global Voices..

2007-02-28T18:55:00.000-05:00

See Update below, Global Voices Responds

I do not know why Global Voices is insisting on referring to me as "He writes" here and here. I am a very proud "She" by the way:) I resent the treatment of being reduced to a "He" with all due respect to all the "He"s:) ..... Just a remark, because every time I read "He writes", I really laugh......

Update

My blog post did not mean really pointing at mistakes, I was saying it jokingly, the most important thing is spreading the word. I am taking the opportunity to applaud the work of Global Voices. They are incredibly doing a great job trying to bring all those Middle Eastern bloggers together in one place when each one of them is having his/her agenda. Global voices is relentlessly promoting freedom of expression and speech, an effort that generally faces lots of obstacles when it comes to the ME. I am thanking Amira Al Hussaini, the MENA regional editor, for her prompt response to my post.... Here is part of her response...

"Dear Freedom,

My name is Amira Al Hussaini and I am the MENA regional editor for Global Voices Online (GVO). I am sorry I keep referring to you as he and have corrected the mistake. I came across your 'objection' as I was skimming through the blogs this morning trying to pick interesting posts for linking them to GVO. Finding links is a tedious chore, considering I have the whole of the Middle East and North Africa to scan for interesting blogs! Had I not seen your concern, I would have continued doing the same mistake again as I really like what you write and the valuable points you raise. Having said this, we are only human and if we are not told that what we are doing is wrong, we will never be able to see through our mistakes. Thanks again for understanding. ......."

Sitting In for Gateway Pundit Thursday and Friday

2007-02-28T15:33:00.000-05:00

Friends and Foes, I will be posting on Gateway Pundit some blog posts as of tomorrow. I do not have the same prolific writing skills as Jim, but I will try to do my best. I ll probably be doing some cross-posting about Egypt with no readers' abuse... guaranteed.... FFE.

Anna Nicole Smith in Egypt

2007-02-27T23:22:00.000-05:00

The American media outlets have been covering the death of the popular playboy model Anna Nicole Smith for weeks now. The diva gave birth to her new baby girl late last year and died all of a sudden in an hotel early this month at the age of 39. It was a shock to most of the people given her fame, popularity and young age. It was said that she could not take her teenager son’s death who died when she was in the hospital giving birth to her baby girl.

As most of you know how media in the U.S. is so focused on America, Smith became the story number one on most of TV cable news channels, especially after the row on where she should be buried. The judge few days ago ruled that she will be buried next to her son in Bahamas. Smith is an example to the American life in the sense that she is that ordinary girl who grew up in this tiny village in Texas who made it to the world of fame in Hollywood and everywhere in the U.S.

To be honest, I had no interest at all to follow hours and hours covering her death and the burial lawsuit in court. But one thing drew my attention through out all American media coverage to the story. This woman was into the playboy world of fame, however there was no one single story judging her based on morality, religion or ethics.

The upcoming row in court after resolving the burial issue is the daughter parentage. There are three men who are claiming to be the daughter’s father. This means that the three men slept with her during a very short period of time that the three of them are now fighting over the daughter. However, no one in the United States is judging Smith or trying to deviate into personal talk about her private life. Everyone is respecting the fact that the case is in court and no one is giving extra interpretation to the incident on how dare she to sleep with three men and cause all this confusion. Literally everyone is minding his own business.

I am imagining if Smith was in the Egyptian media, oh my God, the press would have literally slaughtered her and her family. The press would have kept coming up with stories since her 7th grandfather who was also running a prostitution network. The society would have ruined the future of her daughter forever and never giving her a chance to live normally. Everyone will have the right to talk about her private life, judging her based on moral and religious issues. Morality will be the judge. Religion will be the sword.

The family will disown her forever. Probably all her family members would have cut their relationship with her since she started modeling for playboy. The word "playboy" does not exist in the dictionary of Egyptian families to begin with. If she has sisters, they will never get married because their sister disgraced the family forever.

Males in the family would have died to sleep with her, but never letting their women mingle with her, fearing that she will corrupt them with her shameless acts.

If Smith’s daughter was in Egypt, let me tell you that she will have to spend her entire life to prove that she has a father in the first place. Whoever this father is, he will continue to deny her because she “ben haram”, a daughter who came out of a wedlock. Currently in the American courts, there are three men fighting over the daughter. He will have to be one of them anyway. If the daughter was in Egypt, she will be stigmatized forever by the fact that her mom slept with a man and conceived her outside wedlock. The daughter will be denied the social recognition forever and will be treated as an outcast.

If she were in Egypt, Anna Nicole Smith will never be treated as a playboy model. People like her in Egypt are defined as whores or part of a prostitution networks who have police records and are subject to arrest and humiliation at anytime.

March 12 set For Egyptian Blogger Abdel Kareem's Appeal Court Hearing

2007-02-27T10:20:00.000-05:00

Here is the news from the Washington Post. More support and presence are still needed for Egyptian blogger Abdel Kareem who writes under the name of Karim Amer. Kareem was sentenced last Thursday four years in prison for insulting Islam and the President of Egypt.

It Is a Real Sad Day!

2007-02-22T16:49:00.000-05:00

This morning, I checked the news of Egyptian Blogger Abdel kareem Nabil Soliman Amer and as expected he was sentenced to four years in prison. I did not expect the four years but a prison sentence. There is still the appeal procedure but who knows....

It is really sad! Egypt is setting a dangerous precedent for trying and sentencing internet writers and bloggers when other countries are working on raising the ceiling of freedom of expression.

And the biggest disaster is that it is not the issue to agree or disagree with Kareem Amer's blog, but the real disappointment is that many people are supporting jailing Kareem, including his family. They do not know that regardless where do they stand on politics or religion, their turn is coming....

I am not shocked but sad.

Take a Life Ride with No “Amputated Spirit”

2007-02-16T16:45:00.000-05:00

Few days ago I had the chance to watch the 1992 movie production, “Scent of a Woman”, by Al Pacino. I have watched this movie in Cairo in one of the movie theaters back at that time. I find it so interesting to rewind time and watch old movies again. I guess it is like leaving wine in the cellar. The older it gets the better it tastes.

The movie is rated as one of the top productions of the Hollywood movie industry. The dialogue and characters are fascinating. Two words or phrases drew my attention in this movie. They were said in two different occasions; “conscience” and “amputated spirit”.

It was that scene when Al Pacino or Frank Slade was about to kill himself with the gun in a very dramatic scene while wearing his army uniform. And Chris O’Donnell or Charlie tried to save him. The battle between Slade and Charlie seemed so unfair. With the determination, will and strength of Frank to kill himself and the inexperience in life and the lack of understanding of Charlie, the situation or the scene was so unbalanced. However, Charlie was determined also to save Frank. When Frank asked him why do want to save my life, he replied “conscience”. The impact of the word was too strong to bring back the balance to the scene again. When Charlie uttered such a strong value that he feels inside him, the scene almost unwrapped a new character in the movie despite his apparent inexperience about life and innocence.

In the finale or the last scene of the movie, Al Pacino used a phrase that caught my ears like thunder. He said “amputated spirit” when he was trying to defend Charlie against the disciplinary committee’s decision to expel him from university upon allegations that he is hiding the truth when in fact he refused to sell himself to buy his future. It is the first time that I hear this phrase. When I saw the movie the first time, I did not even notice it. The entire movie is about whether we decide to take our life ride with an “amputated spirit” or not. Our choice simply determines the feel, color and scent of our ride. The movie is not really about Al Pacino’s capability to ride a car or dance the Tango when in fact he is visually impaired. But it is rather about deciding to take the ride and enjoy it no matter what happens to us to cause defeat. With the help of Charlie, he succeeded in unamputating his spirit. The very popular Tango dance of the movie was very symbolic too. Though it is modern American Tango, however, it says life is all about the old saying “it takes two to tango”. Al Pacino decided to take the ride of life differently after taking another fraternal ride with Charlie that freed his soul and spirit.

Frank Slade in "Scent of a Woman"; "The day we stop looking is the day we die...."

Other Movie-Related Blog Posts:
Trois Couleurs: by Krzysztof Kieślowski (1993 -1994)
“Teach Me How to Dance”, Alexis Zorba
Syriana: Living Our Fragmented World and Shattered Dreams
“This is How the World Fucked Africa”

Globalization is...

2007-02-07T23:35:00.000-05:00

… an Egyptian woman getting an Argentinean Tango class by a French guy in the United States ... Just a thought...

Super Bowl Night

2007-02-05T23:39:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a big night in the U.S. It is the night when some cities here are just turned into ghost cities simply because it is the Super Bowl night. The Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl 29-17 over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. It is so important to the American people that the U.S. President calls the winner to congratulate the team. I believe the night is like a national day.

I might sound like I understand something about the Super Bowl, but the reality that I have no clue. I was not alone in this situation last night, another two of my friends who are Latinos shared my ignorance of the Super Bowl. Their country is well-know for soccer. Egypt’s primary sport is also soccer. American football is really an invention for the three of us. In the U.S, if you say football, people will understand that you are talking about American football.

My friends and I pretended that we have interest in the Super Bowl and said we will at least watch the commercials. Yes, do not ask me why the commercials of the Super Bowl are very popular and people wait to see it anxiously.

Anyway, the game was over and the trophy was about to be awarded to the winning team. The presenter said now the trophy goes to the “world’s champion Indianapolis Colts”. I looked at my friends and said did you hear what he has just said? Before I get the answer from them, I hear the presenter says one more time “world’s champions”. I said to my friends excuse me, do you know of any country that plays American football? Were there any international teams? They were only States’ teams. A long moment of silence….

The Strangest Friday

2007-02-03T10:49:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was really weird. I had an appointment at the Library of Congress to pick up a book. I made a phone with my cell phone from home, making sure that I will find the book I want. I left home by noon. I took the metro. Everything was great. I had my Ipod with me to listen to some Arabic music and songs. I can never be in a better mood, though it was a grey rainy day. However, I learned with difficulty to separate the weather conditions from my general mood. Growing up in Cairo, sunny days are my only definition for a weather forecast in any season of the year. I went to the Library of Congress to pick up the books. I met people from the Middle Eastern Reading Room at the Jefferson building, one of the most beautiful buildings anyone can see, and we had a lengthy discussion about the library and volunteering there. My books arrived. I took my books and left happy. I went to the metro one more time. Looking in my purse, I did not find my cell phone. I said no way and this can never be happening to me now by all means. I looked everywhere in my purse, it was not there. Here is another lovely weekend is about to begin. I asked what could be happening that I am losing my personal belongings. A week ago, I was at the National Geographic to watch a documentary movie. While watching the movie, I was by chance checking my pearl pair of earrings. Shoot. I discovered that I lost one. Those were my favorite ones. I wear them all the time. I spent the rest of the movie trying to figure out where did I lose them. But I knew the scenario. My hair entangled them and I pulled my hair. The earring flew somewhere, god knows where. The movie was followed by a reception. But guess where I have to spend the rest of my evening? With the security folks who offered to scan the auditorium trying to find it. I knew I won’t find it, but I was hopeful. They gave me a number to call in case the cleaning crew finds later at night. I knew that I had to I say goodbye to my earring.

I bid my earring farewell with sadness and I accepted the loss. I wasn’t very sure yesterday that this was the case with my cell phone. I stepped out of the train the next metro station to call my cell, hoping someone had found it. My cell was in a place that was not within a network reach or was closed. So I thought I must have lost in the train. This means another goodbye, but I wasn’t sure I can take the stress of losing my phone. I went home and I had all the catastrophic ideas filling my head. I called the woman from the Library of Congress I knew and asked her to give me the number of the lost and found desk. She gave it to me. It is Friday and the building is about to be closed. People are going home. I called the number. A person told me you might have to wait until Monday to check back. Now I am almost having a heart attack, asking myself where the hell was my mind when I lost this phone. Then he told but you can call the police operations, they work around the clock and you can get your cell if it was found during the weekend. I called I gave my descriptions of my cell. The most beautiful surprise was on my way. My cell phone was found. I guess I was about to kiss the sergeant over the phone.

I took back the metro to the Jefferson building. The building was closed. I asked the officer at the gate how to get in? He described another door at the very end of the world. I walked to the door, it was closed and no access except for staff. I went back to him and I told him, could you please help me get to this room where the library’s police operations. He made a phone call. I was told to go to another building and take the tunnel to the Jefferson building. Now it is like taking a long hike. I told myself not bad for exercise. I have to admit that security personal were super nice to me and that released my stress, starting from the officer at the gate to the building police officers. They gave me printed maps and the officer took the time to draw with a pen how to find my way to the intended room. I am the worst person when it comes to maps and directions. I really have to make an effort to memorize a map. I told the officer if I do not appear within 30 minutes, you will know that I am lost. You will have to come and pick me up. He told me jokingly I will send my dogs. I found my way and I got my cell. I promised my cell that I never treat it with negligence and that I will behave from now on. On my way out, I met the same officer who was on the gate and he kindly showed me the way to where I began my trip. I would have spent the rest of the evening trying to get out. They would have probably located me with buildings’ cameras. I was lucky not to have to spend my night looking for an exit under the ground.

I was on my to the metro and my cell was in the safest spot in my purse. That was the longest day. When thoughts are rushing in my head in all directions this is when I feel the time is not passing.

I was home by 6 PM. Unbelievable! I had totally different plans for Friday.

The day ended with a movie called “Wind”. It is about sailing. One of my friends told me that she will be watching this movie and that she has dinner for the two of us. I told myself, it is not a bad idea after such a day. I like the ocean and being close to the water gives me an unlimited feeling of relaxation, but to be in a boat in a rough sea trying to fight waves, I am not so sure that was my cup my of tea. I have been fighting the waves all day trying to find my cell. But I was still happy that I did not have to say goodbye to my phone…

I thought we are understood

2007-02-03T09:47:00.000-05:00

I was talking to one of my friends about a Muslim woman who holds more than one Arab nationality. When I asked this woman, where do you can relate yourself more in terms of places? I meant country A or country B. She said she does not belong to any and that she is a human being. I did not intentionally ask her this question, but there are questions you ask and the answer turns to be a moment of revelation for a psychological state.

I was talking to my friend and told her I have my doubts about this woman’s inclinations in life. She asked me why? I told her she declares herself as a virtuous Muslim and says she has no sense of a belonging to a place. People with no sense to belonging to a place are like those Brits who exploded themselves in London’s subway. They did not feel their British citizenship, they had another ideological affiliation.

My friend did not seem to understand what I was hinting at. I told her such people like this woman would support Muslims in Pakistan rather standing by Sudanese people in Darfur who are miles away from where they grew. She still did not understand and she excused because she is coming from a completely different region in the world. Her world does not have the word Islamist in the dictionary.

I asked her do you know the difference between and an Islamist and a Muslim. She thought they are the same. I explained to her many people around the world are born Muslims by birth but their identity will never be Muslims. Their identity is the environment where they grew up which is normally a country. People usually hold pride in their countries. Many Muslims around the world categorize themselves as practicing, non-practicing, liberal or secular Muslims. An Islamist will not belong to a place. He/she would belong to an idea or an ideology that takes the slogan of the supremacy of Islam as a political system for a way for living. That explains why an Egyptian Islamist would oppress an Egyptian Copt in support of a Bosnian Muslim. Islamists believe in political Islam and that Islam will eventually lead to a Caliphate.

The discussion with my friend was so simple, but confusing the definitions of a Muslim and Islamist can lead to dangerous consequences. Underestimating the dangers of Islamists within their nations or in the world in general can have horrifying consequences. Categorizing all Muslims as Islamists can lead to the most discriminatory treatment ever.

