59 Articles
CAIRO: A current debate among journalists in the country is whether a reporter can be an activist as well as do their job. A journalist’s job is to report from the ground about what is happening. In Egypt, this is often about opposition-group demonstrations. Can a reporter be an active participant at demonstrations as well …
CAIRO: Activists have continued to call for the release of their fellow activists who remain in prison. Egypt’s most famous blogger, Alaa Seif Al Islam, is spearheading the current move to support pro-reform activists still imprisoned. Al Islam has been instrumental in galvanizing activists in calls for the release of Mohamed El Sharkawy and Karim …
Boycott of American products called for at demonstration CAIRO: Thousands rallied at Al Azhar Mosque following Friday prayers in protest of the recent Israeli incursion into Gaza. The Muslim Brotherhood organized event proceeded peacefully, with leading Islamic figures speaking to the approximately 5,000 supporters. Mohamed Habib, deputy of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, called for a …
CAIRO: On Tuesday evening, a few hundred activists demonstrated in front of the press syndicate, calling for the release of fellow pro-democracy activists currently detained. Among the demonstrators were several recently released detainees who showed up dressed in white, a tribute to what they were forced to wear while in detention at Tora prison. Kamal …
CAIRO: On a day when the world came together in opposition of torture worldwide, activists came together for a surprise demonstration in front of the Sayeda Zeinab police station. The demonstration aimed to show solidarity with the campaign to end torture across the globe. Sayeda Zeinab police station was chosen because it is known for …
CAIRO: On Thursday, award-winning blogger Alaa Seif Al Islam was released from his detention. Al Islam was arrested on May 7, during a sit-in downtown. According to a friend, Al Islam was in good spirits following his release, joking that he would see him at the next demonstration. However, reports before his release suggested that …
CAIRO: When Mexico scored their second goal to go ahead 2-1, a group of Egyptians threw up their arms in displeasure. Mexico was not playing Saudi Arabia or Tunisia, but that didn’t stop the men in the local café from expressing their frustration with how Mexico’s opponent was playing. The team was Iran and Egyptians …
CAIRO: Three independent United Nations human rights experts condemned the actions of the Egyptian government during the dispute with judges Mahmoud Mekki and Hisham El Bastawisy. The experts expressed their concern in regard to the decision to transfer Mekki and El Bastawisy to the disciplinary council. The statement was issued by Leandro Despouy, special rapporteur …
CAIRO: An appeal made in the case of a Bahai couple against the government was postponed yesterday until September 16. Nothing substantial was reached at the hearing, with an advisory report that was supposed to be given to the court by the government failing to appear. The government asked for and received a postponement of …
Call seen as support for Palestinian government CAIRO: In a recent interview with DREAM television, supreme leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Mahdi Akef, said that the peace agreement made by President Anwar Sadat should be cancelled. Akef called on the government to put the treaty to the people in a referendum. The Egyptian-Israeli peace …
CAIRO: May was the worst month in the past quarter century for the freedom of expression, says a report recently released by the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo). According to the report, the actions the government took between April 24 and May 25 were among the worst months in the country’s history. “What …
CAIRO: Youth for Change activist Mohamed El Sharkawy continues to face impediments in his fight for proper medical treatment at Mahkoum Tora prison. In a recent letter written by him, Sharkawy complains of medical negligence. The letter, dated June 12, tells of his mistreatment. According to Sharkawy, he was once again sent to state security …
CAIRO: Approximately 100 demonstrators gathered at the journalists’ syndicate late Sunday night to show their solidarity with detainees. The demonstration featured a group of about 10 former detainees who were showing their continued support for their brethren still locked behind bars. After the designated one-hour of chanting on the steps in front of the syndicate, …
CAIRO: In a 65-page report, the Forced Migration and Refugee Studies (FMRS) center released their study of what occurred during last year’s three-month sit-in by Sudanese refugees, which ended in bloodshed. The report blames all three parties, the government, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the demonstrators. FMRS is a department at the …
U.S. use democracy institute as reason for cutting aid CAIRO: On June 4, the International Republican Institute (IRI) was asked to stop all functions by the government until it had received a permit to conduct their activities in the country. The IRI has closed its office in Cairo until further notice, and have even begun …
