The Egyptian army deploys chemical warfare department units again to sterilize and disinfect Cairo's downtown areas including the main bus stops, subway stations & Ramses railway station to face #COVID19 spread. pic.twitter.com/Yn1LcYacDD
During 2020, there were subtle indications pointing towards the establishment of a Turkish 🇹🇷 naval base at #Khoms, #Libya. Not least the visits of frigates, but also refurbished structures and access roads. The below shows development since September 2020 to present. pic.twitter.com/uZvd1KExRb
📸: Qatar’s & Egypt’s Ministers of Finance and Secretary Mnuchin today at the official opening ceremony of St. Regis hotel in Cairo. #GulfSummitInAlUlapic.twitter.com/ss3qC786nP
First flight ✈️ from #Doha to #Cairo arrived one hour ago, carrying Qatar's Minister of Finance, who is due to open a new Qatari-owned hotel on Nile Kornish, at the heart of Cairo (quite close to my house!) 🧐 #Qatar#Egypt#GCCSummit41pic.twitter.com/DhuFIziqrY
#QatariDiar officially inaugurated St. Regis Cairo Hotel, (owned by Qatari Diar), on Jan 5, 2021, in the presence of HE. Mr. Ali Sherif Al Emadi, Minister of Finance,US Secretary of the Treasury Stephen Mnuchin, and Dr.Mohamed Maait, Egyptian Minister of Finance.
#Egypt prosecution orders the release of Seif Befour and Nazly Karim, two witness detained in relation to the high profile #Fairmont rape case. Party organizer and witness Ahmed Ganzoury, remains in jail. pic.twitter.com/bzaikanV1x
A video showing COVID-19 patients dying from an apparent lack of oxygen went viral on social media last week as Egypt’s health care system is stretched too thin by a surge in coronavirus cases, resulting in gross levels of mismanagement and neglect. https://t.co/QQkFX2VVUY
Millions of Christians in Egypt and abroad will celebrate the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ tonight. Wishing you a Merry Christmas. Stay safe in our Lord’s protection. pic.twitter.com/jbmFL4P4Yi
Meanwhile this is making rounds on Egypt social media. The above photo from an old movie on the Mongol invasion attempt on Egypt in the 13th century. pic.twitter.com/fiaHhuQrFk
I hardly cover European politics in this blog, but I find this thread on German politics by Marcel Dirsus fascinating and worth reading
First, a little context. Merkel became leader of the CDU in 2000. After she stepped down in 2018, the party held a leadership contest in which Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK), Jens Spahn and Friedrich Merz fought to succeed her. AKK won. pic.twitter.com/8WcmNnKqXv
AKK decided to step down as leader of the CDU early last year. A new leader was supposed to be elected quickly but corona happened and the party kept delaying. Logistical challenges aside, a lot of people worried about doing too much party politics while the world burned
That's how we got here. So what's going on? There are three candidates running to become new leader of the CDU: Norbert Röttgen (left), Armin Laschet (middle), Friedrich Merz (right) pic.twitter.com/knUD2xuee3
Unlike Merz and Röttgen, Laschet actually leads a state. During the crisis, Laschet has tried to portray himself as a competent manager who can lead Germany through choppy waters while his competitors are busy giving speeches
A lot of people within the CDU like Merz because they believe Merkel moved the party too far to the centre on issues like migration or nuclear energy. They might argue that this has created a political vacuum that has pathed the way for the strength of the far-right AfD
At the beginning of this it was mostly a contest between Merz and Laschet but that changed over the last couple of months because Norbert Röttgen has been getting a lot of attention. He's constantly on TV and playing social media comparatively well pic.twitter.com/s7rhSdY1do
All of the 11 people in the German foreign policy blob love Röttgen but that's also his biggest weakness. Elections are rarely won on foreign policy and it remains to be seen whether he can convince people that he's more than JCPOA, Huawei and Belarus
Let's say we have a winner. Does that person automatically run to become the next Chancellor of Germany for the centre-right? No, because that would be too easy. Once the new leader has been chosen the CDU will talk to its sister party, the CSU, to agree to a common candidate
The common "Chancellor-Candidate" is usually the leader of the CDU but that's not always the case. Markus Söder, pictured below at Bavarian Carnival, is said to be interested in running. He's widely known across Germany and he could end up running on behalf of the Union pic.twitter.com/R90rRkY1za
In short: German Christian Democrats are picking a new leader. That's important because he will probably run to become Chancellor and then become Chancellor. Fun fact: Germany has had only 3 Chancellors since 1982 (Kohl, Schröder, Merkel).
Apology for the temporary break in posting my weekly Egypt’s compilation, due to the passing of my mother. Here is a summery of news and reports from the first few days of 2021; full compilation to follow next Sunday.
Wish you all a happier and healthier New Year.