Egyptian Blogger Abdel Kareem' Update for Feb 1

2007-02-01T14:32:00.000-05:00

Sandmonkey has the update on today's court trial for Egyptian blogger Abdelkareem Nabil Soliman Amer.

Two Egyptian Bloggers Tie the Knot, Mabrouk!

2007-02-01T14:20:00.000-05:00

Isn't this invention crazy? This blogosphere is taking many bloggers to unexpected realms.

Amr Ezzat and Radwa, two Egyptian bloggers, got married last week. They met in an anti-regime demonstration downtown in Cairo. And here we go, from a protest to a consent on marriage.

Congratulations to the new couple! You can read the entire love story on Global Voices.

One day and before I shut down "Freedom for Egyptians", I will write down a lengthy blog post about what did this blog to my life as well ... It is a mindboggling experience that I never planned.

Virgin Komodo Becomes New Parent

2007-01-31T14:59:00.000-05:00

"A female Komodo dragon which laid fertilised eggs despite being a virgin is now a mother and "father" of five.

Flora produced a clutch of 10 eggs without mating at Chester Zoo, Cheshire, in May 2006.

When Flora, one of the zoo's two female Komodo dragons, laid her eggs in May, they were put in an incubator where three collapsed.

On opening the eggs, staff discovered they contained embryos, and genetic fingerprinting by scientists at Liverpool University showed Flora's eggs had developed without being fertilised by sperm - a process called parthenogenesis." A real interesting news story by the BBC ....

Trois Couleurs: by Krzysztof Kieślowski (1993 -1994)

2007-01-27T01:10:00.000-05:00

Over three scattered weeks, I watched three great movies that make trilogy of “Trois couleurs” or three colors. The three movies were directed by late Polish film director and screen writer Krzysztof Kieslowski. And in my opinion, he is one of the most talented directors with a very special unforgettable fingerprint and cinematography.

The trilogy is made of three separate movies that are linked with one scene in the last movie of the trilogy which is Rouge.

The three colors are blue, white and red, which represent the French flag. Each color is said to be standing for France’s political pillars. Blue is for liberty. White is equality. And red stands for fraternity.

I think one reason why I fell in love with the three movies though with degrees is because the director is a novelist, not literally but he has the brush of a novelist when directing his movies. Audience can read every single ray of light, movement and silence…etc. It is fascinating how I enjoyed reading the movies rather than watching them. My train of thoughts was stimulated with each and every scene. I believe my love for literature could be the reason why I think this trilogy is simply a masterpiece.

I will tell you which color or movie that I loved the most to begin with. I love “Rouge”. Everyone who sees the three movies comes up with a favorite color. They are so encompassing to human psychology. It is hardly that one of the three movies can miss touching a part inside us. I was mesmerized by “Rouge”.

One thing about Krzysztof’s trilogy is that does not have much talk, however your mind and heart are continuously engaged in every scene.

“Blue”, "Bleu", stars Juliette Binoche. She plays Julie, wife of the famous composer Patrice de Courcy. Following the death of her husband and only daughter in an automobile accident, that she herself survives, she has to cope with the tragedy. The entire movie is about emotional liberty. Though she did not die in the accident but she subjects herself to mental suicide. She wanted to erase her ties with the past, leaving no memory with her past life. It is quite an experience to watch Binoche trying to cut her past off. Every time she plunges into the blue waters of the swimming pool, she tries to give herself a sense of emotional liberty. However, she could not successfully live her present or her future without reconciling with her tragic past. She learns how to live when she learns about her past rather than dumping it into the nothingness of life. The movie is filled with so many transparent visualizations related to water. The mood of the color blue brings feelings of serenity and clarity, a mood that certainly suits the pursuit of emotional liberty. The word emotional liberty might sound easy to write but it is so difficult to reach. It is a complex simplicity. Sometimes we trap ourselves in memories, experiences, emotions and feelings that never leave us. The cure is not forgetting but is simply getting into good terms with the self to let go or keep what we want to keep. We need to decide on what is happening to us in the past to lead a positive present and promising future.

White, “Blanc”, takes place between France and Poland. It is the only movie among the three that takes place between two places. White stands for equality. The movie starts with a humiliation scene in a court to a pole man married to a French woman. She is filing divorce for impotence reasons and sexual problems. In my own personal opinion, white did not stand for equality but rather for revenge. The entire movie was based on a revengeful plot executed by Karol (the husband). Karol is faced by difficulty of not speaking French. His wife stripped him out of any money. He begs in Paris metro station. He returns to Poland to plot his revenge. It is said that “Blanc” has a political sub-context playing the idea of communist countries and France. It has so many flashbacks that are just adding to the vagueness and restlessness that I experienced while watching it. White is not as angelic symbol as known. White is associated with foggy thinking and cruelty.

The last of the trilogy that links the three movies together is “Rouge”. This is also my favorite among the three. It is simply one of the best movies I have ever seen in my life. It is a masterpiece painting. The more you look into it, the more it brings from inside you out. Red is simply is a bombshell of symbolism about human connections. All I can see that light was talking throughout the scenes. The dog that was featured said something in the few seconds it appeared in. Every single movement is subject to interpretation and meditation. The story is about this innocent Swiss student Valentine who meets this old experienced judge. The movie is about how unexpected human interactions can bring a new level to any human being’s life without expecting it. The idea might sound simple, but the movie brought in a very sophisticated way that made me almost want to repeat every scene to have a better understanding. The details are simple. Dialogue is short. However, the movie presents itself among one of the most intricate films. The movie is window for meditation into life cycles and human lives.

I am writing about this trilogy, because I would like to share with you my wonderful experience watching it. Do not miss watching it, if you have the chance. They are worth seeing…

Great Polish Director, French actresses, American production. ... It can never get better...

Detained Egyptian Blogger Abdelkareem Nabil Soliman Amer's Update

2007-01-26T16:26:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: This update is driven from Wa7damasrya blog (Arabic) who attended detained Egyptian blogger Abdelkareem Nabil Soliman Amer's trial in Alexandria last Thursday. I m writing the heads-up in English for a better reach out. The update is followed by response from human rights organizations like RSF and U.S. Congress.

Thursday, January 25, 2007 was the trial session of Egyptian Blogger Kareem Amer who is accused of insulting Islam among other accusations that level to disrupting public state security and insulting the President.

Some Egyptian and foreign journalists as well as bloggers were there to attend the court session. Egyptian bloggers included wa7damasrya, Benhawy and Sandmonkey . Journalists were from the daily Egyptian Al Masry Al Youm , Reuters and other press outlets.

Lawyers attending on behalf of Kareem were from Hisham Mubarak Center, on top of which was Mr. Ahmed Seif. He was the first to come to court. Mr. Seif is known to be among top lawyers in the field of defending human rights in Egypt.

Television stations were not allowed to film inside the court hall. Video cameras were not allowed as well. A crew from Dream TV channel was there and could not film the trial.

Kareem was not seen entering the building as he was given access to the trial through the garage and from there to the dock.

The trial started at noon. The judge was surprised to find a big number of interested people in Kareem's trial. The session started with Mr. Ahmed Seif's defense. He pleaded that there are no regulations or laws for internet publications or blogging in Egypt that justify the trial. He confirmed that the Egyptian laws have no say on blogging. He also requested delegating a professor from the faculty of engineering from Alexandria University to identify the venue and the owner of Elaph site. This is the site from which the prosecution printed Kareem's articles. If it was proved that the site has a non-Egyptian domain or server, Kareem cannot be charged in Egypt for that.

Following the lawyers' defense, a man stood up to say he is filing a lawsuit against Kareem. The lawsuit is called "Hessba" in Islamic Jurisdiction. The "Hessba" lawsuits are (voluntary) soliciting good and advising against evil in Islam.

The man was so emotional. He spoke in a loud voice. He introduced himself as a lawyer. He said he came to stand by Islam for its victory. He recited some parts of Quaran about those who fight against Allah and his profit Mohamed who should have their hands and legs cut. He meant Kareem.

The session was adjourned to February 1, 2007 to decide on delegating
a professor from Alexandria University to check Elaph's server or not.

If Kareem is acquitted from all charges, "Al Hessba" lawsuit will be complicating things for Kareem and he might be sentenced to three years in prison just only for this "Al Hessba".

Kareem looked self-composed in the dock. His jailers stood in front of him. Kareem was hardly seen as a result.

Congressman Franks Concerned by Lack of Freedom of Religion and Speech in Egypt

2007-01-24T22:34:00.000-05:00

Joint Letter Urges Egyptian Government to Release Young Web-blogger Imprisoned for Criticizing Radical Islam

January 24, 2007—Congressmen Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Barney Frank (D-MA) today wrote Egyptian Ambassador Nabil Fahmy regarding the arrest and imprisonment of Abdelkareem Nabil Soliman Amer, a 22-year-old resident of Alexandria, Egypt. Mr. Amer criticized the radical Islam expressed by his professors at Al Azhar University, where he was a law student, as well as in society more generally in a personal weblog. Before his arrest, he was kicked out of Al Azhar for his opinions. More....

Egyptian Blogger Abdel Kareem Nabil's update

2007-01-19T00:45:00.000-05:00

This blog post is quoted from Jar Al Kamar blog that is originally written in Arabic. He is closely following Egyptian blogger Abdel kareem Nabil Soliman Amer case. I am publishing his last update on Karim's case in English for more outreach.

“The pronouncement of a sentence on Egyptian blogger Abdel kareem Nabil Soliman Amer was adjourned to Thursday, January 25, 2007. He was accompanied in today’s court session by lawyers Ahmed Seif Al Islam from Hisham Mubarak Center, Rowda Ahmed from the Arab Network and Mohamed Baymoumy from the Legal Support Association. The session was adjourned upon a request from the lawyers for further case study and pleading preparations.

The session was attended by the three lawyers and two persons me (Jar El Kamar) and Mahmoud Al Banhawy. The latter took pictures with his cell phone for Karim. More pictures can be seen here. Karim seemed to be in a terrible situation. The accompanying state security officer to Karim prevented us from talking to him. He was hastily led to custody following the court session. The lawyers got a photocopy from the case file for study. Articles from some sites like Al Hewar Al Motamaden were attached to the file as evidence to Karim’s internet writings. Charges included religion disdain, insulting the president, attempts to flare up sectarian unrest and turmoil and disrupting public security.

The case file also included confessions for Karim during the first interrogation process. Confession records contained that he is no longer a Muslim except in the national identity card and that Karim calls for the deletion of any information in the identity cards that indicates religion. A discussion with the interrogator about the ideas he published on the internet and how far he believes in them was included in the case file.

The lawyers believe that charging Karim with those three charges might double the sentence which will be determined next Thursday, concluding that he might be spending nine years in prison. The sentence will be appealed of course. The case will be pending in court for a longer time as a result. And Karim’s preventive detention will continue until a decision is taken.

We went to Al-Hadra prison where Karim is detained. We made clear that the solitary detention is based on his personal request. Karim’s brother whom we met at the court was able to pass him some food and clothes and may be money. His family will try to visit him another time this week. Visits were stopped for the last two weeks.

The next court session will be on Thursday and it will be the most important for Karim so far. Proper legal and media presence will affect the judge’s sentence. We have noticed today that the judge was affected by the number of the people interested in the Karim’s case. More media and press personal presence will strengthen and support Karim’s stance very much or any freedom of expression cases in Egypt. We will try during this week to mobilize all interested people in this case to attend session. Your presence will have a great impact as you cannot imagine, if you are interested in Karim’s case or any freedom of expression cause.

Please bear in mind that Karim is subject to a prison sentence up to nine years to expiate his crime of expressing his opinion peacefully or through a medium (internet), provided that this medium so far has no censor or limits. Sentencing Karim will be the first legal internet case in Egypt and that will set a precedent to violate internet freedoms. Threatened persons will take the liberty to call for the imprisonment of anyone who is expressing his/her opinion and ideas on the internet, and they are many. I hope I can see you all there this Thursday at the court. The case might seem simple and individual, however it needs our defense.”

On the trial from international press in English:
AP: Accused Egyptian blogger stands trial
CNews: Egyptian blogger on trial
New York Times : Egypt: Blogger Goes on Trial

Israel appoints first Arab Muslim minister

2007-01-13T13:56:00.000-05:00

"Amir Peretz, the leader of Israel's Labour Party, has appointed the first Arab Muslim to the Israeli cabinet.

Raleb Majadele is to be the new science and technology minister."

I wonder if there will be an Egyptian Jewish Minister one day......

I am not bringing this news with the same mentality of some Muslims who are adopting the idea of the Islamic dominance over other religions or races. I know there are people who will be cheering the fact that he is a Muslim, believing that he is standing with the Islamic Califate project. I am bringing this piece of news, to show you that even in a Jewish State, minorities have rights to attain political posts. Majadele, a Knesset member , will be the second Israeli Arab to serve in the Cabinet in the history of the country. Israel is a 58 year old country....... Full Story

Human Rights Watch World Report 2007 on Egypt

2007-01-12T15:58:00.000-05:00

Human Rights Watch released its annual report 2007 on human abuses in the world. Egypt regrettably has its own share...

Torture In Egypt

Human rights organizations continue to receive credible reports that security services and police routinely torture and mistreat detainees, particularly during interrogations. On May 25 State Security officers detained Karim al-Sha`ir and Mohamed al-Sharqawi, badly beat them both, and sexually assaulted al-Sharqawi. The authorities had detained the two for participating in protests supporting the Judges’ Club .. More from the Report...

Washington, DC, rally to free Egyptian Blogger Kareem

2007-01-10T11:08:00.000-05:00

Egyptian blogger Abdelkareem Nabil Soliman Amer has been detained by state security on several charges that have to do with insulting a religious institution, threatening state security... bla bla... He is a student who dared to express himself and his mind on his own blog. In a country of state-controlled media, bloggers caused a kind of confusion that led to violence against citizens. Kareem became one of the victims of violence.

Please check the rally details that will be in Dupont Ciricle tomorrow, Thursday Jan. 11, 2007 at noon during your lunch hour. Go to DC Coalition for Blog Freedom for all the details. Here is the email for questions as well dcblogfree@gmail.com.

DC bloggers, DC blog readers, and all people of conscience are invited to attend a solidarity rally on Kareem's behalf.

A Woman that Will Be Remembered By History

2007-01-05T14:55:00.000-05:00

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi holds up the gavel as she stands on the podium with her grandchildren and the children and grandchildren of other representatives on the first day of the 110th Congress, January 4, 2007 (Reuters)

This elected woman, Nancy Pelosi, will always be remembered as the first female in the history of the United States to be the Speaker of the House.

Despite the bipartisan-driven politics in the US, however Pelosi's new position should make all American women proud for the achievement. I am not American, however happy and proud of her.

The United States was born in 1776. More than 200 years later, they succeeded in having the first female Speaker. There are so many countries that have been existing for centuries and their women do not have proper identity cards until today .... Congratulations!

African Path Website is Born

2007-01-02T20:48:00.000-05:00

Acknowledging the need for free voices to report about their homelands, here is a new African news/blog posts aggregator is born. From the news letter I received: "The African Path web site has launched. African Path is created to fill a void in the marketplace for a strong Pan-African web site where news content and blogging can be merged into a unified voice. A lot of African bloggers are discussing issues relevant to the continent but online exposure to these blogs is limited. African Path aims to provide this much needed exposure. We aim to fill the void left by big media in covering information on Africa and providing a forum in which Africans can discuss issues concerning themselves both within and outside the continent.