CAIRO: Tourism is one of Egypt’s largest sectors of the economy. Foreign nationals flock to each year in order to see the ancient and modern wonders that Egypt offers. Yet, it has become evident that some Egyptians are not given the same opportunity to travel abroad. The story of one Egyptian man and his desire …
CAIRO: Jail time was extended Wednesday for 50 members of the Muslim Brotherhood and two activists. Mohamed El Sharkawy and Karim El Shaer, two activists who have been in the spotlight over the past two weeks for the alleged kidnapping, torture and sexual abuse perpetrated against them, were given another 15 days in prison. The …
CAIRO: When Minister of Interior Habib Al Adly announced that demonstrations needed to have a permit from the ministry before they would be allowed on the street, it was regarded as an official decree from the ministry. However, with the recent case against Al Adly’s Ministry of Interior, brought on by the Egyptian Organization for …
“Damascus Nights portrays life in the Arab world today CAIRO: The New York Times Book Review calls it “timely and timeless at once. Rafik Schami’s “Damascus Nights, while being both timely and timeless, is so much more. “Damascus Nights is a novel that transcends not only time, but borders. Set in Damascus over a half …
CAIRO: On Saturday, the government released two detainees and renewed the detention of three others; the five had been detained since April 24. The release and subsequent renewal has opened the doors of questioning the legality of such practices by the government. Does the Emergency Law allow for such practice is a question that has …
CAIRO: Thursday’s protest was, by all accounts, a protest about a protest about a protest. The demonstration raised a lot of questions that must be answered in order for the opposition to maintain a viable dissent movement. Thursday saw about 50 demonstrators move from the corniche in Garden City, next to the Four Seasons hotel, …
CAIRO: As the press rushed to encircle the newest big name to grace what had been an uneventful demonstration, the plainclothes policeman close by asked a reporter who the man was. “Saad Eddin Ibrahim, the reporter answered the boy. The plainclothes policeman went back to the line that had been drawn up in order to …
CAIRO: Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday that President Hosni Mubarak should immediately order an independent judicial investigation into last Thursday’s alleged torture and sexual assault by security agents of political activists. The U.S.-based watchdog also slammed the Egyptian government in a statement released yesterday. “We have asked President Mubarak to put a stop to …
CAIRO: The Hisham Mubarak Law Center has issued a statement which declares a demonstration will take place on Thursday, June 1, in front of Kasr El Nil police station, Garden City. It also asks for other Egyptian human rights organizations to come forward in support and participation in Thursday’s demonstration. The announcement came following a …
CAIRO: Egyptian police detained approximately 30 members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood Islamist group in Alexandria as they were preparing to vote in chamber of commerce elections, a spokesman for the group said on Monday. Hamdy Hassan, the official spokesman for the Brotherhood bloc in parliament has confirmed at least 28 people have been arrested. …
CAIRO: In the wake of Thursday’s turmoil and claims of abuse and torture, the inmates as Tora prison, where Karim El Shaer and Mohamed Sharkawy are currently being held, have initiated a hunger strike. El Shaer and Sharkawy were released from prison last week but defied orders to stay away from demonstrations by being present …
CAIRO: Thursday’s protests began right, went smoothly, but ended in disarray as plainclothes police surrounded a BBC correspondent’s vehicle and dragged away Karim Al Shaer. In the process of arresting Al Shaer, the men are reported to have thrown objects at the vehicle, breaking windows and forcing the car to stop. “Plainclothes security raided Dina …
CAIRO: While demonstrations were occurring at both the judges and journalists syndicates on Thursday, Cairo also bore witness to one of the first demonstrations at the American University in Cairo (AUC) in a long while. Approximately 100 students attended a teach-in, followed by a sit-in on the steps inside AUC. The student activists placed tape …
CAIRO: The much-anticipated “Black Wednesday anniversary went smoothly, as hundreds of Kefaya (Enough) movement and other activists gathered in front of the journalists syndicate. Despite an attempt to march down the road, which was blocked by black clad soldiers, they stayed on the steps and yelled out chants and opposition slogans for hours, Thursday. From …
CAIRO: After weeks of violent demonstrations and the anniversary of “Black Wednesday looming today, activist groups are expected to continue to put pressure on the Egyptian government. Last week, violence erupted for the second straight week as demonstrators showing their solidarity with judges Mahmoud Mekki and Hisham El-Bastawisy. Plainclothes police grabbed protesters from the procession, …