Top Headlines
Egypt and Algeria agree to intensity joint coordination to restore Libya’s security, stability
Egypt confirms participation in GERD talks with Ethiopia, Sudan
Egypt summons Ethiopian diplomat over Nile dam remarks
Egypt denies plans to join states opening Western Sahara consulates
Egypt’s former top diplomat Amr Moussa tests positive for coronavirus
Sudan joins forces with Egypt to crack down on Muslim Brotherhood. George Mikhail
Egypt denies plans to join states opening Western Sahara consulates. Mohamed Saied
From Twitter
2/2 AU Bureau, & includes 6 ministers responsible for Foreign and Water Affairs of the 3 countries. Observes and AU assigned experts are also expected to attend. @PMEthiopia@mfaethiopia
🇮🇹🙏🇪🇬The Regeni case: in the last days the 🇮🇹Italian main stream is openly discussing the fact that the omicide was staged to destroy the strategic Italy 🇮🇹 – 🇪🇬Egypt relationship. Also the Government is taking this in serious consideration and the Regeni family sues the . pic.twitter.com/Ns8vKibYV6
Remember Egypt’s actor #Mohamed_Ramadan and wild outrage against him for having photo with an Israeli in Dubai? The court case against him failed & actors syndicate has reversed its decision to suspend his membership. Which begs the Q, why the hasty outrage in the first place? https://t.co/YeW7IHXx1B
Former Egyptian Diplomat Mostafa El Feki: Arab-Israeli Normalization Is a Major Breakthrough; The Barrier Between the Arabs and Israel Has been Lifted pic.twitter.com/wrCThXPXYu
As #Egypt’s #Salafis#Islamists are still wildly preaching against Christmas/ New Year celebrations, it is great to spot a Christmas tree right in the heart of #Cairo’s city centre. A welcoming sign of defiance against regression and intolerance. https://t.co/UpHmhg4MMi
1947- Photo of Egypt Air advert. Look at the model and imagine the response from the Egyptian public if the advert was today? The poor girl would end in jail— if she remain alive! That sums up the tragedy of #Egypthttps://t.co/4cJNyo07uG
“It ‘s the only way of life I’ve known. I was raised by a single mum.”
Padma Lakshmi
Today, being a single mother is not uncommon in the West, but decades ago, in a conservative Muslim majority society, raising a child alone was,to put it mildly, unorthodox.
My mother, or Madam Esmat as her neighbors and colleagues called her, was an Egyptian lady like no other. As a middle class lady from Egypt’s bygone era of elegance and grace, she lived a very humble life. She was pious but liberal, feminist but traditional, soft but determined, reserved but warm and welcoming. Such an eclectic mix of qualities undoubtedly helped her survive Egypt’s turbulent social changes after the collapse of the monarchy until today.
Unlike most Egyptians, my mother’s family was pure Cairene (natives of Cairo) with Turkish blood. They adopted an incredibly multicultural outlook, which eventually affected the way she raised me. She sent me to an Italian school, occasionally treated me to desert at her favourite Greek café (Charinos), and only bought beef sausage, salami, and cheese from a trusted Armenian deli.
In her parental home, she enjoyed a way of life that was much less hurried. She grew up among beautiful surroundings full of herbs and vegetable gardens as well as rare trees such as the Bambozia (Syzygium cumin) and the Zapota. Bambozia fruits are dark sweet, olive-sized berries that are incredibly delicious. Picking bambozia was my favourite mission, much to the dismay of Mum, who dreaded seeing her daughter climbing the huge trees like a little monkey. Meanwhile, Zapota was my Mum’s favourite because it was ideal for making exquisite jam. Sadly, both trees have practically vanished from Egypt today.
My mother endured two phases of relative financial constraint following the death of her father and then later the sudden death of my dad. Unlike her peers, she did not seek a wealthy husband to overcome these financial challenges. Instead, she became determined to finish her education while working extra hours to earn the necessary income. She, a Muslim, used her piano skills to teach music in a private Christian school. During this time, she also developed a special interest in Buddhism, the life of Buddha, and his passage into Nirvana, a name she became so fond of that she eventually chose it as the name of her only daughter (although my father misspelled it on the birth certificate). She eventually graduated from University and had a law degree.
My father’s sudden death left my mother with a young baby to raise on her own, dramatically changing her life. Despite the discouraging attitudes of her family and in-laws, she stood firm and took decisions that shaped her life and mine. She decided not to remarry and declined offers to work in the Gulf to earn a comfortable income. She chose to raise her daughter alone, despite the sharp decline of her income. She would eat just one meal a day to ensure that she could feed me three. She wore black for seven years following Dad’s passing, saying, “It is much cheaper and elegant.” It didn’t take long for me to understand that it not only saved money, but also enabled her to repel marriage proposals.
During childhood, I had more than my fair share of health issues. The worst was when I temporarily lost my vision after a failed eye surgery. During those “dark” days, my mother did not despair; she diligently read many storybooks to me and made me focus on the day when I would read them with my own eyes. She reassured me that I would remember those days as “happy days.” She was absolutely right.
Moreover, she created a cultural refuge for me at home, in the once leafy suburb of Cairo, Heliopolis. An in-home summer camp, taught me piano, introduced me to opera and classic music, and got me a membership in the almost deserted culture centre and public library. She introduced me to the world of Charles Dickens, Jane Austin, Jean-Paul Sartre, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, the Bronte sisters, Naguib Mahfouz, and a long, long list of others.
Both my mother and I were feminists by necessity. With her hard work and creative improvisations, while also embracing endless DIY jobs to save money, we eventually overcame numerous hardships and challenges. However, her quest to survive single-motherhood while maintaining her beliefs and way of life had its hidden costs. She could not afford to mingle with the rich and decadent elite; she could also not integrate with the increasingly conservative middle and working class.
