Latest in Opinion Highlight
Latest in Opinion
The saga of Mohamed Mahmoud
Throughout the mid 1990s, Mohamed Mahmoud was a street that carried so many good memories for me and perhaps other students of the American University in Cairo who would cross this street several times per day trotting from one campus to the other, stopping by El Kady to get the occasional chocolate bar or odd …
The Ugly Truth: Egypt’s Deep State
By Mohammed Nosseir The question isn’t whether Egypt’s ‘Deep State’ really exists or is a fantasy. The real issue is, just how far-reaching is the Deep State and what is the extent of its influence after the revolution? Egypt’s Deep State is the most powerful political entity in the country, one that has managed to …
The forgotten plight of the girl combat soldier
By Dr Cesar Chelala For the past few decades girls have become unwilling warriors or sex partners for soldiers throughout the world. It is estimated that, between 1990 and 2003, girls as young as 13 served in military and paramilitary groups in 55 countries and participated in armed conflict in 38 of those countries. At …
Eight things the interim government can do
The Egyptian interim government’s performance has been rather disappointing to the population. The current Prime Minister, Hazem El-Beblawi, seems to be only focused on getting more money from Gulf nations to sustain the current dysfunctional government, rather than actually lead on, well, anything. His government has operated so far to serve one objective: spend money …
Al-Ahly turns African championship into anti-government protest
By James M. Dorsey Clashes this weekend between security forces and militant supporters of crowned Cairo club Al-Ahly SC and a political demonstration by the team’s goalkeeper have dented the Egyptian military-backed government’s efforts to show that the country had put its political crisis behind it. The clashes raise the specter of world soccer body …
Humiliating Mohamed Mahmoud
The thing about the Mohamed Mahmoud clashes specifically is the mere fact that those who had never joined a protest even through the 18 glorious days took to that one. They did so not because they wanted to grab power or even present a political demand, but in defence of family members of those who …
Let’s kill them all
This time last year, Egyptians were a week away from the disastrous extra-judicial decree of then president, Mohamed Morsi. Everyone knew, however, even without that decree, that the Muslim Brotherhood-led government had not the faintest idea (or perhaps intention) on how to govern inclusively. In a country that desperately needed consensus in order to simply …
Contemporary Egyptian nonsense part 4: The demise of political Islam
Is political Islam dead? Are the so called “Islamic Movements” suffering their final moments following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi and the ruling Muslim Brotherhood? That is indeed a claim that keeps on getting more attention in Egypt these days. The Myth: According to many pundits, 30 June has dealt a virtual knockout to …
Morsi’s political trial
Egyptians are fortunate enough to witness two deposed presidents being tried in less than two years. After 30 years of political stagnation Egypt suddenly shows a very high president turnover! Despite the huge difference between both men, Morsi and Mubarak, their presidential pattern has been very similar with exception to the difference in resilience, of …
Egypt cannot be censored into unity
The ugly face of military fascism continues to show in Egypt, and if recent happenings are any indicator, the trend shows little sign of reversing. As reported in Al Arabiya, at least three Egyptians have been tried in military court since Morsi was deposed in July resulting in two suspended six-month jail sentences and another …
Egypt’s veil of ignorance and the social contract
“[A]pply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control over his own life and destiny? …
“Down with the next president”
During the two weeks spent in Tahrir Square in 2011 that culminated in ousting former president Hosni Mubarak, there was a young man who held a placard that read, “down with the next president”. It did not make sense to many who deemed it a witty play on words in Arabic, while others viewed it …
Egypt after the trial
By Dr. Ronald Meinardus For me, the best news on 4 November, the day of the historic trial of former President Mohamed Morsi, was that Egypt for a change did not bewail fatal victims of politically inspired clashes. Blood and death have become an earmark of Egyptian politics; the continuous violence has contributed to the …
Editor’s letter: Egyptians between the two Gamals (4 of 5): Mubarak’s fall, just a beginning
The accumulation of poverty and anger made Egypt seem like a nation left on the back burner that Mubarak and his business elite thought would never have to face. They believed, and even the people themselves did, that passivity is a dominant characteristic of Egyptians. Living in their fancy palaces and luxurious lifestyles within their …
Football and autocracy: Who do national football teams represent?
By James M. Dorsey Little better illustrates the inextricable link between sports and politics than the frequent perception of Middle Eastern and North African national football teams as representatives of repressive autocratic regimes. That perception is reinforced by players’ adoption of a neo-patriarchic acceptance of their autocratic leader as a father figure that leads them …
What are the problems encountered in political field work?
