Latest in Opinion Highlight
Latest in Opinion
Review: America’s support to Morsi and Tahrir Square explored in columns
The recent visit of the United States Secretary of State John Kerry has pushed several writers to analyse America’s reasons to support the Muslim Brotherhood and President Mohamed Morsi. Meanwhile, some commentators have discussed the objective of demonstrators, who appear persistent to remain in Tahrir Square. Mohamed Salmawi The Muslim Brotherhood’s American Support Al-Masry …
Facial hair and a weapon
A beard and a police uniform! Religious righteousness will have authority and weapons from now on
The Civilian Products of Military Factories
Last Thursday the news websites greeted us with a picture of the US Ambassador to Egypt, Anne Patterson, celebrating the decision of the US department of agriculture to allow the importation of Egyptian strawberries to the American market by opening a box of strawberries and eating one. On that same day, we were also greeted …
Rebel economy wrap
Egypt’s Catch 22
Review: Columnists dissect decisions to boycott or participate in elections
Amid the opposition’s calls to shun the upcoming parliamentary elections set to take place in April, writers explored the consequences of boycotting the vote and the negative effect of such a decision on a well representative parliament. In light of the US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Egypt, some commentators condemn the western …
Under pressure
Working at a newspaper is tough stuff. I’ve likened it somewhat to the songs on Nirvana’s Nevermind album. The day starts off quietly and melodiously as I saunter into the office, everything strumming along nicely at first, lulling you into a false sense of security: “Today should be an easy day,” I think to myself. …
Wizards or woozies
By Philip Whitfield One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors – Plato. For what it’s worth, the election degenerates into a scrap between bigots and zealots. Tactical withdrawal? Tacit defeat? Haughty hogwash? Take your pick. Either way the self-styled democratic opposition has …
Review: Morsi’s son and bearded policemen explored in columns
Commentaries in several newspapers have analysed Islamist policemen’s demands that they should be allowed to grow beards. Despite arguing that it is part of their basic human rights, many writers believe that the move might contribute to potential sectarian strives.On another note, some commentators have discussed Morsi’s son’s offensive attitude to a security guard at …
The legitimacy of Morsi
Wikipedia defines political legitimacy as “the popular acceptance of an authority, usually a governing law or a regime”. The keyword here is “popular”. The voting system was concurred as a way to gauge public acceptance of a person or government. The tallying of ballots is used as a means to assess the will of the masses. …
The end of the Muslim Brotherhood
I have no problem admitting how much the Muslim Brotherhood annoys me. There is absolutely nothing that I admire about this group. I hate their fascist intentions, I disrespect their manipulative politics, their constant lying appalls me and I am offended by how much they distort a peaceful religion like Islam. The mere presence of …
Review: Commentaries debate Parliamentary elections, dialogue sessions and electronic militias
After the national dialogue session came out with a list of recommendations on how to ensure transparent and free elections, several writers have criticised the talks arguing that a meeting as such should have better been held with the head of the Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC). Other writers explored the issue of the Muslim Brotherhood’s …
Editor’s letter: Chapeau to Al Nour Party
In Egypt’s post-Mubarak first parliament, which lasted for a few months in 2012, it was the first time for the Salafi Islamists (primarily Al Nour Party) to have such political representation. It was very messy though, as many Egyptians found it entertaining and liked to call it the “circus”. The parliament channel Soot Al Shaab …
A visionary without a vision
By Robert Mogielnicki On Saturday Mohamed ElBaradei, leader of the National Salvation Front (NSF), called for a boycott of the upcoming Parliamentary elections in Egypt. On Tuesday the boycott became party policy after a meeting of the NSF leadership While the NSF demands the formation of a national unity government and a committee to amend …
Anti-Morsi fervour grows despite shift in election dates
Egyptian president seems to be failing to stem the tide running against him
Is Boycotting the Solution?
There currently exists within Egypt’s democratic forces a raging debate as to whether or not to take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Those who advocate for boycotting the elections do so for a number of reasons, many of which are based on the assumption that it will only be a matter of time before …
Reading a possible Egypt-Iran strategic alliance
By Ceylan Ozbudak In August 2012, when President Mohamed Morsi became the first Egyptian leader to visit Iran since the 1980s, he was careful not to schedule meetings with the Iranian leadership, much less to endorse any renewal of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Iran. Since then, a return to the level of cooperation pe r …
Review: Op-Eds fueled against Morsi’s late interview
Sunday night turned into Monday morning with Egyptians still waiting for an anticipated television interview with President Mohamed Morsi. The president offered no explanation for the delay, and several newspaper columnists criticized Morsi for leaving millions of citizens waiting late at night for the long-awaited interview. The broadcast was supposed to begin at 8 pm …
Shake it, shake it baby!
On the long wait for Morsi’s interview, and the Harlem Shake!
Awesomely Egyptian
It’s our one and only message to a world that has always tried to crush us: “You won’t break us. Do your worst”.
Review: Columnists encourage opposition to prepare for elections
Many writers are calling upon secular groups to focus on the road ahead and take the occasion (elections) more seriously
Quo vadis, baby?
When I was but a wee lad, I spent my summers in Alexandria, and most of that time at the Alexandria Sporting Club (women’s and men’s basketball champions of Egypt, incidentally). Back then I was active and physically fit; nowadays, my only form of exercise is trying to catch the cats as they dart out …
Choking up
By Philip Whitfield Notice the traffic? Given up going out? Carrying a doggy bag on the shopping run? Good news. Nobody will be able to afford to drive soon. Everyone’s money will be spent paying the gas bill and keeping cool in ice baths. Who dares flick on the air-con? Bit chilly? Snuggle up in …
On blasting Morsi into space
Egyptians have done it again. After ousting a dictator two years ago, now they are sending their first elected civilian president into space. President Mohamed Morsi is now sitting in first place in Axe’s competition to send one civilian to space, an adventurous soul seeking a new frontier. Voting is required and whoever gets the …
Morsi’s fake election
Mohamed Morsi is indeed full of surprises. Ever since Morsi took office, he has never ceased to present us Egyptians with surprising decisions that make us wonder how, why, and for what purpose these decisions were made in the first place. Decisions like calling the dissolved Parliament back to session, applying new taxes which were …
Review: Authority and opposition appear top priority in columns
After announcing the timing of the parliamentary elections on April 27, Egyptian columnists debate the upcoming political marathon and condemn both the authority and the opposition in dealing with the crisis. Farewell to a hopeful consensus Emad Al-Din Hussein Al-Shorouk newspaper As President Mohamed Morsi issued his decree to hold parliamentary elections on April …
Rebel Economy wrap
Original sin: Where did Arab economies go wrong?
A slur on my womanhood
Cairo cabbie informs Adel Heine she is not a woman
Are we in a “…….” or just smelling the roses?
This question is often repeated during times of crisis. When a nation finds itself consumed by war or strife, inevitably some will decide to remove themselves from the equation and occupy their time with trivial matters. A number of my friends have asked me this question since I published last week’s article where I attempted …
The ‘insult’ of political criticism
By Nick Gjorvad Few would argue against the maxim that freedom of speech is one of the foundational pillars on which democracy rests. Freedom of speech is widely understood to include speech concerning government officials, which may be critical or even demeaning of an officials’ performance. While the lines between unfounded slander and legitimate criticism …
Tahrir Squared: the discussion continues
There is no stopping the train, and it is important to do all that is possible to try to get to the right destination, rather than just go faster