Yet she remained undeterred, as always. She embraced unorthodoxy and resisted any attempt to mould herself or her daughter into the traditional Egyptian life. At the same time, however, she built and maintained strong relationships with colleagues and neighbours, who admired her discipline, hard work, straight talk, and impeccable time management.
I used to think the tenacious lady who raised me against all the odds would defy death as well. After all, she had witnessed most of Egypt’s modern turbulent events, from the collapse of the monarchy to the ousting of the Muslim Brotherhood’s president Morsi, and adapted to all of them with astounding resilience. Not even Alzheimer’s could take away her determination. Her tears were precious; she shed few tears following the dismantling of Heliopolis tram.
However, in the end, it was Covid that brought her remarkable life to an end. Such an exceptional woman would never have left this life in an ordinary year.
2- Webinar on Islamism: Bridging the Atlantic Divide by the counter-extremism project, with the participation of Sir John Jenkins and Writer Caroline Fourest
Twitter Threat
87% of the French are attached to « laïcité », including Muslims. The battle is NOT between whites and non-Whites ! Most of the « anti-Charlie » promoted by the US press are anti-Jews, anti-Gays, and anti-Metoo. Facts that you will never read in the @nytimes or @washingtonpost. pic.twitter.com/S5YoL4Kat3
Some major problems here. It was not unifying from the get-go, and the piece ends acting as if both sides have equivalent arguments. But for very good reasons, we don't have laws against blasphemy. We have separation of church and state.https://t.co/NIz5u78Twb
Egypt revives Khedive Ismail project, turns Egypt’s Downtown into Paris of the East. Baher El-Kady
From Twitter
It was a pleasure to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in Cairo. We discussed ways to strengthen our bilateral ties and develop areas of cooperation. We also considered issues of peace and stability in the region pic.twitter.com/bfpQxGBvhE
However, state officials impugned the EU Parliament move, saying it infringes on Egypt’s sovereignty and was put forth by “satanic forces." Read this story in Egypt: https://t.co/9dJFio3GDl
The European Parliament adopts strong resolution condemning crackdown on #humanrights & dissent by #Egypt's ruthless regime, & calls on #EU states to: -halt arms exports, -impose targeted sanctions, -lead effort at #UN HRC to establish urgent int'l inquiryhttps://t.co/lFU713TCrBpic.twitter.com/grqDHYD6nl
When I visited Brussels a few years ago, I returned with one lesson: when it comes to foreign policy, the European Union is from Venus and the member states are from Mars. https://t.co/Jp6up8maAg
Even though European Parliament resolutions, especially on foreign policy, are not binding, the latest vote on human rights in Egypt caused annoyance. Government bots are pushing this hashtag #EuropeanUnion_stop_lying
President al-Sisi is expected to pay a historic visit to Baghdad within the next few weeks on invitation of Iraq PM, as it will be the 1st visit of its kind for an Egyptian president since 1990. pic.twitter.com/DvXyVsjGQy
President al-Sisi is expected to pay a historic visit to Baghdad within the next few weeks on invitation of Iraq PM, as it will be the 1st visit of its kind for an Egyptian president since 1990. pic.twitter.com/DvXyVsjGQy
Ethiopian forces ambushed Sudanese troops on Sudan’s side of the border, killing four soldiers and injuring 12, the Sudanese army said Wednesday. Sudanese diplomatic sources told Mada Masr that Sudan intends to file a complaint with the African Union: https://t.co/fgbMhIFKoy
We made it: the European Parliament just voted with a large majority the motion of urgency on human rights in Egypt that we proposed and negotiated. May it become a tool to change the course of things, with no alibis. pic.twitter.com/7vsebwwIxh
Bloomberg: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin plans to visit Egypt, Israel, UAE, Qatar and Sudan in what would be his final overseas trip as a U.S. government official, according to people familiar with the matter pic.twitter.com/7dgc22d3sp
“There was congruence among President Sisi & Sheikh al-Nahyan to continue deploying 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 to face threats in the form of foreign intervention in the internal affairs of fellow #Arab countries, and attempts to destabilize the region.”#Libya#Egypt#UAEhttps://t.co/BP6WD3yB97
⚠️Great news! The United Arab Emirates join the Eastmed Gas Forum as observers. France and the USA will join soon! 1⃣ Members 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇮🇹 Italy 🇮🇱 Israel 🇬🇷 Greece 🇨🇾 Cyprus 🇯🇴 Jordan 2⃣ Observers 🇦🇪 Emirates 3⃣Coming soon 🇫🇷 France 🇺🇸 USA https://t.co/HO7KnHVBwipic.twitter.com/5soVk4kvmb
Dear Nervana, people know who is the problem maker and the majority knows what the case Regeni is and who created it. Btw the government is not the decision maker in Italy, it never was. Other interests do. And these are heavily involved in Egypt. 🇮🇹🙏🇪🇬
#Egypt– #ISIS release video of execution of alleged "army spy" in Sahl al-Tina area, very much in the western part of North #Sinai and very close to the #Suez Canal. (Also note the PBIED belt on the executioner) pic.twitter.com/SrnAstygXX
Recent Egypt-Jordan-Iraq rapprochement will yield big benefits to the three parties. A very smart move by the Egyptian government really. Egypt will export electricity and partake in Iraq’s reconstruction projects (more remittances) and import oil at a good price. https://t.co/KfmwxiG4gp
A campaign has been launched to #free_Seif Bedour, an #Egyptian detained without charge for more than 100 days.