The African Path website features news headlines from global and major African media houses, an ever growing group of bloggers covering various topics and an interactive calendar for events taking place in different cities worldwide.

Topics featured on the site include current events, politics, technology, religion, music, entertainment, sports, health, human rights, AIDS, democracy and much more. The site will share experiences inherently African from daily accounts of people within the continent, Africans in the Diaspora and foreigners who have visited Africa. "

Herald Tribune on Egyptian Blogger Nabeel Abdul Kareem

2006-12-27T21:58:00.000-05:00

Egyptian Blogger Nabeel Abdul Kareem is featured today in an article published by the Herald Tribune , reviewing his arbitrary detention as well as other Middle Eastern online writers who have been arrested recently and persecuted by their relevant governments.

Meanwhile, Bahrainis Protest for Arrested Egyptian Blogger. MidEast Youth reports on a small-scale protest in front of the Egyptian embassy in Bahrain. Depsite the fact that it is so small, but it is so meaningful. Esra'a from Bahrain wrote Our tiny ‘Free Kareem’ protest.

“Teach Me How to Dance”, Alexis Zorba

2006-12-07T14:10:00.000-05:00

"Teach Me How to Dance", that’s the concluding sentence of the goldie oldie movie starring Anthony Quinn, Alexis Zorba or "Zorba, the Greek". I have seen this movie long time ago, when I was a child or teenager in Cairo. I had the chance to watch one more time recently. I did not know that I will fall in love with this movie to that extent. At certain moments, I had the feeling I was watching an Egyptian movie not because of the resemblance of the scenery between Egypt and Greece but for the cultural part. There were so many brilliant scenes in the movie that you can mute while seeing and make believe that they are happening or happened in so many parts in Egypt. I will start with the closing scenes of the movie.

“Teach me how to dance” or teach me how to live. If one cannot dance, it translates to one cannot live or co-exist. Most of the peoples of the world dance. Dancing is a sign of a liberal unshackled soul that can fly to embrace the life’s splendor at anytime and at any place. It does not take sophisticated people to dance or in other words to live.

Dancing is a body language for free people. If the soul is imprisoned inside a tied body that cannot express itself, this soul will never be free.

The movie depicts two main characters; Zorba (Quinn) and the English man or Boss who went to Greece to claim his father’s property.

The inability to express yourself physically even when you are capable is yet another sign of social inhibition, according to the movie. It is like living in a retro society when you are a progressive liberal creature. You can tell how the peoples’ of the world are doing or performing in their lives from their dances.

The final dance in “Zorba, the Greek” is a union between Zorba and the Boss. It is an acknowledgement to the need for a common human dance where everyone can learn and teach how to dance or live with freedom. Though it is widely known as the Zorba dance, but I believe it is the freedom dance. The Boss realizes after some failures his need to learn how to dance to be a free person and that freedom will be his only way to claim any property in the world not only in Greece. It is the common language understood between the peoples of the world who can dance.

The movie ends with Quinn teaching the Boss how to dance. No one can start dancing except when he realizes that the level of interaction with his needs and the surroundings is so weak that inhibits him from reaching the goals in life.

Most the scenes take place in a little tiny village in Greece in 1964. It is a very small community of people, but this where Zorba and Boss land to start some mining activities.

Aside from the dancing scene, another two climax scenes in the movie that struck me like lightning were the death of the two women characters; the widow and Madame Hortense. In societies of oppression, the weak and the most vulnerable become the most targeted by the values of violence and hatred. Automatically, women with no doubt in so many communities fall prey to the culture of violence.

Greece in 1964 surprises me to be Egypt in 2006 in some parts. In the early years of last century the Greeks took Alexandria and Cairo as refuge for modernity.

Greece in today’s world is branded as a European western country. It is an EU country, according to all European standards. In 1964, that was not the case in Greece according to the movie. Women there were treated as in some parts of the Middle East countries. They were treated as properties and inferior creatures with no right for self-determination or freedoms to decide for themselves. In other words, women did not own their lives. A death sentence could be imposed suddenly with no chance for appeal.

In the movie, the widow is intimidated by the entire village to be with a man. She is pretty and young. From the people of the village’s point of view, she has to be with a man or she has to sleep with a man to win her protection. She chose not. Apparently because she wants love not just a male. A choice they cannot understand. That was felt in her attraction to the Boss. But the Boss is not capable of protecting her. He does speak the language and he is stranger to the village. In this small village in Greece, all men have nothing to do except sitting on a café watching her moves all day. There was one man from the village who was obsessed by the widow and was so madly in love, but he cannot defend her against the society’s backward values that criminalize her for being a widow. She is not interested in him, so she made him the laughing stock of the village for not being able to prove his manhood. In return, the men and women of the village intimidated her for the slightest reason, knowing that she has no man to defend her. The women saw her as an outcast for not being subjected by a man, especially in bed. Free women at that time in Greece were regarded as whores. The idea was stressed in the beautiful Greek movie “Never on a Sunday” starring the talented Melina Mercouri. She was the most attractive charming free woman character in the entire movie, but she was a whore. The movie was produced in 1960.

The scene of the death of the widow in “Zorba” was the cruelest ever and most moving. It is a climax scene. It happens on a Sunday in front of the village’s church. At the background, the church’s prayers are heard. The amazing part is that her killers were going for prayers. They trapped her before going to church and did not allow her to enter the church. The entire village started stoning her and cornered her in a square. The man who was deeply in love with her committed suicide after his friends told him that the widow slept with another man. He was two weak to take it as he was two weak to defend her or acknowledge that she was never in love with him. So he committed suicide. His friends made the widow responsible for his death, though responsibility lies on the friends who reported to him in a teasing way. In the square in front of the church, the friends and the father of the dead lover took their knives to slaughter her like a goat. Quinn (Zorba) interferes to save her. He tells her to follow him. The moment he turns his back to move on, the father attacks the widow from the back and cuts the widows neck. She paid her life for being attracted to someone who is a stranger to the village or for not being with a man from the village. The community of the village acted as if responsible for guarding her chastity, not giving her the choice of love.

The second female character in the movie is Madame Hortense. She is the French woman who owns an hotel that is considered a fancy place in comparison to the rest of the shabby houses of the village.

She was a woman of the world in her own definition. She is proud of her love affairs with foreign officers until somehow she ended in this little tiny village in Greece where the world became so small. The values of love and human relationships are different from where she came from.

She is another outcast or free female character. But despite her isolation that is whether imposed by her style of life or by the people of the village, when she died, people of the village did not deny themselves the right to raid her hotel to rob and steal all her properties upon her death news. It was permissible to steal her house. The only two who were able to say a human goodbye before her death without stealing anything were Zorba and the Boss.

It was not a surprise to see that the character linking Zorba, the widow and Madame Hortense was a lunatic guy, living in his world. In one’s personal crazy world, conventional set of beliefs are broken and defragmented. The selection process for the new beliefs starts with freedom. More than 30 years ago, Greece embraced values that Egypt abides by in 2006 when Egypt 50 years was the refuge to many Greeks for the values of it provided.

Greece at this time was not a Muslim country and still it is not, however many Muslim countries in the Middle East still following Greece’s pursuit in the 60s’. They want to regard women as properties and judging their style of lives according to morality standards. Greece was able to liberate itself from the grips of the backward social values. The Muslim countries are not capable of escaping the backwardness of the social values because they are heavily tying them to words of God. Greece in 30 years became a modern western country with civilized values despite the strong Orthodox Church institution. In the movie, the church was depicted as weak and isolated and still people can do what they want. Despite being in the premises of the church, the people of the village were able to kill the widow. Monks were a group of people living in a secluded monastery on the mountains leading their own style of life without trying to impose it on the rest of the village. It was Zorba’s decision to include them to use the monastery’s trees for his mining project. It is very difficult in the Middle East to unshackle the backward social values from the strong grip of the any religious institution. In Egypt, they are still discussing whether to issue a religious Fatwa to ban female genital mutilation or not… May in 100 years, they would realize that it has nothing to do with religion…

One reason I prefer to dance…

Egyptians find 4,000-year-old mummy

2006-12-06T15:04:00.000-05:00

CAIRO, Egypt - Archeologists discovered the mummified remains of a doctor they believe lived more than 4,000 years ago and who was buried along with metal surgical tools.

Egypt's official Middle East News Agency quoted Zahi Hawas, chief of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, as saying Tuesday that archaeologists discovered the mummy in Saqqara, 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Cairo as they were cleaning a nearby archaeological site. More by AP

Egyptian Beauty Tops Miss Earth Pageant

2006-12-03T11:25:00.000-05:00

Miss Egypt Meriam George was selected among the top 8 in Miss Earth pageant, held recently in Manila. Meriam was competing with another 84 contestants from all over the world.

The Miss Earth contest promotes environmental preservation and contestants are called “beauties for a cause.” Organizers tout the Philippine-born pageant as the third biggest in the world, next only to the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants.

First runner-up was Amruta Patki of India who was proclaimed Miss Air while third runner-up was Marianne Puglia of Venezuela who was declared Miss Fire. They received the Best in Evening Gown and Best in Swimsuit awards, respectively.

Rounding up the Top 8 were Czech Petra Soukupova and Miss Universe veterans Francys Sudnicka of Poland, Stefanie de Roux of Panama and Meriam George of Egypt.

Cairo International Film Festival Rocks in the Middle East

2006-11-28T17:00:00.000-05:00

Despite political and economic disappointments that we face in Egypt, there is no doubt that Egypt is the Hollywood of the Middle East and will always remain. A city that has always been a beacon of art and a mecca for all art lovers. A history of movie industry that extends for close to a century will always be remembered despite the ups and downs.

Tonight, Cairo International Film festival was inaugurated with high presence of Arab and foreign artists.

Latin American movies are the guest of honor this round for the festival.

Believe it or not, Cairo Film Festival is hosting for the first time movies from Saudi Arabia and Oman. Yes, Saudi Arabia... It is the first movie production for Oman. And, the Saudi movie is starring Saudi actors and actresses and is written by Egyptian script writer Belal Fadel.

Late Egyptian Writer Naguib Mahfouz will be honored in the 30th round for the festival. Mahfouz passed away this yeat at the age of 95.

France Culture" Radio channel transmits all the Cairo International Film Festival events and manifestations led by renowned journalist/ presenter Frederic Mitterrand . Fred is the son of late French President Francois Mitterrand. France Culture" is listened to, by all the francophone (French speaking) countries all over the world, with 1,200,000 listeners daily.

Strong presence for the Arabic cinema, around 21 movies from about 8 countries are participating.

My family told me they could hear the inauguration ceremony fireworks from home. I am sure it was such a magnificent night to be in Cairo downtown today. I was told the huge screens will be placed in some spots down town so people can the see the opening ceremony.

Mubarak Rejects a Request to Ban Niqab in Egypt

2006-11-21T10:20:00.000-05:00

The following is a story translated from the Egyptian Arabic daily newspaper Al Masry Al Ayoum.

President Hosni Mubarak rejects a request by Osama Shaltout, leader of Al Takafoul party to realese a decree to ban Niqab (veil that covers the entitre face) in Egypt. The request came during the President's meeting with some members of the general committee of the Shura Council.

Mubarak also said:" That the international issues are not easy.and that he stands as a wall against the ambitions of some and that everyone wants to give Egypt something wants something in return.". He said things do not go that easy.

Leader of Al Geel (generation) Nahi AL Shahaby launched an attack on the press and asked for more strict regulations against the press. The President also denied hm this request. He said that the consitution and and law are there to rectify the path. (It is already so strict. How it can be more strict?)

Al Shahaby said asked for increasing the budget allocated to the parties because the current value amounts to L.E. 100,000 ($ 16,000). (Truly, this is a big big joke. This is not even the amount of money spent on President Mubarak's parades everytime he leaves hsi palace) He also complained that the Ruling National Democratic Party is occupying all headquarters dedicated to the parties. Mubarak said that the NDP had these headquarters before the establishment of other parties then he said jokingly "let Refaet Al Said give you headquarters". El Said is the leader of the opposition al Tagamou Party.

Why Mubarak Regime has the Same Effect as the Muslim Brotherhood?

2006-11-20T22:30:00.000-05:00

Many of my non-Egyptian friends keep asking me this question, isn't it better to have the Mubarak family in power than the Muslim brotherhood? I am usually speechless. I would contradict my conscience if I say yes President Mubarak is better. I all go against all my beliefs and my confidence that Egypt deserves a better present and a future of democracy and freedom. If I say yes to the Muslim Brotherhood through ballot boxes, then I am agreeing to humiliate my humanity. Being a woman under a regressive backward ruling means asking for asylum in one of the western countries to live with dignity.

My answer now is that the current regime and the Muslim Brotherhood are equally dangerous to the future of my beloved Egypt. I knew it all the time, but here is a clear cut evidence.

The Egyptian Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni, is under ferocious attack for his comments about the veil in Egypt. He said that the veil is a regressive trend in Egypt. It was expected that he comes under fire from Islamists representated in the Muslim Brotherhood. But Mubarak's ruling party, National Democratic Party, is giving him a harder time and asking him to resign. He admitted that his comments were personal and do not represent any official line. Still he is tormented by all the ministers and member of parliaments who belong to the National Democratic Party. In their defense, they said we won't take any statments that touches our Islam or attempts to insult our religion.

This is just a hint to tell you how rigid and intolerant Egypt became under military Islamic ruling and how strong the religious institution became. There is no room for freedom of expression and there is no freedom to question the herd's culture.

Islamists are asking the minister of culture to quit over remarks and the government is summoning him over remarks!

The other scary part is that there is nothing to get annoyed about except the veil comments! It is unbelievable! As if there are no trains or bus accidents every month and dozens are killed... As if there are no one million homeless street children... As if there are no pollution problems........ As if there are no patients dying in thousands on a daily basis from cancer and organs' failures not of the diseases themselves but because of the bad health care ... As if public transportation are the best and available to all citzens .... As if education system is the best and we can compete...

Egypt's Judges Finally Resort to the European Commission to Solve Problems with Government

2006-11-17T22:30:00.000-05:00

Egypt’s judges at the close of their general assembly meeting agreed on meeting a delegation representing the European commission to discuss their demands that they have submitted to the minister of justice, guarantees for full judicial independence and their right to fully supervise and monitor the country's elections.

Around 2500 judges attended the general assembly meeting at their club (association) Friday noon. The meetings continued until 6 PM. Board renewal elections were conducted and 5 new members were elected. The total number of board members is 14.

Reformers led by Counselor Zakaria Abdel Aziz won the renewal elections.

In a statement by the judges club said “we agree on meeting the European Commission.” The meeting will run in Arabic, allowing official entities to attend and participate if they want.

The statement stressed that Egypt’s judges are not complaining about their government to any party and that they are not financed by foreign parties and that they do not have demands from external entities.

The Egyptian judges are asking for solving the problem between Judges’ Club and the Minister of Justice, Mamdouh Mar’ee. The minister stopped all financial allocations of the Judges Club. Among other pending problems are the amendments made to the judiciary authority law that were supposed to guarantee judiciary independence.

The judges in their statement called on the government to release the money of their health and social care funds.

Counselor Mahmoud Mekky in his statements to the press following the general assembly meeting said “there is no problem meeting with the EU Commission” adding that the discussions will not address the political issues but will focus on the judiciary matters only.

The statement warned against the dangers of amending article 88 of the constitution concerned with the judiciary supervision on elections and referendums.

