Many things are gone, but not what we hoped for on Feb 11 2011

On a glorious day, I and many others felt the world has changed; that the will of people managed to take down a cancer called Mubarak and his criminal regime of corrupt military, security forces, judiciary and aristocracy.

We truly thought he was gone.  

We truly thought Egypt was ready for a fresh start.

And We were wrong, and wrong big time.   Military Cancer is never gone.

Since then, many other things have gone, though.

Gone was the warm feelings about the country.

Gone was the hope in a fairer future.

But more painfully: GONE was the trust in the intentions and judgment of many people that were once beyond the slightest doubt.

In many ways for me, January 2011 revolution in Egypt is dead, but it has been what I call "an illuminating event".

It was a moment when the 'rubber hit the road'; the moment when it becomes obvious who thinks and acts in the light of guiding principles of equality, freedom and justice for all, and those that do not.

Revolutions may success and revolutions may fail.  And when they fail, it hurts.  

But it is the people's near-collective betrayal of universal principle of conscience that leaves the deepest wound.

 Khaled

Sit This One Out, Please - for REAL People's Sake

I am not optimistic about any real change on the ground this coming January 25th.  I will be praying for success, but I know the odds are not at all good - pretty slim in fact- and the price to be paid by the REAL revolutionaries will be very high.  But I hope for some success to keep the flame alive for a little longer.

Just please, do not go out if you were one of those that called for and cheered the revolt and military coup against the outcome of of Jan 2011 REVOLUTION.  You mostly are still mincing your words about where you stand, and spending more time finding excuses, rather than doing soul searching where you went wrong.  And,  YOU WERE WRONG.

So, go back to your crying over what is wrong with 'the other countries' than the one country that counts for you, and to your reminiscence over a deluded past that carried nothing good except for select aristocrats, military or royal, or whatever makes you happy with yourself.

Please, for REAL people's sake, sit this 'January Spirit Event' out.  You help KILL the last one anyway.

May God be with this one. 

When righteous indignation is not righteous at all

"Do they even know their faith or the Prophet they claim to defend?"  That is what comes to my mind when I see the rioters in the Middle East around the American embassies protesting a disgusting movie made to insult Islam and Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

There has not been a moment of boredom in the new Egypt and other Arab countries following the 'Arab spring'.  Let us pray things may eventually end up well, and there is still hope.

But the long history of oppression, ignorance and the lack of trust by the people in their own governments and in the world at large, are hugely compounded by extreme social and economic hardships. Anger at the world and at life takes unfortunately a hyper-religiosity path in a place where 'life on this earth' does not offer much for the youth to look forward to, and nothing to lose.

Criminals prey on this anger and hyper-religiosity, and the outcome is what we witness off and on: random violence against the innocent, and criminal acts that added up to the murder of our American ambassador, a fair, friendly and an upright human being by all of what I have read, the late ambassador John Christopher Stevens, and three of his aides in Benghazi, Libya.

I and every one I have been in touch with, here and in Egypt, have been very distressed and hurt by what happened.  But it is even more maddening that the 'righteous indignation' that those killers and rioters appear to express is not even acceptable by the same religion they claim to defend.

I am mad at the idiot rioters in Egypt, Libya and Yemen 'defending' Islam and the Prophet by means that neither God nor the Prophet would approve,  I did a quick search and compiled a short list of 'anti-anger', pro-tolerance and forgiveness sayings from the Quran and the Prophet's sayings.

For me, this is just another demonstration of the distance between the faith teachings, and Muslim's practices, a dichotomy that underlies most if not all of our problems in the Arab and Muslim world.

Here is what I found on very quick search.  There are many more Quranic verses that convey the same sentiment, but this was not meant to be a comprehensive collection – just a sampler.  These Quranic verses are encouraging patience, forgiveness and benignly ignoring the non-violent enemies and abusers:

(25:63)  وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا

For, [true] servants of the Most Gracious are [only] they who walk gently on earth, and who, whenever the foolish address them, reply with [words of] peace;

(7:199)  خذ العفو وأمر بالعرف وأعرض عن الجاهلين

MAKE due allowance for man's nature,  and enjoin the doing of what is right; and leave alone all those who choose to remain ignorant."

(23:96)  ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ

[But whatever they may say or do,] repel the evil [which they commit] with something that is better: We are fully aware of what they attribute [to Us].

(41:34)  وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ

But [since] good and evil cannot be equal, repel thou [evil) with something that is better - and lo! he between whom and thyself was enmity [may then become] as though he had [always] been close [unto thee], a true friend!

Prophetic narrations (sayings of prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) echo the same Quranic sentiments.  There has been enough incidents in his lifetime that makes it clear that he lived by his own teachings.  That is not surprising of course as the Quran was his moral fiber ("كان خُلُقُه القرآن"), as his wife Aisha was narrated to have said.

الغضب يفسد الإيمان كما يفسد الصبر العسل

Anger spoils Faith as bitter aloe spoils honey.