Seif was arrested when he accompanied a witness to the #FairmontCrime to a police station to provide her with support. Seif was 14 when the Fairmont Crime took place. pic.twitter.com/zWjhrr9Abj
The foreigners and tourists he performed to all assumed that "gala-gala" was some Egyptian magic word but none of the Egyptians who saw him had any idea what it meant, assuming that he had made it up and started calling him Dessouqi Gala-Gala…
Disturbing reports that Egyptian court acquitted 3 defendants found guilty of stripping and dragging an elderly #Coptic Christian woman through her village in 2016. The only reprieve might be that Attorney General reported to be looking into this scandalous miscarriage of justice pic.twitter.com/cvxuf8aoX0
2/ Minya in upper #Egypt is a hotbed for hard-core #Islamist Salafi groups who reign villages with a mix of indoctrination, sectarianism, and direct threats.#سيدة_الكرم
4/ after the video of the atrocious attack, stripping the #Coptic naked, went viral, the entire Egyptian society, Muslims and Christians, were angry. President @AlsisiOfficial promised justice and supported her.#سيدة_الكرم
6/ At this juncture, it is important to understand that #Islamist Salafis groups have their own loyal lawyers, who are trained to exploit the pitfalls/blackholes in the legal system. That is precisely what happened in the case of this #Coptic lady #سيدة_الكرم#Copts#Egypt
8/ Although Judge didn’t yet publish reasons behind his acquittal verdict. It is clear without testimonies in support of Coptic victim, he can’t issue verdict against the 3 Muslim defendants. The Coptic woman is a victim of a reign of fear inflicted by Salafi groups. However!
10/ Some TV pundits & public figures are trying to close the case under the pretext of “respecting Egypt judiciary” this is not a sectarian verdict”. Both are correct, the problems happened at the pre-court level, hence the problem. The gov’t has a duty to fix those problems
12/#Egypt is infested by a wide -spread social Islamism that is destroying the society from within. The Egyptian leadership has a duty to counter that, if it wants to stop accusations of HR violations.#سيدة_الكرم
Shadi Hamid and Mustafa Akyol are two smart pundits with slightly different agendas. Shadi Hamid is an avid defender of political Islam, which he considers a legitimate conservative expression of the Islamic faith. Mustafa Akyol, on the other hand, believes in what he describes as “the flourishing of liberalism in the nineteenth-century Ottoman Empire” and “the unique Islamo-liberal synthesis,” as an answer to challenges facing Muslims in the modern world.
The two pundits’ stances on Islam and Islamism are not identical. Recently, however, Shadi Hamid and Mustafa Akyol decided to put their differences aside and unite in criticising France, the French version of secularism“Laïcité” and the latestnew law tackling Islamist extremism – the Anti-Separatism Bill, which the French Government unveiled a few days ago.
Shadi Hamid, who has passionately defended Muslim majoritarianism and illiberalism, is now critical of France’s alleged illiberalism and secularism, despite his own admission that the vast majority of the French public supports secularism. Hamid insists that Islam is inherently political, and then accuses French secularism of being anti-Islam; not political Islam. I previously wrote explaining how Hamid’s “Islamic exceptionalism” is a flawed concept. In the past, Hamid has repeatedly argued against the West’s attempts to advocate change or reforms in the Muslim world, but now he sees no problem in demanding that the French people change their form of secularism and accept regressive Muslim behaviours.
Mustafa Akyol, on the other hand, has taken a different stance, labelling the French approach “unhelpful.” Akyol claims he understands laïcité because his country, Turkey, in his view, has imitated the French model for almost a century, referring to Kemalism imposed by the Turkish leader Ataturk.
Indeed, secular Turkey was illiberal and authoritarian, which backfired and ultimately contributed to the rise of the current authoritarian one-man rule in Turkey. However, to pile the Turkish and French experiences into one basket is a big error of judgment; it demonstrates that the writer either does not understand laïcité or deliberately tries to distort it.
Unlike Ataturk, the French leaders did not impose secularism on their subjects, which is precisely why both countries have had different religious and social discourses. Moreover, modern France has no record of coups or dictatorship that sabotaged the democratic process in Turkey on various occasions.
As French diplomat Charles Thepaut aptly explained, Mustafa Akyol confuses policies and legal rules, for which a government is responsible, with social trends and behaviours. “Laïcité,” is a principle framing a policy, while bigotry and racism are behaviours found in all societies.
It is deeply disappointing to see that both pundits have resorted to demonising French secularism, bewailing the “oppression” of Muslims in France, instead of standing by France when it needed Muslim intellectuality to fight terrorism, emotionalism and hate campaigns, Two non-French Muslims felt entitled to reject “laïcité” – a very sovereign French concept supported by the vast majority of French people, regardless of political affiliation. Both writers fully understand that most of the Muslims who opted to immigrate to France were fully aware of France’s secular lifestyle and culture, but decided to go ahead and settle in the country. One could argue that any application for residency in France is a tacit consent to the country’s “assertive secularism”.
Moreover, both pundits didn’t retract their criticism of the new French law, despite publication of its draft, and it has become clear that most of the allegations against it, as Liam Duffy rightly explained, have been unfounded. This Twitter thread by Mujtaba Rahman is also insightful.