The Shura Council prepared a report last September calling for amending article 88 stating that if the judges monitor elections that will prevent them from doing their work properly in courts!

The claim was rejected by Counselor Ahmed Saber, Secretary General of the Club. He confirmed that the Judges are committed to stopping any rigging to any future elections, adding that referendums expected on the constitutional amendments will be under the full supervision of the judges.

Fox News Reports on Egyptian Christians Persecution

2006-11-17T22:25:00.000-05:00

Shepard Smith's Fox Report ran a report today on Egyptian Christians and on the treatment they receive from the Egyptian government when it comes to building their own churches, torture, arbitrary arrests...etc. Some Egyptian Copts and priests were interviewed and described their struggle to live in Egypt. The report referred to the Alexandria sectarian violence last April, as Egyptian churches became target for extremists.

Fox news is one of the most widely viewed news network in the United States. Shepard Smith's Fox Report is aired in a high traffic time at 7 PM EST. The Report is running a special series on Christianity in the Muslim World.

Dutch Government Bans Full Length Veils

2006-11-17T12:43:00.000-05:00

Europe is finally in the process of cleaning up forms of extremism and backwardness. Why would a woman who wants to wear a Burqa or Niqab would want to live in Europe, just because she has got an EU citizenship? Why would they insist on living their regressive culture in a western world?

My exclusive sources told me that the reason for this law is a reaction from the political side to a court decision delivered last week which upheld the right of a female muslim high school teacher who suddenly decided to wear the niqab and refused to shake hands with men after she came back from her summer holiday in Morocco. Before her holiday she didnt wear even a veil!!

I believe that this would be a good opportunity to look for the Dutch flags to burn and torch buildings. This is how Muslims in today's world express their anger or opposition. Regrettably, no one wants to speak the language or communicate the same way Muslims do. There is no surprise though. Western governments use legislations and law enforcements to reflect their peoples' desires and to run their states. No wonder the cleaning process is inevitable now!

It shocks me also to see those men who appear on the Arabic-speaking TV channels in the Middle East and claim to be Islamic Clerics with European nationalities talking with so much hatred and grudge about the countries that provided them safe haven from their native countries. Why?

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The Dutch government said Friday it plans to draw up legislation "as soon as possible" banning full-length veils known as burqas and other clothing that covers a person's entire face in public places.

"The Cabinet finds it undesirable that face-covering clothing — including the burqa — is worn in public places for reasons of public order, security and protection of citizens," Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk said in a statement. More...

For the Third Successive Year, Egyptian blog wins Deutsche Welle's Best of the Blogs award

2006-11-13T10:05:00.000-05:00

Last Year, Alaa Abdel Fattah 's blog won Reporters Without Borders Special Award, which has become an integral part of the Best of the Blogs Awards (BOBS). R of Beyond Normal is the winner of Best Arabic blog for 2004.

This year best Arabic blog award went to Egyptian blogger Jar El Kamar. The Deutsche Welle's Best of the Blogs (BOBS) is an annual competition that picks blogs from all over the world in different languages.

There is no doubt that Egyptian bloggers made impressive strides in improving the cause of freedom of speech and expression after long decades of state-controlled media. The blogosphere provided a window for free people from different streams to express themselves and here they are winning.

Congratulations to Jar Al Kamar... Go Egyptian Blogosphere into more success and freedom!

Egyptian Blogger Nabeel Abdul Kareem Detained for the Second Time!

2006-11-07T16:33:00.000-05:00

Egyptian Blogger Nabeel Abdul Kareem was arrested by state security for the second time a couple of days ago. Looks like the state security wants to celebrate with Kareem his first anniversary of his first detention. Same month last year Kareem was arrested for writing about Alexandria's sectarian violence. He was a witness to the violence in the city he lives in.

He is 22 years old. He can never be more expressive and vibrant. If he cannot say all what he wants to say at this age, when will he be able to? Not everyone agrees with what Kareem says or writes about, but this does not mean that he should be charged with such horrific charges like being threat to state security, defaming Egypt or insulting religious instuitions...etc.

I did not know that a blog can be used to defame an entire country and nation! But apparently in the eyes of the Egyptian state security, it is, yes. As an Egyptian citizen I had never felt that Kareem can be a threat to me or to my country. Living in the U.S. made me feel that it is normal to say what you believe in. Why Americans do not feel threatened by those criticizing President Bush or the army? Why the hell they keep creating all these websites, blogs, go on demonstrations, write books, shoot movies, publish newspapers and no one feels that the country is threatened by all those people taking the liberity to express themselves even if they are nuts?

Detaining Kareem for the second time for writing an article on the Sunni religious insitution, Al Azhar, is a big slap. Where is the freedom of expression and speech? Is this the promised democracy in Egypt? Keep your mouth shut or you will be thrown in the no where at the state security prisons..

You can follow Kareem's news on this site created for his news and for his freedom.

It is worth mentioning here that the Paris-based Reporters without Borders (RSF) added Egypt to its internet blacklist! May be the Egyptian state security can arrest RSF for trying to damage the image and reputation of Egypt.

Father Gets 10 Years in Jail in the US for Genital Mutilation

2006-11-02T11:31:00.000-05:00

"A man has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for the genital mutilation of his two-year-old daughter, in what is said to be first such case in the US.

A US women's rights group described the verdict as a victory against female genital mutilation worldwide.

Prosecutors said he used scissors to remove his daughter's clitoris in 2001.

Equality Now, a US women's rights group, said it was the first recorded case of female genital mutilation in the country." More from the BBC....

In Egypt, thousands of girls are having their genitals mutilated every year and no one is held responsible for this abhorrent crime!! FGM is one of the most rampant problems in Egypt. Not one single direct legislation was stipulated to punish those responsible those crimes against innocent little girls. A crime described as irreversibe against any woman!

I recommend that you read this wonderful post about a "case of an Egyptian female genital mutilation" by Mostafa Hussein. He wrote about a true story about a 10 year old girl who was admitted with post-circumcision bleeding in the hospital where he works! It is a must read blog post.

Australia: Rape is Women's Fault!

2006-10-26T12:26:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not but in my last years of high school, I had a history teacher who sometimes volunteered to vomit his personal views on women and religion. He sometimes digressed from the class to express some personal opinions.

One of the comments that I cannot forget until today is that when he said one time that women are like sweets (particularly Basbosa) if left uncovered, flies will stop on her. Hence, he believes that women’s best place is their homes and wearing headscarves. The man believed himself to be popular and funny. I always felt that he has got too many complexes at so many levels. And by the way, I did not go to a public/government school where teachers’ qualifications might be compromised. I went to a private school, so in fact there was no excuse to end up with such a teacher.

So I was about to start my university studies with a lovely message from my history teacher that flies will have me as a stop if I do not cover my head and stay at home.

Today, I was reading the news on the internet, I found another smart Muslim cleric who is the laying the blame of rape on women and guess why because that’s what women deserves when they do not cover their head. That’s because a woman can rape herself!

But the news is not coming from Cairo where I grew up and lived. It is coming from Sydney, Australia.

My history teacher was the messenger. In Australia, the message came from the original sources, one of the Muslim clerics who is still living apparently in the dark Middle Ages. No body informed him that in the western world women are treated with respect and dignity.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard called the remarks "appalling and reprehensible." I think this is the least he can say. If I fail to understand this dark mentality that forces women to dress in a certain code and lay the blame on her for every crime including an abhorrent crime like rape, how can the westerners who hire women as heads of state understand?

Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward said Hilali's comment was an incitement to rape saying “This is inciting young men to a violent crime because it is the woman's fault." This is a very polite way to put it. However, he should have continued the consequences of making women as the sole responsible for rape. Some pigs will come to claim that they have the right to punish women for their faults by making innocent men slip into raping women.

The only way I see for curbing this world phenomenon of spreading dark ideas is strong legislation that punishes those who insist to live in the dark middle ages. Arguing seems to me so futile. We are living in the 21 century and life is too short.

It is getting more pathetic by the second!

WAPO Promotes Taliban Women!

2006-10-26T12:24:00.000-05:00

I did not know about this scary article until I received it from some Egyptian veiled women who are cheering the success of a wonderful article. It took me few seconds to realize the source. Guess what it is the Washington Post.

I have all the respect for the freedom of speech and expression. There is no doubt that everyone is entitled to express what he/she believes in. But at times when matters are taken to the extreme, I believe there must be sometime given to consider which values are promoted.

The article “How I came to love the veil”, published on Oct. 22, starts with this statement “I used to look at veiled women as quiet, oppressed creatures -- until I was captured by the Taliban.”

I have no problem of women burying themselves in the sand as long as they believe that’s what they want from life. However, those who believe that burying themselves in the sand believe also that they the ultimate righteousness and truth on earth and any other choices in life are punishable by words, stoning, killing or a suicide bombing in a subway or a bus.

When freedom of expression means taking the side of polygamy, stoning women for adultery, death sentences for minors, disinheriting women, denial to the right of divorce, discriminating against women, then I think some little time should be given to consider what is being published.

Exercising freedom of speech should not be that at the expense of really oppressed women who trying to gain any right in a tough battle. Instead of finding support, they find a confirmation that what they live and have is the right thing.

I want to say that this woman is completely out of touch with reality. She did not hear about honor killings where men go completely unpunished because he believes he defended his masculinity and the honor of his family. And the woman he kills becomes so cheap in front of the society and courts. She claims in her article “Violent men don't come from any particular religious or cultural category; one in three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime, according to the hotline survey.” It is true that violence exist in every society and religion. There is no doubt, but it is punishable. This woman lives in the U.K where every assault against women is punishable, however there are so many other muslim societies where women are struggling with courage to win so many rights that are taken for granted in many parts of the world.

I will exercise my right of expression and say as a Muslim that the Washington Post’s choice of this article is repulsive. And I admit that I failed to understand the purpose of publishing such a backward article. I do not know what values the WAPO is trying promote here? Who are they are serving? The Taliban Women! …

Why Saudi Women Should Drop the Right to Owing a Driver’s License

2006-10-16T21:28:00.000-05:00

I have recently heard a discussion about Saudi women’s rights. One of the issues that was discussed is the battle over women’s right to get a driver’s license and another debate whether Saudi woman should be allowed to work in a mall or not.

I believe both debates are not in place. For me it sounds weird that Saudi women are trying to get a driver’s license without fighting to be recognized as equal citizens. Owning a driver’s license is a result not a right. There are so many women around the world who have no cars or driver’s license though they have the right to but they can go every day to work and they can compete with men. If western women can afford a car or two, they own it because it is freedom and it is a means to run errands and go to work.

It is not the issue of driving per se. It is the issue of finding the way to insert somewhere this simple statement “Saudi citizens are equal in rights and responsibilities”. I have to admit I am ignorant about Saudi legislation, but there must be a way to insert this statement somewhere in their Islamic legislation or jurisprudence to be the launch pad for countless rights, one of them will be the driver’s license.

It is meaningless to keep asking for the breadcrumbs and agree to be part of the breadcrumb argument. The breadcrumb or the driver’s license will be probably thrown upon the heads of Saudi women for show at certain point in time but not for real intention to make them equal citizens. Driver's license or working in a mall is not the core battle for true citizenship.

Akef's Muslim Brotherhood tells Straw to "Mind his Own Business"

2006-10-11T16:38:00.000-05:00

Islam's Spokesperson Mahdy Akef of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is telling British leader of the House of the Commons and former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to "mind his own business".

It is so funny that the MB in Egypt are not politically ambitious at the domestic front, but they appointed themselves to be the official mouthpiece for Islam.

It is needless to say that this is Straw's buisness. If Akef is not accepting women in Bikini, I believe Straw has the right not to accept women covering their faces.

MB were the ones who asked the Vatican for official apology.

MB were the ones who asked for boycotting Danish products and for official apology from the government on something was done by an independent newspaper.(Danish Cartoons)

Ayman Nour Asked Rice for Nuclear Energy Cooperation Before Gamal Mubarak

2006-09-21T20:50:00.000-05:00

AlGhad Party leader Ayman Nour who is currently in prison for running for the first presidential elections has asked U.S. Secretary Condoleezza Rice seven months ago to look into whether Egypt can benefit from a U.S. offer to help developing countries develop nuclear energy.

At the annual convention of the ruling National Democratic Party, the son of the president, Gamal Mubarak suggested that Egypt can make use of nuclear energy. The President seconds the son’s idea at the closing speech of the conference by wanting a national debate on the use of nuclear energy.

If there is such concurrence of ideas between Al Ghad and the National Democratic Partyies, why Ayman Nour is in prison? Apparently, it is a rivalry battle for proving supremacy of ideas. Gamal Mubarak did not come with an innovative idea.

In a diplomatic move, the U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, Francis Ricciardone, offered the United States’ assistance to help Egypt to have nuclear energy. So Gamal Mubarak’s move to dissociate himself from the American image was not so successful. The United States will always be there either to give its expertise and oversee the process making sure that Egypt is not going rogue.

Gamal Mubarak Follows in Footsteps of Ahmadinejad

2006-09-20T13:52:00.000-05:00

Due to the success of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his rising popularity in the Middle East for defying the international community on top of which is the United States for his murky nuclear energy agenda, the son of our President Gamal Mubarak wants to follow in his footsteps. The fact that Iran is isolated and that the Iranian people are trapped for their rulers' doings is not regarded as a bad thing but it is regarded heroism by Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party.

Gamal Mubarak believes that this way he can win some popularity among Egyptians, by becoming the hero who will be fighting for nuclear energy and may be dragging IAEA inspectors to Egypt (International Atomic Energy Agency) to show the world how Egypt is important.

And since anyone in the Middle East becomes so popular among the peoples of the region when he starts an anti-American propaganda, Gamal Mubarak offered a new Arab vision to the Egyptian people, urging the rejection of "foreign ambitions" trying to shape the region.

He said, during the annual ruling party convention, “We reject these foreign ambitions to erase Arab identity in the framework of what they call the Greater Middle East initiative." In fact, he echoes his dad’s continuous statements about erasing the Arab identity. In fact, I would like to try erasing this fake Arab identity for the sake of trying. May be things will go better.

Until this day, I am wondering about this Arab identity. The continuous generalization of big slogans that leads to nothing but massacres in Southern Sudan, genocide by chemical weapons as in Iraq, denying the Berber their language as in the Maghreb countries or persecution of minorities like the case in Egypt with the Copts and kicking all Jews from all their native countries at the beginning of the second half of the last century by all military coup d’etats. The list is long under the umbrella of this sickening Arab identity.

However, the idea of the Arab identity sells well among many Egyptians and Middle Easterns. In fact it is considered an achievement. In a country where unemployment rates reaches 70% and illiteracy hits more than 40% it must be good to have an achievement that is for free does not need any effort. Everyone at the end of the day will feel like heroes. The problem is that it is an identity with no values and does not give much at the individual level. It emerged and survives under all totalitarian despotic regimes. It is not the European Union where countries enter for their political democratic achievements and high economic performances.

I have no idea why the son of the President has to recycle such a decaying idea. This does not herald good.

I do not really care much about the Arab identity as much as I care about lifting emergency laws and giving freedoms to the press and having an independent judiciary system and fair elections and ensuring the right to fair trials and having safe public services and transportation.

I am not really impressed by including the word “nuclear” in any context unless it is clear and well-explained. Who are the nuclear experts that the National Democratic Party is taking advice from? Pakistan? Who delegated the NDP to decide for Egypt to go nuclear? I believe handling the illiteracy bomb that is being manipulated by Islamists is the best way to ensure a safe future for Egypt. Splashing ideas here and there does not sound like a platform but rather propaganda.