In previous articles, I explored the different political parties and movements, along with the conflicts between them. The reason for the confusion among political parties and their inability to define their social standing is not only due to their members’ inexperience, but also due to the social variation of the Egyptian society. Often, one person …
The trial
Last Monday was the trial of ex-President Morsi, and as expected, it was a circus. The deposed president looked healthy in a grey suit, walking into a cage of senior MB members dressed in prison whites, who were cheering him as president and holding up the Rabaa sign. As expected, he repeatedly shouted that he …
Powering economic equality: GE, Ashoka Changemakers and social entrepreneurs
Three social entrepreneurs will receive cash prizes from GE and Ashoka Changemakers in the Women Powering Work competition for innovations that will advance economic opportunities for women in the MENA region. Better integrating women in the labour market is good for all. When women have more cash, they better invest in nutrition, health and education. …
Egypt and political satire
Will political satire survive in Egypt? Since January 2011, satirist Bassem Youssef has become Egypt’s most popular comedian. He has poked fun at nearly every one of Egypt’s political elite, and his merciless, biting jokes about ex-president Morsi’s poor performance and bad English have earned him million of fans – and many enemies. Last April, he was …
Student Corner: US military aid to Egypt: For whose sake?
By Mohamed Soliman In 1978, Jimmy Carter hosted negotiations between Egypt and Israel at his presidential retreat in Camp David, Maryland. Among other controversial terms that were negotiated at the summit, Egyptian President Sadat was requested to demilitarise the Sinai Peninsula and to guarantee freedom of passage through the Suez Canal and the Straits of …
Student Corner: Talk to me
By Reem Khorshid For quite some time, I have always wanted to open up to someone, not just write down thoughts in my journal. I have always feared being judged by the people I know if I told them my darkest secrets. I wrote more, but it didn’t make me even slightly better. I wanted …
Contemporary Egyptian nonsense part 3: The debate that sealed their fate!
Our talk this week is about the 2012 Egyptian presidential debate, the first ever presidential debate in Egyptian history. It was held between presidential candidates Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh and Amr Moussa, broadcasted live on May 10, 2012 and moderated by famed TV personalities Yousri Fouda and Mona El Shazly. We take a quick stroll down memory’s lane …
Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinian children continues
By Dr. Cesar Chelala A UNICEF report issued last March, “Children in Israeli Military Detention,” was sharply critical of Israel’s treatment of detained Palestinian children and youths. According to that report, 700 Palestinian children aged 12-17, most of them boys, are arrested and harshly interrogated by the Israeli military, police and security agents every year in …
Is Egypt out to topple Hamas?
By Daniel Nisman On 11 November, the ninth anniversary Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s death, an internet-mobilised protest campaign called “Tamarod” will kick off in the Gaza Strip. The group is based on Egypt’s Tamarod movement, which enabled the ousting of President Morsi, and similarly aims to topple the coastal strip’s ruling Islamist Hamas party. Since seizing …
Editor’s letter: Egyptians between the two Gamals (3 of 5): A nation on the back burner
Mubarak’s propaganda machine had the habit of spreading false optimistic information about his “economic achievements” on an almost daily basis. Several governments appointed by the ousted president got used to the practice of faking reports about the country’s economic performance, or at least show or hide the data based on what would fix the government’s …
What are the chances of mergers and alliances inside the democratic movement? (2-2)
Most people count the following parties as social democratic ones: the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, the Justice Party and Al Dostour Party. Other people describe them as liberal rather than social democratic, which is a description used for the Nasserite and Leftist parties. Other descriptions include secular, civil or even parties against a religious state. …
Morsi and Sisi: Against both!
On 30 June I was suffering from a dislocated shoulder, which is quite painful by the way. However, I managed to make it to Kasr El Nile Bridge and join an anti-Morsi demonstration. Getting rid of Morsi and everything that he represented was certainly a pleasant thought that I was willing to do anything to …
The selfish heartless argument for keeping Syrians in Egypt
Dear Egyptian readers: This article will not try to garner your sympathy over the plight and horror that Syrian refugees face in Egypt. It will not try to appeal to your humanity by informing you of the horrible conditions under which they live here, the random arrests they face or the horror that awaits them …
Egyptian female youth and their labour market
Recently, I was stunned. I had quite a surprising experience while interviewing a young, Egyptian woman for a basic entry-level analyst-type position. From my perspective, the interview was going well. The young woman was bright and seemed to have many of the qualities I was looking for in a candidate. As we were wrapping up, …
Contemporary Egyptian nonsense part 2: The riches of Egypt!
So we continue with examining some of those wild ideas and unfounded claims which haunt the minds of many people. We are hoping to do so in a constructive manner with the aim to move beyond the old tales and actually think about something meaningful. Our discussion this week will be about the age old …