Reading Shadi Hamid’s and Mustafa Akyol’s conceited views was as painful as watching the Netflix series “Emily in Paris.” The main protagonist, Emily, feels she has the right to lament the “illogical” European approach to numbering the floors of a building; she boastfully insists she can bring an “American perspective” to French management, despite failing to speak French. Emily means well though, and ends up adapting to the French way, while maintaining her personality and beliefs; sadly, that is not what Shadi Hamid and Mustafa Akyol are enticing Muslims to do.
Postscript Twitter thread
To add more perspective to the above piece, I herewith include a few tweets, by various commentators, which can shed broader light on France’s secularism and its new anti-separatism bill.
The text mentions no religion by name & will apply to all faiths but the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, presenting the law at a presser this afternoon, made it clear that “radical Islamism” – not Islam – was the intended target 2/
One person’s “fanaticism” is, of course, another person’s “devout faith”. Parts of the draft law may be open to question or quibbling. But there is nothing, imo, that can be fairly described as an attack on Islam itself. 4/
In the law itself, there are tougher restrictions on home-schooling which will have to be “exceptionally authorised” (but there will not be a virtual ban from the age of three as first suggested) 6/
There will be rule changes to restrict foreign funding of places of worship and to make it easier for French Muslims – or any other faith – to raise money within France. Religious groups seeking public funds will have to sign a charter recognising the rule of secular law 8/
Doctors will be punished if they provide “virginity certificates”. There will be a new drive against arranged marriages. There will be new constraints on physical threats and hate campaigns on line… Fifty articles altogether ENDS
The incident at the National Assembly is interesting because it emphasise today’s tendency to pick the part of a story that fits one’s narrative. @AkyolinEnglish frames the incident as a case of institutional racism, while the story tells the exact opposite. pic.twitter.com/oBODWOzjBn
The incident at the National Assembly is interesting because it emphasise today’s tendency to pick the part of a story that fits one’s narrative. @AkyolinEnglish frames the incident as a case of institutional racism, while the story tells the exact opposite. pic.twitter.com/oBODWOzjBn
After the verbal attack from an MP against the student rep wearing a headscarf, the head of the committee (also from En Marche, the president’s party) recalled the right of the student representative to wear a headscarf. pic.twitter.com/ma85h7FVZ6
The representative of the agency under the authority of the Prime minister in charge of legal counselling about Laicite, @ObservLaicite, also recalled how the Laicite framework applies in this case. https://t.co/WcsHqoGmoA
On this incident, several secular voices actually strongly pushed back against the member of Parliament who had criticised the student representative for wearing a headscarf. Here is what Leila Slimani, Macron’s ambassador for the francophonie had to say: https://t.co/6WG0Cirh2Y
It’s easy to pick the parts of the debate in France that fit into the general argument you wanna make on religious freedom, but this is questionable when it relies on a misleading depiction of the French legal framework.
Your historical shortcuts are also questionable. Mixing up the 1789 French Revolution & the 1905 Law on Laicite is misleading. No priest was killed in 1905. And the Terror that followed the French Revolution is not really related to our discussion about freedom of belief. https://t.co/BQGFAcaLMu
No matter what you think of the current bill, ultimately the Fr State cannot rule over a religion. It’s about legal and institutional relations, not about faith.
Bottom line: anti Muslim rethoric & violence are appalling and need to be addressed like other hate speeches or crimes (that’s why you find Fr police forces protecting French mosques). But labelling the French legal framework or the current policy as anti-Muslim is not accurate.
If you can practice all your cultural heritage or religion freely, why do you need the state to recognize you as different, or recognize your religion as a defining feature? Even in the US, we don't concede to certain religious stipulations (polygamy, underage marriage, etc). https://t.co/Y9iEaTUYWQ
Full speech of Egypt’s Sisi during joint press conference with France’s Macron
From Twitter
On Sisi’s visit to France
President Emmanuel Macron gave his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi France's highest award on his state visit to Paris this week, a presidential official said Thursday, adding to controversy over the hugely contentious triphttps://t.co/hCKC8KoBqY
1/ Judging with warm body language, it is clear that there is a good personal relationship between both leaders @AlsisiOfficial and @EmmanuelMacron. Both are willing to put any difference between them aside, to fulfil their joint goals and aspirations.
3/ Beside military cooperation, Egypt’s Sisi is keen for French tourists to return to Egypt. He asserted the strict measures taken in all Egypt’s resorts to minimize #COVID19 Cooperation in Education, economy, infrastructure projects is at its peak between both countries
5/ Egypt’s Sisi defended his HR record. His calm non-confrontational tone was evident, and mentioned how 55 thousand NGOs org work in Egypt. Macron seems to take credit for releasing EIPR activists. Regardless, it is clear both leaders are willing to solve their differences
7/ In a reply to a French journalist,Egypt’s Sisi highlighted how Muslim Brotherhood( without mentioning name), and highlighted how the group has now bases around the globe. I have no recollection of any Egyptian leader openly said that before.
9/ In short: •Relations between France & Egypt is too strong to be affected by differences on HR and #CharlieHebdo cartoons • Both countries needs allies; not enemies. •They share visions, particularly against #Turkey is evident.
10/#Egypt has serious problem, confusing HR & religious rights, and terrorism. Piling the 3 together is counterproductive. Trading HR versus religious freedom will not work, even with accommodating @EmmanuelMacron, and especially with the upcoming Biden administration in US.