Apparently, the address was not meant only to connect with the Egyptian people but also stressing the continuation of undermining the international role that Egypt can play by insisting on recycling decaying ideas that proved it s failure.

U.S. State Department on Religious Freedom in Egypt

2006-09-17T22:44:00.000-05:00

International Religious Freedom Report 2006. Not Good.

Egypt's Nobel writer Nagib Mahfouz dies

2006-08-30T04:45:00.000-05:00

This is one of the moments when I wish I could to be home in Cairo. Since I was a child, the name of this fountain of creativity and authenticity named Naguib Mahfouz has been in the center of the corners of our lives. It was such a coincident that the first time I read for Mahfouz I was a teenager and it was his banned novel in Egypt "Awlad Haretna" or Children of the Alley that my family smuggled into our house. The novel was banned in Egypt by the Sunni Al Azhar religious institution in 1959 and until today on allegations that it symbolizes Allah or God and his children who are the prophets and messengers. It was one of those summers in my life that I spent with Mahfouz reading his ever-lasting unforgettable masterpiece, "Awlad Haretna". His death brings to me memories of reading his novel in every corner at my parents' home in Cairo. I also surprise myself to remember, how young I was yet I could fall in love with such big complicated novel. It is one of those novels you do not want to leave until you finish, but it is so big in size. When I moved to the U.S. , one of the things I was proud to carry all the way from Cairo to the United States for my friends were translated copies of this particular novel.

Encouraged by the fatwa of Al-Azhar that his novel is banned on religious allegations and blasphemy that he dared to talk about God and his messengers, Islamic terrorists took advantage of believing they can send an infidel to his God to put him in hell. In 1994, terrorists wanted to spell his blood by stabbing him with a knife in his neck, like any of their cowardly acts they do anywhere to innocents. Fortunately, Mahfouz was saved in hospital. But the attack left him with serious consequences among them that he could not use his right arm properly as before to write. He got stabbed during one of his daily walks to his house coming from his favorite coffee shop where he used to write. For security reasons, he has to lose his freedom to walk freely as he used to.

Now, I believe in walking more than ever. Could be one of the reasons why Mahfouz lived until his 94 are his walkings from his house in Agouza to downtown on a daily basis his entire life until this coward attack. I believe walking could be a source of inspiration to love places you visit and people you meet. He was with no doubt a first-class Cairo lover. The details in his novels reflect the love to places and people.

"Awlad Haretna" or Children of the Ally was the main reason why Naguib Mahfouz won the Nobel Prize in 1988. Mahfouz is not only one of the most prominent renowned Egyptian intellectuals, but he is the first and only Arab writer to win the Nobel Prize for literature.

In spite of millions of readers in the Arab world, the Mahfouz's books remained unavailable in many Middle Eastern countries because of his support to President Sadat's Camp David peace treaty with Israel in 1978. This is one reason why I can also identify myself with Mahfouz is because of his support to peace, since I consider myself the peace generation. I am grateful to all those who supported peace because the alternative would have been bloody and bitter. I grew up without witnessing one single war feeling safe and secure because of people like Mahfouz who bravely stood next to our late President Sadat leaving him unabandoned for his hsitoric decision to make peace with Israel.

Born in Cairo in December 1911, Mahfuz is Egypt's most renowned intellectual with about 50 novels to his name. He began writing at the age of 17 and had his first novel published in 1939.

(Mahfouz) You will always be remembered in my thoughts and heart not because you are a Nobel winner but because you are part of my life. Today I am not only mourning you but my memories, the freedom to think and create, courage and the love to life embodied in all your writings and you ... Adieu Brave Egyptian!

Bush Extends Sympathies to the Egyptian People on Death of Naguib Mahfouz

Egypt's Ruling National Democratic Party Declares Gamal Mubarak as a Successor

2006-08-28T19:35:00.000-05:00

Despite frequent denials by Gamal Mubarak that he will run for presidency or that he has the intention to succeed his dad in office, a prominent figure from the ruling National Democratic Party said an in interview to AlWafd newspaper (Arabic) that the party is preparing Gamal Mubarak as a successor and alternative for presidential plans. These statements are the first of their kind. Though almsot every Egyptian talks about the ruling party plan, officials from the party never went blunt in public to announce the party's agenda in bringing the son of the president to power.

Gamal Mubarak has been promoted so quickly inside the party to be the second person in command over the past few years.

These statements are coming ahead of the annual meeting of the NDP on September 15, where the president delivers his speech, defining the main priorities of his party. This is year he will give the closing speech. The annual meeting is usually attended by local and international figures.

The NDP has members from the so-called old guard who do not belong to the circle of the new guard led by Gamal Mubarak. The division as always have been denied but when you take a deeper look at the NPD secretary general Safwat Al Sherif's statements and the new guard statements you can immediately recognize and feel the split of agendas.

Hossam Badrawi, who is one of the closet allies of Gamal Mubarak in the party, threw the succession plans in yesterday’s interview with Alwafd, confirming that Egypt should be a civil country not a religious or military. As we all know most of the old guard of the party belongs to the military. These statements come against all the founders of the party which they will probably have to be made redundant if Junior Mubarak comes to power. Of course, we all know what he meant by not religious country. Badrawi was attacking the Muslim Brotherhood, though acknowledging the right for everyone to run .

He said: "Gamal Mubarak is one of the alternatives for presidency." I believe he is the only alternative for the ruling party and if not why Badrawi himself run for presidency, being a vetern well-educated public figure?

The ruling has alienated itself from the grassroots, and that is so obvious. The opposition movement Kefaya, the Muslim Brotherhood and opposition leftist parties in Egypt succeeded always in rallying support around them in demonstrations. On the other hand the NDP fails to rally even a 10 people demonstration unless they are paid or civil servants who are forced to do so.

The NDP’s new plan will slip the country into a political civil war and again without the participation of the people. Divisions will emerge between the old and new guards on who to rein after President Mubarak. With some flying rumors in the past that Gamal Mubarak is a gay, in which I have nothing against gays, but if true I wonder if the army will take that easily. Is it possible that the head of the armed forces of the country be a gay person? Is Gamal Mubarak strong enough to impose himself on the old military revolution party and the army without even grassroots support?

Bringing Gamal Mubarak to power will increase the disappointment of the Egyptians. It is yet another declaration that they will have to continue to be ruled rather rule their counrty. I believe disappointment was one reason why many Egyptians joined the camp of the Muslim brotherhood.

This succession plan puts an end to the shiny statements of the United States about bringing democracy and peace to the Middle East region and to one of the its allies, Egypt. It dashes the hopes of millions of Egyptians who believed once in the Middle East Spring. Gamal Mubarak is an Egyptian citizen and he has the right to be a presidential candidate but he should be like all Egyptians who also wish to run for presidency. There should be equal opportunity if democracy plans are serious.

Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Starts his Blog

2006-08-15T22:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Blogosphere Mr. President!. Posts are published by him! I am not kidding, visit his blog. So who is next Syria's Bashar El Assad?

What a Coincidence?

2006-08-08T10:13:00.000-05:00

The Muslim Brotherhood leader in Egypt, Mahdy Akef, said he was ready to send 10,000 fighters to Lebanon to combat Israel alongside Hezbollah.

Mohammed Mehdi Akef told AFP “I am ready to send immediately 10,000 mujahedeen to fight the Zionists alongside Hezbollah.”

Few days later, al-Qaeda's number two, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has announced that Gama'a al-Islamiya, the main militant group behind Egypt's bloody 1990s insurrection, has joined his global jihad.

He named six figures within Gama'a who he said were joining "in one front, facing their enemies in the most imperious crusade carried out against Islam in all its history".
Gama'a al-Islamiya leaders flatly denied they had joined al-Qaeda, in a statement on their website.

Egyptian authorities crushed a bloody insurgency by two main Islamist groups - Gama'a al-Islamiya and Islamic Jihad - by the late 1990s. But other, smaller groups have emerged since.

Previously: Muslim Brotherhood Leader Akef says “Fuck Egypt”

Saudi Women Journalists:Interviewing Men is a Problem

2006-08-08T09:07:00.000-05:00

The reason why I am running this story on my blog is not only because I want to applaud Saudi women for their courage but also I was extremely touched how I took my career achievements for granted. Working as a journalist at a certain point of my life led me to so many people and places that I have always enjoyed and thought it is a great joy to be able continuously to explore personalities and places. I never thought whom I am meeting based on their gender, color, age, nationality or race.

The case is different in Saudi Arabia and women are struggling to do their work, but I am sure if they are trying they will reach where they want one day.

I am so grateful for my parents for giving me freedom and allowing me to make my own choices in life and never making feel that something is hindering me because I am a female. I always went for what I wanted with confidence.

RIYADH (Reuters) - They are few in number but determined to make their mark -- women journalists in Saudi Arabia have fought hard to get where they are and say they have more than proved themselves the equal of men.

The kingdom is one of the most restrictive places in the world for women, where powerful clerics say a woman's place is in the home, raising a family.

Women cannot drive cars, must be accompanied in public by male relatives, and must cover themselves up in anonymous black robes lest they incite men's sexual desire.

But despite limitations on women in the workplace, many who have ventured into the media industry as Saudi Arabia opens up under King Abdullah have attracted attention for their tenacity and professionalism.

A young print journalist in the capital Riyadh, who declined to be named, said female journalists had a lot of strengths people might not appreciate. "I want to speak out," she said.

The journalist, who hails from the less restrictive Eastern Province on the Gulf coast, said her family supported her ambitions but Saudi society made it difficult to do her work.

"The problem is we don't have media departments at university for women. But you need to know how to write, and I don't have the tools," she said in an interview.

"Media means working evenings. You can't do interviews except in your office, and if you go to a hotel lobby, it's a crime," she said, recounting how a colleague was hauled off by the Saudi morality police for interviewing an unrelated man.

"You have to find safe ways. I have to be really careful. In Saudi Arabia, every one is watching you," she said.

MORALITY POLICE
The religious police, who believe women should cover their entire faces, can cause problems for a woman taking the pulse of public opinion on the street. Seating arrangements also separate women journalists from men at news conferences. more...

Previously: History made in Kuwait, Women go for their Rights!

Because Muslims are Persecuted.. Theme park calls off "Muslim Fun Day"

2006-08-02T23:18:00.000-05:00

Well this is how the story will be interpreted by Muslims worldwide as they feel being persecuted. Actually, this is not true as generalization is always a bad habit. To be honest, my opinion this is no fun day. How come park rides be segregated by sex? Will that be fun? There is no wonder the day was called off.

Here is the story:

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's biggest theme park has called off the country's first "National Muslim Fun Day" because of lack of interest, the park said Wednesday.

Alton Towers in central England was to open on September 17 for Muslims -- with halal food, a strict dress code and prayer areas.

Music, gambling and alcohol were to be banned for the day and theme park rides such as "Ripsaw," "Corkscrew" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" all segregated by sex.

But the park said the event's organizers, Islamic Leisure, who rented the park for the day and were marketing the event, had called it off due to "insufficient ticket sales."

The fun day had caused some consternation: a non-Muslim couple scheduled to hold their wedding at the park's hotel complained to newspapers that event organizers told them the bride and female guests would have to cover up.

The park promised the party would be exempt from the rules. A park spokeswoman said the wedding would take place as planned. More...

Americans Visiting Egypt in Record Numbers!

2006-08-02T22:48:00.000-05:00

Good for You Egypt... Wonderful. Many of my American friends keep asking me these eternal questions: "Is Egypt safe to visit?", "Is it safe to say I am an American?". There is no guarantee that there is a safe place now in our crazy world as long as fundamentalism is living in some pockets of the world. But hey there are thousands of Americans who made to Egypt and came back home safe.

Record Growth to Egypt Comes as Robb Report Names Egypt as One of World's '10 Extraordinary Escapes'

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- More Americans are travelling to Egypt than at any time in history! American visits are now on pace to eclipse the record-setting year of 2000.

During the first six months of 2006, there were 118,044 American visits, surpassing last year's total by 20.1% and the record-setting 2000 number of 114,468 by 3%. The record-setting performance was bolstered in June 2006 when there were 19,656 American visits, a 16.6% increase over the same period in 2005. More...

I Want to Believe That

2006-08-02T22:29:00.000-05:00

There is no doubt that every war now is about change and lessening the impact of fundmentalists worldwide. I wished that the British Prime Minister have given further explanation to the values change concept.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - US military action in Iraq and Afghanistan was part of a policy of "values change" rather than "regime change", Prime Minister Tony Blair said in a keynote policy address.

U.S President George Bush's staunchest supporter made the comments as he likened the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza to the wider issues of global extremism and the clash between moderate and reactionary Islam.

"Ever since September 11, the US has embarked on a policy of intervention in order to protect its and our future security," he told about 2,000 guests at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.

"Hence Afghanistan. Hence Iraq. Hence the broader Middle East initiative in support of moves towards democracy in the Arab world.

He said that the point about these interventions, however, military and otherwise, is that they were not just about changing regimes but changing the values systems governing the nations concerned. More...

Freedom is Radio Blogging with Gateway Pundit

2006-07-31T23:08:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, July 22, I had the honor to be Jim Hoft of Gateway Pundit guest for one hour on air to talk about Danish cartoons, the situation in Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and so many other Middle East related topics. It was truly an exciting experience to be with Gateway.

He is doing it every Saturday. He always makes announcements for his show and his guests. You can listen to his show on the internet. It comes via Wide Awakes Radio.

It is just another experience that tells you what a small world we are living in. Jim was in St. Louis, I was in Washington, DC, and the radio is broadcasting from California. I really wish that faster and easier technological proximity can connect humans better.

Thanks Jim for inviting me to your show. It was great to be your guest!

Last Friday Gateway Pundit was interviewed by STLmedia and wrote an article about his efforts in the blogosphere, highlighting his different daily life talents. He mentioned a couple of international bloggers. I felt so flattered to be one of them.

Leilouta, Freedom and Nouri in a Moroccan Restaurant in DC

2006-07-31T23:07:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago, I met with the incredible Tunisian blogger Leilouta and Nouri in a Moroccan restaurant in DC. I thought we made a perfect alliance for the North African bloggers. I always wanted to have a Tunisian friend for all the social freedoms and openness I heard about in Tunisia and here is Leilouta. Nouri was the youngest among us all. I do not know how Algerians look like but apparently Nouri is a mix. He can be many things other than being an American/Algerian. Good for you man! I forgot to ask him how Algerian men look like. He could pass for an Egyptian, easy.

Leilouta and her husband are one of the most admirable couples I met in the States. They truly make a wonderful example for a couple and above all for that that bridge between the west and the east. Two worlds we might think will never meet, especially in view of all the current events around us.

The best part about the Moroccan restaurant was the belly dancing part. It was great. I felt I am so home. Part of my Egypt has just moved to DC that night to fill me with happiness and joy.

The only part that made me feel I am still in DC and not in Cairo is the reaction of the audience to the belly dancer. In Egypt, when a belly dancer starts dancing everyone starts clapping and some stand up to dance. It was only me and Leilouta who were giving the right reactions but I guess we knew why. We were the only two persons who are familiar with how should belly dancing should be treated. Leilouta gave her Tunisian ululation (zaghareet). Egyptians have a very recognizable one as well but regrettably I do not know how to do it. We do it in all weddings as a sign of happiness and way to declare that a celebration is taking place. The belly dancer was dancing on Egyptian music and that really made my night. I did not hear Hakim since a long time ago in a party. She was dancing on one of his songs.