من كف غضبه ستر الله عورته

He who restrains his anger, gets God to cover for his sins

ليس الشديد بالصرعة ؛ إنما الشديد الذى يملك نفسه عند الغضب

The strong among you is not the one that wins the fight; it is the one that restrains himself when angry

إن الغضب جمرة توقد في القلب

Anger is red-hot piece of charcoal that burn your heart.

وإذا غضبت فاسكت

And if you feel angry, shut up

أشدكم من غلب نفسه عند الغضب وأحلمكم من عفا عند القدرة

The toughest among you is the one that conquers his own anger, and the wisest among you is the one that forgives when he is capable of punishing.

 After you read this, do those rioters seem to know the faith they seem willing to sacrifice life and limb to 'defend'?

Khaled

Trial of the Century in Egypt botched by the village idiots

You all probably know by now that the so called trial of the century for Mubarak, the deposed president f Egypt, his Minster of Interior, Al-Adly, Mubarak's children and 6 most senior assistants of the Minister of Interiors has ended with a fizzle.

Mubarak and al-Adly received life sentences (that I am certain will be reversed on appeal), and ALL the others got acquitted.

A lot of Egyptians are mad as hell.  Count me one of those for many reasons.  Reading the reasons for judgments (حيثيات الحكم) is enough to get one's blood pressure go through the roof.

I am cutting and pasting here from my facebook comments on the subject with some thoughts and feeling about the trial. So, excuse me if it is coming across choppy.

سماع و قراءة حيثيات الحكم في قضية "القرن" تثير الغثيان. ما هو قدر عدم الكفاءة المطلوب كي تصبح احد اعضاء النيابة الخمسة في اكبر قضية في تاريخ مصر و العالم العربي؟ بيدو ان اي قدر من الكفاءة سيكون من معوقات الحصول علي الوظيفة. أرشح اعضاء النيابة في القضية لجائزة عبيط القرية الاول.

Reading or listening to the Reasons of Judgement in the so-called "Egypt's trial of the Century"  is simply nauseating.  How much ineptness does it take to qualify for a prosecutor's position? It seems clear that any degree of legal proficiency is a great impediment to getting a position as a prosecutor (النيابة).

I know it sounds strange at this time (since all Egypt is mad at the judge), but I kind feel bad for the presiding judge, Rifaat. Without proofs what was he supposed to do? My gut feeling, he took it on his own to give the top 2 accused (Mubarak and Adly) a guilty verdict with life sentence because he simply could not let them go. It was distasteful by all moral standards to let them go.  He just could not stomach it, even though he was not provided with any material proof. If the evidence is as meager as was seen on TV during some of the last few public sessions and as per his ruling statements, he probably would have had to give them all innocent verdict if he wanted to be legally in the clear.

For those non-Arabic speakers who followed the so-called "trial of the century" of Mubarak and his security assistants, but could not read the reason of verdict, here it is: 

The reasons for judgement provided by the judge for acquitting the 6 most senior assistance of the minister if interiors included the following: no material evidence linking would of the dead and injured to the weapons of the police, no evidence of communication (wired or wireless) between the acquitted leaders and their troops re the actions taken, no reliable weapons, ammunition or recovered bullets linking any police weapons to injuries (in a case that included including charges for the death of 850 Egyptians and injuring/assaulting 7000 others over 17 days of assault on the unarmed demonstrators, the prosecutors presented 4 guns and about 10 bullets in total). 

Prosecution witnesses were all deemed unreliable with past history perjury for some and previous media releases of suspicious nature for others.

The village idiots (playing the role of the prosecution) also filed the abuse of power and embezzlement charges against the children of Mubarak AFTER the statute of limitations has expired.  They actually chose - of all the corruption charges possible against Mubarak and his family after 30 years in power - to present a charge that has expired.  an no one notice that over the 10 month trial till the verdict was released less than 24 hours ago 

Prosecutors positions in Egypt are some of the most privileged and prestigious positions in the government.  It secures a life-long guaranteed career of financial comfort in a position of power, total immunity from nearly anything, and and easy access to a judge positions after few years.  As you would have imagined, they were exclusively filled with the children of the rich and powerful, especially in the higher-ups in the military, police and judiciary. Moreover, Law school of Egypt is not like hear: it takes the BOTTOM tier of students, so we are not starting with the creme de la creme anyway.

And I have to finish in a lighter note, otherwise I will have to bang my head into the wall.

And the Village Idiots prize of the Century goes to... the 5 members of the Egyptian prosecution in the trial of the century.

Egyptians are expecting to have many more days and months of turmoil. Tens of thousands are back into the Tahrir square. I do not know how much more blood would be shed before they start getting any breaks.

May God help us all.

Khaled

الأولى - أسباب الأحكام‏:‏ لا أدلة مادية أو فنية أو تسجيلات لم يثبت وفاة المجني عليهم بأسلحة الشرطة

Islamic Parties may rule Egypt, but Islam does not

The political situation in Egypt is very depressing for me and for most of the Egyptians I know, both in Egypt and out outside it.  The most obvious reason for that is the total lack of transparency in the political scene, combined with near total lack of credibility in Egyptian media.