Another point on @EmmanuelMacron & @AlsisiOfficial: Western pressure will NOT improve HR unless Egyptian society starts to care about civil rights more than the dress of a woman posing in front of Pyramids. Sadly, #EIPR activists were more popular outside than inside #Egypt.
On the sidlines of his official visit to Paris, Egypt's President al-Sisi meets with the French Defense Minister @florence_parly, and discusses ways to enhance security & military cooperation between the two countries as well as the armament programs with France. pic.twitter.com/60IBTVQvDE
First thing on Florence Parly weekly agenda last monday was a,long call with the Egyptian minister of defence ( the 2nd such a call in under a month)https://t.co/dhuYstYZPh
How is #France+ #Egypt a threat to U.S. security and interests? They're not. But they certainly are a huge threat to Islamists, terrorists, and the Muslim Brotherhood and their sponsors in #Turkey+#Qatar, both a danger to MENA, EU and the US. Hence the predictable NYT propagada.
In his interview with the French Le Figaro, President al-Sisi said that Egypt and other regional countries have had strong reasons to declare the MB as terrorist group adding that the group has infiltrated social work, established charity organizations & formed armed militias. pic.twitter.com/Lo4Vj9YTbS
As for GERD issue, al-Sisi said the Nile water is crucial for Egypt & differences with Ethiopia over its dam have taken too long, adding that the dam may be a source of development for Ethiopia, but filling it in violation of international law threatens the lives of millions.
In a major breakthrough, #EIPR, (its activists were arrested then released) announced it presented official request to #Egypt's Social Solidarity Ministry to change its status from a regular company to a #NGOhttps://t.co/uoZ0kxpSKU Dare I say, credit to @EmmanuelMacron
Important: The U.S. President-elect @JoeBiden has selected retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, the former commander of US Central Command, to be his secretary of defense, according to @politico sources.
Photo from a meeting gathered Egypt's president al-Sisi with Gen. Austin in 2016 pic.twitter.com/ZuvJMI4gq5
Breaking: Egypt's MoD announced that the Egyptian Armed Forces have carried out a preemptive strike against terrorist elements on the western strategic direction by targeting & destroying 21 SUVs loaded with terrorists, arms and ammunition at the borders with Libya. pic.twitter.com/ZPlUrZzqUN
Through @USNationalGuard's State Partnership Program, State National Guard units conduct exchanges with foreign militaries to build skills and meet security challenges. Read how the Department helped connect @TexasGuard to Egypt: https://t.co/HCTE04HibJ#Guard384
🇮🇹🇪🇬 Interesting developments in the Regeni case. Repubblica, that was always on the anti al-Sisi side, today publish this article, attacking Prof. Abdelrahman, saying she told many lies to Italian investigators and hinder investigations. Also she allegedly say: I sent him to pic.twitter.com/gNnwa9jw7H
🇮🇹🇪🇬 Notable day about Regeni. Also the Corriere, after Repubblica (so the 2 main Italian media), tones Regeni was victim of a trap, created by specific circles, the role of Prof. Prof. Abdelrahman, saying she told many lies to Italian investigators and hinder investigations. pic.twitter.com/jghBqDKYym
LNA continues to get in the way of Islamist #Turkey's colonial ambitions in the country.
Haftar, appointed to lead the national army by the only democratically elected, int'ly recognized parliament of #Libya is the target of a wide range actors, from terrorists to *journalists. https://t.co/VM4BWtfHgr
The awkward moment when a man of God decided to steal history!
It doesn’t serve the black cause to claim everyone was black btw!
⭕️Cleopatra was Greek ⭕️St. Nicholas was Byzantine ⭕️Colour of all of Pharaohs is documented in their tombs btw-and it wasn’t black! https://t.co/IlknEWzuRh
Jewish women are shown celebrating Hanukkah in Cairo, Egypt in 1942. These brave and dedicated women served in the British Auxiliary Territorial Service along with Queen Elizabeth II and Mary Churchill. pic.twitter.com/1axQMvqqWg
I had an amazing time hiking in the Red Sea mountains this weekend. Egypt at its absolute best! Incredible other-worldly landscapes and such warm hospitality from our local Bedouin guides. Thanks @RSMTEgypt for a wonderful trip! ⛰🌞 pic.twitter.com/otoVzPE6iu
“Macron says French arms sales to Egypt will not be conditional on human rights.”
This top headline dominated Western media coverage of the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s visit to France. Regional observers took that headline as a proof of the complicity of European countries, particularly France, in oppression against human rights and democracy activists in Egypt. The reality, however, is far more complex.
I watched the joint press conference of Presidents Sisi and Macron, in which the mention of arm deals was one line, and the rest of the French president’s speech and comments to journalists were about democracy and human rights. He particularly mentioned one activist’s name and highlighted how civil society protects and empowers the state; he also passionately defended the superiority of human values above others, including religious values.
It is baffling how his words have been interpreted as a betrayal of democratic values in the Anglo-American sphere. Judging by how he openly mentioned the case of Egyptian-Palestinian BDS activist Rami Shaath, whom the Egyptian government has consistently accused of terrorist links, it is clear that Macron is unwilling to abandon human rights issues, despite his desire to forge a strong alliance with Egypt’s Sisi.