I only regret that I forgot my digital cam to take pictures for the belly dancer, next time!

I borrowed this picture for Leilouta and Nouri from here. I refused to take pictures. I am in that mood since at four months that I do not want to take pictures, I do not know why. I was a photo manic until few months ago.

Individualism Will Leave Societies "On the Ash Heap of History"

2006-07-31T23:05:00.000-05:00

Two articles were published by the Washington Post on Egypt during the month of June that I would like to refer to here, not only for their content but for what they represent. One is “Democracy Policy in Ashes” by Joshua Muravchik and “The Wrong Way to Sway Egypt” by Jon B. Alterman. I am by no means not putting the two articles for comparison but rather examples for my blog post. I am sure that you will also enjoy reading them.

Think tank institutes or centers regardless of their affiliations or orientations are a culture that really does not exist in the Middle East countries for reasons that are related to the exiting political systems. These think tanks are powerful places that influence the decision making process in the United States. Because people find several ways to express themselves at the different levels, think tanks are just a natural emergence to the general atmosphere of freedom of expression that takes a political nature. You may agree with their political orientations or not, but their existence says something.

We sing the song of the empowerment of the civil society in Egypt and how essential is it for the development process. Think tanks are another face for a very active civil society that represents a sector of citizens that are efficiently and highly engaged with what is happening in the U.S and worldwide.

In the Middle East countries as the decision-making process takes a centralized form, peoples of the region tend to believe that the same system is applied everywhere. Their analytical skills tend always to pinpoint one sole person as a responsible which is true for their cases but not in the western world. They fail to dig deep enough to analyze systems or political ideologies created by parties or powerful groups that know how to lobby and sell their ideas in their countries, something that never happens except under clearly defined political systems.

Another different note that I would like to point to here is that the Washington Post despite its fame worldwide, it is a controversial paper in the U.S, in a positive way. Some Americans in some instances tend to like it or dislike it according to their political affiliations. Egyptians tend to read the articles in the Washington Post as if they represent the opinion of the entire United States. The reality is completely the opposite. Another important difference that I would like to point to here is that in the U.S, the individual attains a very important status. It is the culture of the individual. Political life in the U.S. unlike the Middle East countries consists of layers of very precious individuals to their country that tend to group, de-group and re-group to serve their agreed upon goals that should serve the United States’ interests at the end. The common notion among most Egyptians is that one sole person who rules the United States which I consider a projection to the reality of the Middle East countries in general. The President of the United States acts within the consititutional rights bestowed upon and exceeding his limits might put him into trouble.

I believe that there will be no true understanding between countries of different economic and developmental positions except with bringing the political systems a bit closer bit by bit to avoid these halos of hatred and aggression that continue to grow among countries. Hatred that mounted to the levels of terrorism.

Muravchik is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, is writing a book about Middle Eastern democrats.

Alterman directs the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

De Heise Online on Egypt

2006-07-31T23:04:00.000-05:00

German De Heise Online had this article on Egypt and President Mubarak titled "Das mit den Reformen ist nun vorbei" by Alfred Hackensberger. It included several different topics from Yacoubian Building to the freedom of expression in Egypt among other important topics. The article had a link to my blog, using me as a reference that drew traffic to my blog.

The world attention will continue to set eyes on Egypt's progress and slackness... We better be careful... but who listens...

Summer Marriage Shopping

2006-07-31T23:03:00.000-05:00

I was talking with one of my Egyptian girlfriends in Cairo few days ago about a new suitor who proposed to her. Sounds like an interesting story that should have a happy ending. In fact, it is a horror story and just tells me how many values in our Egyptian society is so mixed up and confused. I felt so sorry.

She told me that her mom asked her to visit with her one of her friends. My friend was well-intentioned and went with her mom. But of course there was a surprise waiting for her. Fine, arranged marriages are among the most popular forms of marriage in Egypt.

My friend wants to marry a guy whom she falls in love with. That’s sounds to me so normal and the right thing to do especially when it comes to spending your life with someone. May be me and my friend are from this old-fashioned school that belives that the only basis for marriage is love. We are so outdated now.

She could not take the guy and told the friend of her mom her position of marriage. Everything until now is ok. What was not ok is the reaction of this woman who arranged this meeting. My friend was in shock and I was shocked when I heard the story as well. I thought it is because I have been away from my home for sometime. The guy is very rich and he lives abroad and he is visiting Egypt to shop for a bride in the summer. The woman told her you can marry him, setting some conditions before signing the marriage contract. She told her you can try him if you do not like him, you will have him make you a transfer of some of his properties and money and this way you do not lose anything and you do not waste your time. I am not so sure here what did she mean? Is this guy or a fridge that my friend will have at her place to try for sometime and she can return and get back her cash? What’s wrong with you my people?

Israel Rolls Up Sleeves to Hit Damascus

2006-07-14T22:24:00.000-05:00

I am actually on holiday and I have intentionally made limited access to technology, however a war has just started in my neighborhood. I felt there is a need to write. However as I mentioned in my previous blog, I will be back to regular blogging, emailing late next week.

I am not going to write about the sequence of events and how crazy to kill the civilians, I will leave that to the human rights organizations and other political parties concerned.

What I am going to write might annoy many of my readers but this is how I am seeing what is happening.

The truth is that Syria is the only country meant by Israeli war. Lebanon is the scapegoat and the prelude to the escalation that will lead at the end to hitting Syria. I hope I am wrong.

Syria’s regime has always played its cards under the table while maintaining other players on the stage to act on its behalf. The sole defender, protector and creator of the failure that’s called pan-Arabism is Syria. The project that has brought despotism, dictatorship and failed regimes to rule in the Middle East was created by this fascist regime. Time for a confrontation…

The true axes of pan-Arabism were Iraq and Egypt and Currently Syria. After the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraq was liberated from the despotism of the project of the Pan-Arabism. Egypt, though during the past 25 years under President Honsi Mubarak was the sole defender of Syria, was saved when President Anwar Sadat signed a peace treaty that protected and stopped the bloodshed. Syria is the only regime that is maintaining the corruption and the hatred embedded in this project.

Syria has maintained strong grip on Lebanon to suck its money economically and sheltered Hizbullah figures and leaderships. Syria had never worked towards a path that should lead to peace and prosperity for its people or the neighnbouring countries. Terrorists are inflitrating to Iraq through Syria. Car bombs are exploding in Lebanon killing key figures by the Syrian intelligence as investigation reports hinted.

After the declaration of the plans for the greater Middle East, the United States made its to way Iraq and pulled Saddam Hussein from a hole in the ground. However, the United States did not plan on grabbing every dictator in the Middle East from a hole in the ground. Israel assumed an inactive role since the war on terrorism has started. It was inactive until few days. However, I always thought Israel will play its role with Syria sooner or later. The day has come. Israel p now plans to hit Damascus. The escalation is intentional. Arabs’ lack of long term strategy will help Israel play its role.

Along the history, it is well known that the Middle East was not handed from one empire to another except at least with the fall of two capitals; Baghdad was one and Damascus is coming!
The Arab propaganda media machines have already started beating the drums, glorifying the might of Hizbullah and Hamas, calling them a resistance. Well, let the Arab media play the people as usual. I am not surprised. Let’s not Aljazeera channel when it was airing the Iraqi Information minister Al Sahhaf who was saying lies all the time about how they are stopping the US army until cameras showed the US troops behind his back asking him to surrender. Dictator regimes/leaders are capable of creating out of reality heroes. That’s the only thing they can do to their people. Israel is a nuclear country. Hizbullah army is not self-sufficient. Hamas government could not pay the salaries and had to beg for money from the EU and Arab Gulf rich countries.

I am afraid Israel will finish its job regardless of who says what. The decision has been taken.

The Lebanese and the Palestinian peoples will be paying a dear price for all the failures of the leadership to establish a decent life for them. The world has started to show zero tolerance for acts that cannot interpreted by the human logic, like suicide bombing or kidnappings which are the only means that groups like Hamas and Hizbullah use to fight their enemies.

I am bitterly realistic because of the horrific nightmare that the peoples of the region are living right now.

I am afraid the Middle East region will continue to be on the roller coaster, I do not know until when…...

Independence Day in DC, Happy Fourth!

2006-07-04T15:46:00.000-05:00

I believe that part of living in the United States is experiencing the American life or spirit. Parades on national occasions in the U.S. are family get-togethers and a true celebration. Adults and children are dressed with the colors of the American flag or having flags in their hands to wave. I had never seen such a great love. There were two young girls next me cheering the bands as if they were in a staduim according to my Egyptian standards. They did not look as if they were celebrating a major national occasion. It is a country that gave a lot to its citizens. So you could feel that the people here take pride in being U.S. citizens and being part of this nation. One of the things that I have noticed in U.S. parades that some nationalities that became Americans take the chance to celebrate as well in the name of their countries to stress the friendship bond between the U.S. and their native country. I think it is a way also to express gratitute to the U.S for being their adopting country. I saw the Taiwanese and filipino Americans in the parades with both their countries and U.S. flags saying Happy Birthday to the U.S. The last thing I can say it about American parades that it is about the love; the love of the crowds and everyone participating in the parade. It is so in the air and no one can miss it. The last real parade in Egypt took the life of our late President Anwar Sadat on October 6,1981. Sometimes the Egyptian government pretent to do parades during spring time but nobody cares. So really I cannot compare the American parades to anything I have ever experienced in my life in Egypt.

Here are some picturs I took today at Constitution Avenue in Washington DC today. I am now resting at home, getting ready for the fireworks. Happy Independence Day to everyone!

U.S. Army forces
U.S. Army forces.

U.S. men and women in uniform made a wonderful presence and were cheered by the crowed.

This car had two persons dressed up as President Abe Lincoln at one side and President George Washington at the other side, but you cannot see him. I was standing at the Lincoln side.
Some war veterans waving to the people.

Freedom will be Back

2006-07-03T10:57:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I blogged. I also apologize for not being being to respond to your emails but I all do very soon. I know there is a lot to catch up with, I am missing a lot. I guess it is summer time rhythm but also I am crazy busy these days. I will be explaining later. I guess I ll be less committed after mid-July. However, I promise to be back to blogging before that!

Happy FOURTH to all my friends in the United States!!! This is not a fireworks celebration as it may seem, it is the celebration of one of the most important documents produced by humanity. It is the Declaration of Independence...

By the way, last Sunday I CELEBRATED MY FIRST BLOGGING ANNIVERSARY, YAAAAY!

That was my first blog post on June 25, 2005: Egypt's history reversed 300 years since 1952! And I am still as proud as ever..

Why marry a Western not an Egyptian guy?

2006-06-18T22:39:00.000-05:00

Last night, I had this interesting conversation with one my girlfriends in Cairo. We have been friends for more than 12 years. It is always nice to catch up with her about our girly and non-girly news despite the distance. The two of us have so many common jokes and clichés that we use to make fun of guys or being naughty in general.

We talked about so many things, among them was marrying an Egyptian or a western. I do not know why we had to go through this topic but we did. It was a mix of jokes most of the time.

I have no bias agiainst Egyptian or western guys. It is all about the person himself regardless, but in my subconscious I am so aware of my Egyptian culture that of course includes men. My friend believes that marrying a western guy is salvage from some many pains.

She believes that I became so neutral because I do not live in Cairo and that I forgot about all the vices of Egyptian men and that she will take the opportunity to wake me up and remind me again of the reality. So I asked her what is their problem. I pretended to be on the neutral side.

She told me no matter how he pretends to be liberal or progressive he is, there is a point when he starts to talk in this language “you know what this shirt is a bit open”, “I think your skirt is a bit short”, “I believe your wearing too much make up, there is no need for make up”, “do you have to waste all this time styling your hair every time we go out”.

Ok here are some of what we went through and tried to compare it to western guys.

Sharing responsibility is not an issue to be discussed. In Egypt, poor women have to do everything; cook, do the dishes, raise the kids, help them with the homework, go to work, get the groceries, laundry, plan vacations…etc. Men pretend to spend money but in fact women do too because life is getting so expensive. It is very rare to find an Egyptian man who knows how to cook and if he does after he gets married this habit will stop because his wife will cook.

Let’s not forget about the family part. His mom is usually a very attractive personality. There is this culture in Egypt. A mother giving up her son to another woman is like giving up a diamond stone even if he is a straw man. The sister is the second in command in terms of annoying the would-be-wife/fiancé or current wife. The latter is considered the enemy who wants to brainwash the son for her own interest. The mother-son relationship in Egypt is a bit strange at least from my own standards and sometimes scary. Egyptian mothers make sure that their sons are so dependent on them and in so many instances she does not give them the chance to be independent even if there are chances to be an independent individual to continue manipulating them forever.

In so many cases, Egyptian men marry because they found “the suitable” wife. It is the easiest recipe for marriage failure or he marries a woman because he has a crush on her or just being infatuated by her but not because he experienced true love. This “suitable” word just kills me and is capable of killing any marriage. Some Egyptian men are capable of taking a decision marriage if they saw a woman first time among her family members.

The lack of sexual education in Egypt is a disaster. Women and men end up in marriage relationships that they do not know their real dimensions. Frustration to achieve a successful marriage relationship ends up with so many problems.

Egyptian men are raised up to show strength by pretending to be emotionless. The freedom to express real feelings is considered lack of manhood. The result is lack of communications and a relationship built up on guessing and in most of the cases it turns to be extremely stressful because of the continuous misunderstanding.

Egyptian guys love to start a love relationship with the push and pull technique. And they believe that this is going to sweep the woman off the floor, fearing that if they used the friendship technique that will end the up the relationship as only friends. Love that is based on friendship is just one of the best ways to guarantee a solid lasting love relationship. Friendships that end in love are amazing because it is based on mutual understanding, common activities and sharing.

Career is a male word. Egyptian men does not believe that career is applied to both men and women. It is not an easy thing for a man to give up his career for his woman for example which does not happen in all time. She is expected to give up every thing she does for her man and children without a thank you because this is her role no matter how is important her work for her.

Egyptian men resort to spend their spare time with their boyfriends at the clubs, coffee shops after work and at the weekends, because the atmosphere at home is usually not nice since he does not take part in sharing children’s issues, homework or household stuff. They do not think of sharing activities of their wives, because their wives are busy and they are saving her time for the house and the children. Marrying a straw man is not a great idea. He keeps all his single friends and he believes that it is not appropriate for his wife to mingle with them.

The continuous struggle between the Egyptian wife and husband on where to spend the national holidays and vacations is always a decision on whether with her or his families. There is no time to have sometime for themselves. If the day off will be spent with his or her family whatever, it has to end up with a fight in their way back to their home while the children are sleeping in the car if they have one. He claims that the way she talked to his mom or sister was not appropriate and that she is intentionally flaring up an argument to make it a reason not to spend time with his family in future occasions.

My friend and I ended up the conversation after she reminded of all the Egyptian men vices. She told me “Despite all that I think I will continue to like my Egyptian boyfriend and I want to marry him”. So why did we go through all this conversation, I do not know!

Egyptianism: previous blog posts:
Egyptian Belly Dancing
Social Freedoms and Chastity in Egypt and the U.S.
Marriage is a Contract Paper in Egypt
Egyptian Bawabs make it to Boston

Egypt's Government to Pass Judiciary law without Consulting Judges

2006-06-14T19:54:00.000-05:00

Cairo - Egypt's government on Wednesday approved and sent to parliament a draft law on the authority of the judiciary, setting the stage for a fresh standoff with pro-reform judges who said they were not consulted."

After a meeting today chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, the cabinet referred the bill containing amendments to the law on the authority of the judiciary to the People's Assembly and Shura Council (upper house) for debate," the official MENA news agency reported.

"Throughout the preparation of the draft law... the government was eager to listen to all opinions and leanings," it quoted government spokesperson Magdi Radi as telling reporters.

He also claimed the new draft granted greater independence to the judiciary and strengthened its authority, but pro-reformist judges, who have campaigned hard over the past years against the law, were sceptical.

"We did not review the bill," Judge Mahmu Mekki, one of the more prominent faces of the pro-reform campaign, told AFP.

"The truth is that the judges tried to explain their opinion, but the government did not allow them to do so," Mekki added.

He also suggested the judges would continue their campaign for independence that have led to violent confrontations with security forces over the past months. More...

UN Human Rights Experts Urge Egypt's Government to Guarantee Judges' Freedom

2006-06-14T19:53:00.000-05:00

Expressing "grave concern" over recent attacks against the judiciary in Egypt and the severe repression of demonstrations supporting the judiciary, three independent United Nations human rights experts today urged the Government to guarantee judges' freedom of opinion and expression and judicial independence.

The experts also expressed "serious concern" regarding the Egyptian Government's decision to transfer two Deputy Heads of the Court of Cassation, Judges Mahmoud Mekki and Hisham al-Bastawissi, to the Disciplinary Council, where Judge al-Batawissi was found guilty of disparaging the Supreme Judicial Council and talking to the press about political affairs.

Judge Mekki was cleared of all charges."The independent experts are gravely worried that this decision represents a means to punish Judge al-Batawissi for exercising his right to freedom of expression with regards to the allegations of widespread electoral fraud during the parliamentary elections of 2005 and deter other judges from further action in favour of judicial reform," they said in a statement issued in Geneva.

"In particular, the independent experts are disturbed by the fact that this decision may aim at deterring the other judges whose immunity has also been lifted from continuing their calls for amending the Judicial Authority Law to guarantee the impartiality and the financial and administrative independence of the judiciary." More...

Faten Hamama is Online Now

2006-06-10T13:50:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite actresses that appeared in the Egyptian movie industry. Faten Hamama for me represents the elegant intelligent beauty and talent versus today's vulgarity and distaste. I learned few days ago that a website in English and Arabic was built for her. Thought of sharing it with you.

It is so surprising to see how women in Egypt in the 30's and 40's and 50's so modern versus the today's waves of Islamization. In the last photo Faten Hamama received an award surrounded by some of her colleagues.

Hitlerism on Saudi Islamic Channel: Jews are Apes and Pigs

2006-06-08T20:20:00.000-05:00

Do not be surprised why the US air forces hit the caves of terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. Do not be shocked if the civilized world tries to crack down on Muslim immigration. Do not be surprised if we celebrate the death of Abu Musaab Al Zarqawi. Do not be surprised why there is a global war on terrorism. Do not be surprised that some Arab intellectuals believe that President Bush is the cure for terrorism, despite his low popularity among many. Because they know that dictatorships produced this "takferri" terrorist mentalities in which their lives are threatened under forever. Do not be surprised that the western world that laid the basis for tolerant, diverse, all faith world is putting restrictions on its tolerant policies after London, Madrid, New York and Washington, Bali, Beslan, Iraq and Sharm El Sheikh bombings. I received this shocking video from a friend of mine who does not speak Arabic and wanted to verify whether the translation reflects the Arabic. I only had the intention to see the video and tell him my opinion. But I after i heard what is being said in this terrorist video to share it with you.

The video was aired on the Islamic Saudi Channel Iqra that is broadcast all over the Middle East. It is an interview with a three and a half old year girl described as a "True Muslim" and supposed to be a role model for other Muslim girl. I believe it is a children's program.

The girl is wearing a scarf?? Is this the definition of a childhood for what they call themselves "true Muslims". This is childhood abuse and there is no difference between it and childhood pornography. She is wearing it because her parents are teaching her that males are thirsty dogs who will try to rape her at anytime. Second, she is talking about things I did not know about when I was 8 years old. Where is the innocence of the childhood? What are they are teaching her. DO not blame her when she grows up and believes that suicide bombers are her role models for an Islamic life. I feel so sorry for her childhood because other girls at her age enjoy the playgrounds, healthy mental life and fun activities.

She and the presenter are happy to be declaring that Jews are pigs and apes and they keep repeating that. I am not surprised at the insult because I know some progressive Muslim writers who cannot walk in the street because they received death threats from Islamic groups. It is a second nature for these groups to promote hatred and fear that leads to violence and terrorism. Bus and markets suicide bombing start from such programs and channels that promote hatred terrorist ideology.

I am expressing my disgust here but not on behalf of being a Muslim. I do not and I will never talk because I am a Muslim. By doing so I will be using these groups discriminatory ways of putting everyone in their places according to his/her faith. I want to be human and I want to belong to the humanity at large. It is so rich and beautiful…

BTW, this girl is a daughter of a repenting actor. Two days ago I wrote about a repenting actresses in case you do not know what is a repenting actor. This is the generation of children they bring!

CONGRATULATIONS to Iraq and US! Zarqawi is GONE!

2006-06-08T07:28:00.000-05:00

Another reason to celebtate Al Zarqawi's death...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida leader in Iraq who waged a bloody campaign of suicide bombings and beheadings of hostages, has been killed in a precision airstrike, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Thursday. It was a long-sought victory in the war in Iraq. More...

Egypt Halts International Republican Institute for Interfering in Egypt’s Affairs

2006-06-05T22:43:00.000-05:00

What a start in Egypt for the International Republican Institute, a friction with the Egyptian government to spice up their lives. The IRI, which takes “advancing democracy” as its main mission, decided to have an office in Cairo, Congratulations! Welcome to the real world.

CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt has asked an American NGO which promotes democracy to suspend its activities in the country due to interference in Cairo's internal affairs.

A foreign ministry spokesman said Monday that Egypt has called on the International Republican Institute (IRI) to halt operations in Egypt until it has received the necessary permits.

The move came after a newspaper interview with Gina London, the Cairo head of the IRI, critical of the slow pace of reform in Egypt.

"Talking of the role of the institute in speeding up what she called 'change' is a blatant interference in Egypt's internal affairs," the ministry spokesman told reporters.

The Egyptian daily Nahdet Masr on Saturday published an interview with London in which she spoke about the institute's work on democracy and the push for reform in Egypt.

Reformists in Egypt were "unable (to achieve reforms) for the past 25 years", she was quoted as saying. More…

Blogging Interest is Growing among Egyptians

2006-06-05T22:42:00.000-05:00

I got an email from a friend telling me “I have an idea for a new blog”. I asked what is that? He said it is about Egypt’s reform. He started giving me ideas. I told him look why don’t you put them together I ll publish them. I told him may be you can start your own blog soon, he said he has not time to be committed to a blog but he did not rule out the idea.

FYI: The conversation was in Arabic. And he sent me his blog post in Arabic too and it titled "Reforming the Reform Path" and it is an opinion about the weakness of political parties in Egypt. Hope you will like it.

اصلاح مسار الاصلاح

ان مصر تمر بمرحلة هامة من مراحل الاصلاح و التغييرو انتهاء فترة مليئة بالركود و الرضا بالامر الواقع مع ظهور او نشاط بعض الحركات و الجماعات و المؤسسات تطالب بالاصلاح و التغيير كل ذلك اوجد نوع من التفائل لدي الشعب و ايضا صحوة من الحكومة للحفاظ علي الحكم اولا ثم الاصلاح و لاول مرة وضع مصلحة الوطن في الحسبان و كل هذه الايجابيات تعكس مدي قوة تاثير هذه الحركات علي مسيرة الاصلاح ولكن في النهاية فهي لا تملك ادوات التغيير بل بالعكس فهي اثرت سالبا علي من يملك الادوات و هم الاحزاب الضعيفة الموجودة في مصر التي هي من المفترض ان تكون اساس العمل السياسي لان لديها نفس الحقوق الدستورية للحزب الحاكم وهذا ينطبق علي معظم دول العالم و ليس مصر فقط و الدليل علي ذلك هو كيف تصرفت الحكومة مع حزب مثل الغد بدون تهاون لانها تعرف انه كان الخطر الحقيقي علي وجود النظام الحالي و دليل اخر هو دور الحكومة في فوز اعضاء جماعة الاخوان المسلمين بمقاعد في البرلمان كمستقلين علي حساب قيادت احزاب المعارضة لانها تعرف كيف تتعامل مع الاخوان بسهولة بعكس الاحزاب القوية
فنري ان مسار الاصلاح يحتاج الي اصلاح و وعي بدور الاحزاب لاستكمال اضلاع الاصلاح بدلا من الفوضي حتي لو كانت ايجابية كما قالت وزيرة الخارجية الامريكية فبالتاكيد كانت تقصد ايجابية لفترة او مرحلة فقط و اذا استمرت ربما تكون غير مفيدة او لا تؤدي الي الاصلاح المطلوب

Journalists Jailed in Egypt One More Time

2006-06-05T22:41:00.000-05:00

AFP- CAIRO, May 25 -- Three Egyptian journalists and a lawyer were charged by a criminal court on Wednesday for denouncing state-sponsored fraud in last year's parliamentary elections, judicial sources said.

Wael Al Ibrashi and Hoda Abu Bakr, both journalists with the independent Sawt al-Umma weekly, were charged with slandering a local electoral commission chief and publishing the names of judges allegedly involved in fraud.

Similar charges were brought against Abdel Hakim Abdel Hamid, the chief editor of Afaq Arabiya (Arab Horizons) - considered the mouthpiece of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood - as well as a lawyer close to the Islamist movement, Gamal Tag El Din.

The publications had claimed that they had obtained the list of judges accused of being involved in rigging electoral results from the lawyers' syndicate, where the Muslim Brotherhood is well represented. More…

Raise your hand if surprised....

Egypt’s Contribution to World Cup 2006

2006-06-05T22:40:00.000-05:00

Among referees of the soccer World Cup 2006 is Egyptian referee Essam Abd el Fatah. He is the third at the front row.

Here is a link to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany- match schedule. Next Friday is the grand opening. I have no idea what is the tradition in the US regarding airing the matches. I am realizing that this is my first World Cup in the U.S. I heard the situation is not so good in Egypt. Matches will not be aired because of a satellite company called ART is monopolizing the matches and demands something between $100-200 for seeing them on TV.

Shalom Freedom…

2006-06-05T22:39:00.001-05:00

My neighbors, in the building where are I live, are a Jewish family. I know because the mother sometimes wears the Kippah. The family has an almost two-year old adorable son who is very handsome. I cannot help but talking to him whenever I see him; like hi, how are you and in most of the cases he responds by staring at me.

Usually, I do not have the time to talk to the parents when the little boy is around because he is our center of attention.

Two days ago I was in the elevator with them, I said how are you to my little friend. Then I started chatting with the parents exchanging names and I was expecting the most popular question. Where are you from? SURPRISE, Egypt. But luckily they did not ask me. We went to our apartments and the dad asked my friend to tell me Shalom…. (calling my name). I said Shalom…(calling his name).

I said to myself what will be the reaction when they know that I am an Egyptian, knowing that the Israeli and Egyptian peoples do not have fully normalized relations except at the official, diplomatic and political levels. Despite the fact that many Egyptians do not really bother about having relationship with the Israeli people, the media are still stereotyping the relations and not letting it take another shape that fits 17 years of peace with Israel.

It is so funny that Islam and Judaism are so close in every aspect, however many on both sides fail to see similarities. Muslims and Jews circumcise their boys. Muslims eat Halal meat, Jews eat Kosher food (both have slaughter traditions, one is called halal and the other kosher). Muslims and Jews do not eat ham. They both fast in relation to the sun movements. Fasting in Jewish practice means complete abstinence from all food and drink, including water like Muslims. The question of women’s purity during their monthly period is the same in Islam and Judaism. The tradition of abstaining from sexual relations for a married couple during the time of a women's period and for seven days thereafter is important to traditional Jews.

I guess we are closer than we want to admit...

New Blog in the Block

2006-06-05T22:39:00.000-05:00

Few days, I found this new blog is referring to my blog. Mideast Youth is a group of young students, bloggers, and activists who feel the need to change the current perception of the Middle East as a region.

Despite what the domain name suggests, this blog is not only for Middle Easterners. This is for anyone interested in Middle Eastern and Asian affairs, hence why we chose to launch it in English, and not Arabic/Farsi like we initially intended to.

So far, it has three authors; Esra’a (Bahrain), Huma (Pakistan) and Minoo (Iran).

I was so proud and happy to find that Mideast Youth Blog has a flag for Egypt that links to my blog.

Former actress Hanan Turk’s Call for an Iranian Movie Industry in Egypt

2006-06-05T22:36:00.000-05:00

Well I am not so sure that my western friends have heard about this phenomenon or not before. In Egypt, there is a fashion for some actresses to work for a while and then suddenly decide on wearing the Islamic Hijab (veil over the head). Some of them abandon the acting forever, but in most cases they do not abandon public life.

If you ask me if you want to live your life in a hole, well I would say it is your life and you are free to do so. I believe in personal freedom that guarantees any decision in the individual’s life without harming the others. The problem with these actresses that they insist on bugging us on TV shows and press interviews with their religious agendas. Because after wearing the Islamic hijab, she changes her job from being an actress into an Islamic preacher who attends religious circles, presents TV shows on Islamic channels and tries to convince other women to wear Hijab. In fact, they use their fame to return the society centuries back. They believe that the only way for woman to be a true Muslim is to wear a veil to protect herself from the male dogs who the moment they will see a woman with her hair will rape her. And working as actress is of course drawing many dogs towards her. There are other women who wear it because they believe it is only Islamic.

Hanan Turk, an ex-Egyptian actress, decided to wear a Hijab to join the pious actresses, however the new thing about her is that she wants the Egyptian movie industry to be an Iranian one. She is selling the Iranian revolution project to the Egyptians. Who is this person to impose on our movie industry that has a history of close to one century to be an Iranian? This woman has no idea that Iranians would love to have an open country and that there are women in the Gulf countries who are fighting for their political and woman’s rights. The problem is not in wearing the Hijab or not, but in the values these “repenting” actresses are calling for. They do not call for protection of animals, freedoms, democracy, diversity, equal opportunities, dissipating hatred among nations or women’s rights. They call for women to wear hijab and be obedient to her husband’s needs and claim that shaking hands with men is forbidden and that art is a sin that’s why they are repenting.

Hanan Turk took this decision to wear the Hijab, but I wish I do not see her any more in the press or TV or the Cinema because I would love to see real art.

Marriage is not a contract paper, Reflections on Hind Al Hinnawy's Success

2006-06-05T22:35:00.000-05:00

I was so happy to learn that Hind Al Hinnawy was able to prove her two-year old daughter’s kinship to her dad who refused to recognize her after two-year struggle in Egyptian courts.

The conflict between Hind and the father of her daughter, actor Ahmed Al Fishawy, had to go through the court so that the little Lina can be recognized by her society and by her country as an Egyptian-born citizen. The mom was not able to issue her a birth certificate which means she has no place in the education system needless to say in the whole country. Hind and Ahmed were married by an Urfi marriage contract. This marriage is not recognized by our legal system and it does not protect the right of the wife. In most of the cases, young couples use this Urfi marriage in Egypt as permission for a sexual relationship. Other instances, married men used it to marry other women without telling their first wives. It is not socially acceptable but it exists. There are 14,000 children in Egypt that are in Lina’s shoes before the court’s ruling. There are so many children born outside the legal wedlock form and are paying a dear price for something they did not commit.