There are two approaches to addressing human rights issues in autocratic states: Either an orchestrated international campaign with threats of boycott, or with a more behind-closed-doors approach.
Human rights activists may prefer the first approach, attributing the latest release of three EIPR NGO activists in Egypt to their global international campaign. The most plausible explanation, however, is the Egyptian president’s visit to France, as Egyptian leadership would be keen to avert a diplomatic embarrassment. It is worth highlighting how similar global campaigns have failed to produce any effective results—for example, the global outrage after the brutal murder of Italian activist Regeni in Egypt. The case is formally closed in Egypt, despite conflicting statements on his death offered by Italy.
Moreover, it is disingenuous to link the French stance solely to an arms deal. According to the same Reuters report, Egypt’s arms deal with France was struck before 2017. It is highly unlikely that Egypt can afford to buy more arms from France in the foreseeable future, not only because of financial constraints, but also due to the Egyptian president’s long-term policy of diversifying military resources and not solely depending on one country for arms imports.
France and Egypt need each other for wide variety of reasons other than arms import. They both see Turkey as a destabilizing force that undermines their mutual national interests, they both see political Islamist groups as a threat to their national security, and both are keen to stop the tsunami of failed states that have plagued the region over the last decade.
The notion that Western pressure will solve human rights issues in Egypt is rather naïve, even disingenuous. Many strong advocates of harsher treatment of Sisi’s regime in Cairo are reluctant to impose sanctions on other countries with poor human right records like Turkey, the top jailer of journalists in the world, and Ethiopia, despite the brutal campaign in Tigarey that displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. Other Western observers are keen to reach a deal with the ruthless Mullah regime in Tehran while busily bashing the human rights record in Egypt. Highlighting those appalling records of other regimes is not “whataboutism”, but rather legitimate highlighting of how cherry-picking human rights is part of the problem and not the solution. Hard-core regime supporters use it as evidence of Western bias against Egypt.
Nevertheless, if we decided to focus solely on the Egyptian case, then anyone with a basic understanding of Egyptian society would note the marked discrepancy between the loud outcries on Western platforms and the noticeable indifference among ordinary Egyptians to the plight of human right activists imprisoned in Egypt. The case of the three EIPR activists is a stark example of such an alarming gap in responses. In fact, the campaign of Scarlet Johansson has generated nothing but resentment among many ordinary Egyptians, not just regime supporters.
The systemic crackdown on human right organizations in Egypt doesn’t just stem from the oppressive regime, but also from a cocktail of toxic beliefs and confused priorities. Egyptian society has serious problem in terms of confusing human rights, religious rights, personal freedoms, and counter-terrorism. Western pressure will not improve human rights unless Egyptian society starts to care about civil rights more than the dress of a woman posing in front of the Pyramids or by a cartoon published by an irrelevant privately owned French magazine.
Until Egyptians can successfully address those issues, only families and friends of human rights activists will continue to care about human rights issues. That does not mean Western pressure is not welcomed; on the contrary, President Macron has perhaps unintentionally triggered a debate inside Egypt regarding human rights, more so than the flood of articles from Western journalists and think tanks. His closed-door approach combined with tenacious calm addressing the Egyptian public should be welcomed, not discouraged.
OPEN TV said the Kemal Reis Turkish frigate, the same ship Greece put a giant hole in and humiliated during summer, came back for more punishment this morning.
It tried interrupting MEDUSA 2020 exercises but fled in fear when the Egyptian Navy arrived.https://t.co/F9tP1kxNHd
Never thought I will read this headline:#Turkish Navy humiliated by #Egypt when attempting to interrupt MEDUSA 2020 exercises 👍👍👍https://t.co/KfQ4DdkzkW Great report by @oulosP
Egypt & Greece to sign a joint defense agreement soon
As according to Greek sources, the two countries are discussing formalization their military cooperation through signing a defense agreement similar to the one recently signed between Greece & UAE.https://t.co/L5QtjUTSSCpic.twitter.com/cMSF8bE9yc
This disgusting dude is Turkey-based Egyptian Islamist paid by Erdogan’s regime to insult everyone opposes #Turkey and #Qatar ( that broadcasts this channel). Reconciliation with those thugs is utter madness! https://t.co/wIlHpuV9pd
Today #Egypt Public Prosecutors issued a statement in disagreement with the conclusions reached by the Italian counterpart on the #GiulioRegeni case.The Regeni family labelled the statement as act of disrespect towards Giulio and Italy and demand Italy to call back the ambassador
Around 2.3 million people in #Egypt lost their jobs between March and July 2020 due to Covid-19, most of them in manufacturing, construction and food service, Ministry of Finance reports
I’m proud to reintroduce my Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act today with my colleagues @JimInhofe, @SenPatRoberts, and @SenRonJohnson, and to advance America’s fight against radical Islamic terrorism.
Since the founding of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Brotherhood affiliated groups have consistently preached and incited hatred against Christians, Jews and other Muslims while supporting designated radical terrorists.
Egyptian Writer Adel Noman: Islamic Extremism Stems Directly from Our Religious Heritage; Macron Should Deal with Islamic Extremism with Resolve, Expel Islamists Who Challenge France's Civil Liberties System pic.twitter.com/ceWj4kUYVj
The Iraqi Defence Minister during his visit to Egypt also inspected some of the locally Produced Egyptian Defence Products. including the newest and yet to be revealed St-100 MRAP locally produced by IMUT. pic.twitter.com/MBvDSVObAp
After international outcry from governments, the United Nations and celebrities, three #EIPR staff have been released by #Egypt on bail while a fourth, Patrick Zaki, remains jailed.