I am not going to go through the details of the Urfi marriage which is based in an Islamic jurisdiction which could be one reason why it is causing all this confusion.

Hind and Ahmed according to press interviews fell in love and her parents did not agree on their marriage. They had a secret relationship away from the intrusive society. It is normal that people fall in love and have a relationship but this is concept does not exist in Egypt because relationships are only marriages. This system serves men best.

In a patriarchal society like Egypt, women who agree to be in a relationship with a man who is not a husband are considered sinners or whores. Sexual relationships outside wedlock are not acceptable for any reason. An Egyptian woman has to remain virgin until her wedding day. Her virginity must be declared by her husband to win the honor of the society respect. It might sound like we are in the 18 century but this is the truth. Though in reality this might not be the truth, many go into secret relationships in Egypt without informing the parents, families, friends or anyone in the entire society or end up in an Urfi marriage. Sex is considered a stigma for any woman who attempts to have a relationship before marriage.

In western societies, many couples decide to have a family and kids without the damn marriage contract paper. The man does not run away from his woman, family or kids because he had a relationship with a sinner woman. There is a moral responsibility before the legal one. Some western couples decide on having children before thinking of marriage. This is considered totally Haram (forbidden) according to all norms in Egypt. Marriage contracts guarantee this social ownership of a person, so that man can spend money without waste and recognize his children. It is true that generally it organizes the relationship but it does not add the value of the moral and ethical obligation of the individual. And that’s why a child like Lina had to stay unrecognized for two years. Her mom has to have her personal life exposed and in some instances attacked for two years.

Most of the marriages in Egypt happen with the blessings of a religious cleric. Civil marriages are not so common, though they do happen. Marriages that happen within the context of the religious institution observe the post-marriage obligations but does not create an atmosphere or encourage individuals to take moral responsibilities towards each other. Instead, in some instances, married, separated or divorced men find loopholes to evade responsibility. I am not only talking about financial obligation which could be a must, if there are children included, but there are other responsibilities like learning how to end up relationships in a civilized manner without having to resort to courts, making sure that children grow up healthy without causing psychological damage.

In our popular Egyptian movies, women who have children outside the wedlock are being rejected by the person they fell in love with, his family, her family and the society looks at her as a whore as if she is the sole responsible. She was alone by herself in this relationship. And the man usually tries to wash his hands clean by marrying the virtuous innocent woman who is usually chosen by his family, believing that he is correcting his mistake.

I hope that Hind and Lina will be a role model for not burying heads in the sands. Her family played a great role in supporting her rather than putting her in exile to avoid the society.

Most of the Egyptians I know showed support and sympathy and they were so happy to learn about the court ruling in favor of Hind and Lina which means that despite the well-established rules in favor of the man in Egypt, people are favoring human just values.

It is a story of success for standing for our rights regardless of all the social religious norms and standards that give more privileges to men over women for no good reason.

And, for your information, Fishawy was playing the preacher in some Islamic TV shows and yet he was denying his daughter the right to live as an equal child to all her peers. Despite his religious pretence no one I know sympathized with him, in fact they despised him.

Marriage at the end is not a contract paper, it is a commitment that bears the individual’s moral responsibility towards her/his partner.

Ayman Nour’s Revenge Cycle Continuous

2006-06-05T21:31:00.000-05:00

Cairo - A pre-dawn fire gutted the headquarters of jailed Egyptian opposition leader Ayman Nour on Thursday, and his supporters blamed the government, accusing it of trying to add to the woes of a man who tried to challenge President Hosni Mubarak in elections.

The fire wrecked the entire first floor of the headquarters and blackened the exterior, but caused no injuries. Police said the blaze was caused by an electrical problem.But Nour's supporters accused the government, saying they were trying to eliminate one of his last strongholds after his imprisonment.

"They are striking against us and all the opposition on a daily basis now," Gamila Ismail, Nour's wife and a leading member of his Al-Ghad Party, told The Associated Press. "The strike this time is at a place on the grass-roots level, where we had direct contact with the people."

"For the past year, members of the (ruling National Democratic Party) have made threats to scare those who go to the building," the Al-Ghad Party said in a statement on the fire. "NDP officials have been demanding almost daily that it be closed. More …

Apology to my Readers

2006-06-01T16:22:00.000-05:00

I am apologizing for not being able to write lately my usual commentaries or analyses. For the past few weeks, I have been copying and pasting information but I am not really blogging as I used to. As I regret my inability to blog, I cannot force myself to do so. I have a long list of ideas for new blog posts that I compile may be everyday, however something inside me is inhibiting me from blogging. I hope you do not mind my laziness may be, a mental paralysis situation..., frustration and disappointment at what is happening in Egypt may be..., being busy may be, ... I have no clue. I know all these factors exited before and I still wanted to blog. The only thing I am sure of is that I keep trying everyday to blog... I am also enjoying other bloggers' blog posts.

Freedom for Egyptians

HRW: Egypt must Investigate Police Sexual Assaults and Beatings

2006-05-31T11:39:00.000-05:00

(Cairo, May 31, 2006) – President Hosni Mubarak should immediately order an independent judicial investigation into last Thursday’s severe beatings by security agents of political activists Karim al-Sha`ir and Mohamed al-Sharqawi, Human Rights Watch said today. Police also sexually assaulted al-Sharqawi, according to a written statement he smuggled out of prison.

On May 25, agents of the State Security Investigations (SSI) bureau of the Interior Ministry arrested al-Sha`ir and al-Sharqawi as they were leaving a peaceful demonstration in downtown Cairo. Both men said they were beaten in custody.

“The Egyptian government must investigate these attacks and punish the perpetrators,” said Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch. “President Mubarak should put a stop to repeated outrages by agents of the state.”

In his statement, al-Sharqawi wrote that his captors at the Qasr al-Nil police station beat him for hours and then raped him with a cardboard tube. Then they sent him to the State Security prosecutor’s office in Heliopolis. His lawyer told Human Rights Watch that he saw al-Sharqawi at the prosecutor’s office around midnight that night. “There wasn’t a single part of his body not covered in bruises and gashes,” the lawyer said.

Eyewitnesses told Human Rights Watch that security agents beat al-Sha`ir in the street. According to his lawyer, al-Sha`ir said that the beatings continued once he was in police custody. More....

RSF: Two Egyptian Bloggers Arrested and Beaten, Los Angeles Times Reporter Tear-gassed

2006-05-26T12:22:00.000-05:00

Reporters Without Borders today condemned the arrests of two bloggers, Mohammed Sharkawy and Karim El-Shaer, during a demonstration at the Press Syndicate in Cairo yesterday and the behaviour of the police in using violence to disperse protestors and attacking Los Angeles Times correspondent Hossam El-Hamalwy as he was trying to cover the event.

"The eye-witness accounts we have received about the arrests of the bloggers and the attack on the LA Times reporter are very disturbing," the press freedom organisation said. "The international community should react firmly and condemn such practices on the part of a government that claims to be democratic."

Yesterday's demonstration at the Press Syndicate was held to commemorate the opposition activists who were the victims of repression during a referendum last year. Plain-clothes police dragged Sharkawy (blog: http://www.speaksfreely.net/) from the taxi in which he was about to leave and gave him a beating. They then took him to a police station where he was beaten again and subjected to humiliating acts. His body afterwards bore the marks of the mistreatment and one of his ribs may be broken. More...

This is how the Egyptian government is responding to Black May 25 anniversary...

Egypt's Supreme Court Protest in Solidarity with Judges, May 25

2006-05-25T09:07:00.000-05:00

Egyptian pro-reform judges stand in front the Supreme Court house during an anti-government protest in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, May 25, 2006. About 300 pro-reform judges on Thursday staged a sit-in under the watchful eyes of thousands of anti-riot police outside a downtown courthouse to demand independence of the judiciary. (AP Photo/Mohamed Al-Sehety)
An Egyptian demonstrator chants anti government slogans in front of Egyptian riot police during a pro-judges protest outside the Supreme Court house in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, May 25, 2006. Opposition activists, meanwhile, organized protests to support the judges and mark the first anniversary of a referendum on a controversial constitutional amendment. (AP Photo/Mohamed Al-Sehety) CAIRO (AFP) - Protesters rallied in Cairo in support of independence calls by reformist judges and to mark the first anniversary of a referendum day tarnished by violence against opposition activists.

About 500 judges marched silently to the country's high court from their syndicate headquarters, where about 300 protesters were gathered, surrounded by riot police.

"This is a stand for the judges' demands. We want to reform the judicial law, we want real supervision of the elections and an inquest into what happened in last year's elections and the freedom for all those detained while supporting the judges," Ahmed Mekki, vice president of the Court of Cassation, told AFP as he stood under a giant Egyptian flag.

Egypt's judges, who are responsible for supervising the election process, have become a symbol of the drive for reform in Egypt and are waging an aggressive campaign seeking independence from the executive. More

The American University in Cairo's Judges Protest, May 25

2006-05-25T09:04:00.000-05:00

Students at the American University in Cairo (AUC) participate in a silent protest in their main campus. Protesters rallied in Cairo in support of independence calls by reformist judges and to mark the first anniversary of a referendum day tarnished by violence against opposition activists.(AFP/Cris Bouroncle)

It is May 25th Man, Egypt's Freedom Day

2006-05-24T14:02:00.000-05:00

International Support for Egyptian Judges on May 25

"I must step down while there are one or two people who admire me." Nelson Mandela, Daily Nation, Kenyan paper, 16 June 1999. And Excuse me this is Mandela not Hosni Mubarak.

South Africa’s leader with a sense of inner dignity created his people’s dignity. But in some instances when leaders do not have dignity, their peoples create it for them.

Great nations are made by good citizens in most cases and the love of those good citizens to their countries drives their peoples to follow them. It is some defining moments made by sincere citizens that make great nations and put them on the march to freedom.

Egyptians have the chance to follow some sincere bunch of sincere good Egyptian citizens. Pro-democracy and reform Egyptian judges are bringing the leadership that Egypt missed along the past decades under tyranny.

Egyptians in Egypt and all over the world together with freedom and democracy activists are going in a world wide march for Egypt's democracy and freedom.

Last year, on May 25, the will of the Egyptian people was forged in a blatant move by the Egyptian President who ordered the amendment of article 76 of our constitution to deceive us and the entire world making them believe that Egypt will witness its first multi-candidacy presidential elections when he was only setting the scene for himself to run for the current term. If he had the will to change, he would have changed the article 77 that limit running for the President’s office.

Same day last year, thugs and officers of the ministry of the interior raped women in the streets and have beaten peaceful demonstrators to set an example for those who dared to express themselves. Humiliation is always the language of the regime.

The farces of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections went on as planned by the regime and here is Egypt with the same political regime and agenda. The turn out of the legislative elections was less than 26% according to the Egyptian official sources. That tells a lot about the credibility of the processes. Now the regime is detaining liberals, leftists and seculars in a brutual way and claiming that it is arresting the Islamists. Liar government...They are crushing secular movements to keep the Islamists as the only alternative for the current regime.

Misr Digital by Wael Abbas is publishing live today's events and Masr El Youm Radio is broadcasting live today's protests from the different spots with internviews. (Arabic)
International support is being rallied to show and express support for Egypt’s democracy and freedom tomorrow through pro-reform and democracy Egyptian Judges Club (Syndicate).
Egyptian Judges are calling upon all Egyptians to come and confirm their commitment to Egypt’s freedom in front of Cairo’s Supreme Court, down town. More details here.
International support is rallying everywhere in the world. This is really a cute map for all demos around the world. It does not include South Korea’s protest though. Cairo’s protest is extended to Beirut, London, Paris, Athens, The Hague, Seoul, New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Toronto and Montreal and the list keeps growing.
On the eve of May 25, a protest is planned at Tahrir square, Cairo’s largest and main square in preparation for the big day.
Cairo lights will be turned off from 9-10 PM in solidarity with Egypt’s judges.
At the American University in Cairo, a protest is planned at the Greek Campus. The University is located at Tahrir Square.
Egypt’s popular movement Kefaya (Kifaya)‘s coordinator George Ishak is sending a message to all activists abroad who are showing their support to Egypt before May 25.
Protest of university professors in front of main hall of Cairo University calling for the release of detained faculty and students at 11:30 AM.
Another main protest in front of the Judges Club is planned at 1:30 PM.
The International Campaign in Solidarity with the Egyptian Judges has the timeline for all world demonstrations.

Riot police, thugs and half of Egypt's army are expected to be deployed in Cairo's streets as of tonight to stop the people who are preparing themselves to attend the protests. Thousands of solidiers are expected to be distributed all over the city to attack, if not kill the people, who took the liberity to show solidarity with the pro-democracy and reform judges. Needless to say that mass detentions are expected to anyone who dares to express his will in front of the oppression of the Egyptian police forces as means of terrorizing the Egyptian citizens.

Glenn Reynolds: Congress and Mubarak, above the law?

2006-05-24T11:40:00.000-05:00

Opinions with Slate on MSNBC by Glenn Reynolds is featuring Mark Glaser's PBS' Media Shift article and is giving prominence to my quote on Egypt's political changes that was in Mark's article.

Reynolds is comparing what is happening on the ground in Egypt to the U.S. Congress.

Mark Glaser is Digging in Egyptian blogging activism

2006-05-23T21:42:00.000-05:00

Mark Glaser wrote this article about detained Egyptian blogger Alaa Abdel Fatah and means used to free him from the blogosphere. In this PBS Media Shift article Egyptian blogging activism is very nicely highlighted with a bird's eye view on Egypt's political scene..

He interviewed me last week and the article has excerpts from my answers on reform and change in Egypt. Do not forget to check out Mark's article!

Washington, DC, Protest on May 25 in Solidarity with Egyptian Judges

2006-05-23T14:12:00.000-05:00

Egyptian-Americans and Supporters of Democracy in Egypt to Protest at Egyptian Embassy in Washington DC, Thursday May 25, 2006.

Demonstrate along with activists in cities worldwide against the Egyptian regime’s quashing of basic freedoms. We demand independence for the Egyptian judiciary and the release of all detained protestors and activists, and protest Washington’s silence on this count. May 25 is the first anniversary of “black Wednesday,” the date of a referendum on cosmetic changes to the Egyptian electoral system. On that day peaceful protestors and journalists were violently attacked and sexually assaulted by police and government thugs.

When?
Thursday, May 25, 2006 from 12 noon to 1 p.m.

Where?
In front of the Egyptian Embassy, 3521 International Court, NW, Washington DC 20008. (Metro: Van Ness/UDC)

Why?
We support Egyptian judges who are fighting for the freedom to uphold the rule of law and honest elections.

We call for the release of Egyptian political activists from jail – 700 of them, of all political and ideological stripes, have been arrested in the last month and treated brutally by Mubarak's security services simply for protesting against the regime and calling for democracy.
We protest Washington's silence towards the repression its closest Arab ally is conducting against peaceful dissent. We believe that the continuation of the status quo is harmful to the long term interests of both the United States and Egypt.

We demonstrate in solidarity with people around the world for the same cause on the same day, in Cairo, New York, London, Paris, Chicago, Seoul, Montreal and Athens.

Who?
The Alliance of Egyptian Americans, DC area student groups, the International Socialist Organization and individual supporters of democracy in Egypt.

Contact:

Dr. Ibrahim M. Hussein
Alliance of Egyptian Americans
(301) 613 7337

Sumita Pahwa
sumita_pahwa@hotmail.com