Nearly 150,000 people had signed a petition to #FreeEIPRStaff
A well orchestrated campaign targeting #Egypt in conjunction with Biden's win. Many "experts" expect a bumpy road for the US/Egyptian relations. I see dialogue & mutual interests as the only way forward. Pressuring Egypt doesn't work, it doesn't serve US interests either. 🇺🇲🇪🇬
In the last month alone, #Egypt committed several self-harmful acts that only led to negative image abroad: • Arresting HR activists • Suspending actor for photo with Israeli • Arrest a girl for “inappropriate” photo session by Saqqara pyramid • Animal torture on TV#Sad
The latest version of the Egyptian-Made armored vehicle Temsah officially revealed yesterday
Temsah-4 is a 4×4 armored vehicle destined to be used by SOF & the security forces, designed, developed and manufactured by the Egyptian armed forces vehicles department. pic.twitter.com/k7fNyjV1Pb
Macron, Sisi, and Human Rights in Egypt
“Macron says French arms sales to Egypt will not be conditional on human rights.”
This top headline dominated Western media coverage of the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s visit to France. Regional observers took that headline as a proof of the complicity of European countries, particularly France, in oppression against human rights and democracy activists in Egypt. The reality, however, is far more complex.
I watched the joint press conference of Presidents Sisi and Macron, in which the mention of arm deals was one line, and the rest of the French president’s speech and comments to journalists were about democracy and human rights. He particularly mentioned one activist’s name and highlighted how civil society protects and empowers the state; he also passionately defended the superiority of human values above others, including religious values.
It is baffling how his words have been interpreted as a betrayal of democratic values in the Anglo-American sphere. Judging by how he openly mentioned the case of Egyptian-Palestinian BDS activist Rami Shaath, whom the Egyptian government has consistently accused of terrorist links, it is clear that Macron is unwilling to abandon human rights issues, despite his desire to forge a strong alliance with Egypt’s Sisi.
There are two approaches to addressing human rights issues in autocratic states: Either an orchestrated international campaign with threats of boycott, or with a more behind-closed-doors approach.
Human rights activists may prefer the first approach, attributing the latest release of three EIPR NGO activists in Egypt to their global international campaign. The most plausible explanation, however, is the Egyptian president’s visit to France, as Egyptian leadership would be keen to avert a diplomatic embarrassment. It is worth highlighting how similar global campaigns have failed to produce any effective results—for example, the global outrage after the brutal murder of Italian activist Regeni in Egypt. The case is formally closed in Egypt, despite conflicting statements on his death offered by Italy.
Moreover, it is disingenuous to link the French stance solely to an arms deal. According to the same Reuters report, Egypt’s arms deal with France was struck before 2017. It is highly unlikely that Egypt can afford to buy more arms from France in the foreseeable future, not only because of financial constraints, but also due to the Egyptian president’s long-term policy of diversifying military resources and not solely depending on one country for arms imports.
France and Egypt need each other for wide variety of reasons other than arms import. They both see Turkey as a destabilizing force that undermines their mutual national interests, they both see political Islamist groups as a threat to their national security, and both are keen to stop the tsunami of failed states that have plagued the region over the last decade.
The notion that Western pressure will solve human rights issues in Egypt is rather naïve, even disingenuous. Many strong advocates of harsher treatment of Sisi’s regime in Cairo are reluctant to impose sanctions on other countries with poor human right records like Turkey, the top jailer of journalists in the world, and Ethiopia, despite the brutal campaign in Tigarey that displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. Other Western observers are keen to reach a deal with the ruthless Mullah regime in Tehran while busily bashing the human rights record in Egypt. Highlighting those appalling records of other regimes is not “whataboutism”, but rather legitimate highlighting of how cherry-picking human rights is part of the problem and not the solution. Hard-core regime supporters use it as evidence of Western bias against Egypt.
Nevertheless, if we decided to focus solely on the Egyptian case, then anyone with a basic understanding of Egyptian society would note the marked discrepancy between the loud outcries on Western platforms and the noticeable indifference among ordinary Egyptians to the plight of human right activists imprisoned in Egypt. The case of the three EIPR activists is a stark example of such an alarming gap in responses. In fact, the campaign of Scarlet Johansson has generated nothing but resentment among many ordinary Egyptians, not just regime supporters.
The systemic crackdown on human right organizations in Egypt doesn’t just stem from the oppressive regime, but also from a cocktail of toxic beliefs and confused priorities. Egyptian society has serious problem in terms of confusing human rights, religious rights, personal freedoms, and counter-terrorism. Western pressure will not improve human rights unless Egyptian society starts to care about civil rights more than the dress of a woman posing in front of the Pyramids or by a cartoon published by an irrelevant privately owned French magazine.
Until Egyptians can successfully address those issues, only families and friends of human rights activists will continue to care about human rights issues. That does not mean Western pressure is not welcomed; on the contrary, President Macron has perhaps unintentionally triggered a debate inside Egypt regarding human rights, more so than the flood of articles from Western journalists and think tanks. His closed-door approach combined with tenacious calm addressing the Egyptian public should be welcomed, not discouraged.
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