Poor credibility, lack of political integrity and absent strategic vision taint the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and Salafi Islamic parties,  as much as it taints the more secular, progressive and liberal groups.  Most Egyptians I interact with, which – for full disclosure – is not a representative sample of all Egyptians, feel totally lost.  They have no one that speaks for them, and no clear political figure that they trust.

I have no trust in  the ability of Islamic-leaning parties  to lead politically, yet I have to admit that the election that brought them to power was technically fair election for the most part.  They control 70% of the seats in the parliament: 45% for MB, and about 25% for Salafi groups.  The secular, liberal and progressive groups suffered humiliating loss garnering less than 20% of the votes.  The remaining 10% or so belong to Wafd Party that truly is a Machiavellian Chameleon that is hard to classify politically, and I personally would not rust with a penny.

And even though I am a believer in Islam and a practicing Muslim, I have to admit: I do not like any groups to rule in the name of religion, any religion.  But, in Egypt, that was the people's choice – like it or not.

But I am stull disturbed, and confused, but the results of Egyptian elections.  And here is why.

Nearly 70% of Egyptians voted willingly to be governed by parties with some version of Islamic ideology.

But, Islam is big on deeds – not words.

Quran 9:105 "And say: ‘Work (righteousness): Soon will God observe your work, and His Messenger, and the Believers: Soon will you be brought back to the Knower of what is hidden and what is open: then He will show you the truth of all that you did.’"

"وَقُلِ اعْمَلُواْ فَسَيَرَى اللّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَى عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ"

In Islam, you are supposed to do your work to the BEST of your ability.

"God loves, if one of you is doing something that they should perfect it".  A saying by Prophet Muhammad pbuh.

ان الله يحب اذا عمل احدكم عملا ان يتقنه""

In Islam, you should honest in your testimony, fair even to those that treat you with hatred.

Quran 5:8 "O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for God in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to God. Lo! God is Informed of what ye do."

"يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ لِلّهِ شُهَدَاء بِالْقِسْطِ وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِنَّ اللّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ"

In Islam, you are supposed to not take, give or mediate for a bribe.

Quran 2:188 "…  nor seek by [your wealth] to gain the hearing of the judges that ye may knowingly devour a portion of the property of others wrongfully."

"وَلاَ تَأْكُلُواْ أَمْوَالَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُواْ بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُواْ فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ"

Or as the Prophet, pbuh, said "God's curse is on the one that gives a bribe, and the one that takes a bribe"

"لعنة الله على الراشي والمرتشي"

In Islam, you are supposed to care of you fellow society members as you care for your own family.

"Believers are like one body; if part of it is sick, the rest of the body responds to it with fever, and sleeplessness" ".  A saying by Prophet Muhammad pbuh.

"المؤمنون كالجسد الواحد  اذا مرض عضو منه تداعى له سائر الجسد بالسهر و الحمى"

In Islam, you are supposed to be fair, equitable, charitable, tolerant, non-argumentative, kind and merciful.

Quran 3:134 "Those who spend (of that which God hath given them) in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; God loveth the good;"

"الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاء وَالضَّرَّاء وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ"

And Quran 42:40  " But requiting evil may, too, become an evil: hence, whoever pardons [his foe] and makes peace, his reward rests with God - for, verily, He does not love evildoers."

"وَجَزَاء سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ"

In Islam, you are supposed to put your faith to work.  And when you do that, the society you live in transforms into a society where life is worth living and you become the envy of the world.

Well, Egypt is far from that enviable society.  That make me, and many others, wonder: if 70% of Egyptians voted freely for someone that declares Islam as a reference ideology, how come that Egypt is in the deep social, moral and economic trouble it is deep in?

And more importantly, if Islam-based political powers, be it Salafi movements or the more moderate Muslim Brotherhood are really keen on repairing and healing the society, rather that just being power hungry, how come they have not initiated nation-wide Islam-based campaigns encouraging their voters - the huge 70% of the population - to correct the social and moral evils that plague Egypt rather than focus on getting votes of those that responded to political Islamic slogans with no desire or intention to live Islamic morals rather that just vote for the candidate with Islamic slogan?

People of God care more - or should care more - about goals of religion and not about political positions.  If they control the hearts and minds of that huge segment of the population, why have not we seen any real change into the why their followers lead their lives?  If they do have that power over people and their use it for good, Egypt will be rebuilt and become great, even if there is not a single Islamic party in the parliament.

 

Unfortunately, Egyptians may have voted for Islamic parties to rule Egypt, but not for Islam.

Khaled

Are religious fundamentalists really in the center of God's attention?

Religious fundamentalists and groups on the religious right in general think they are very special.  That arrogance, of course, occurs across the board, whether they are Muslim, Christian or Jewish. Many do not only think that they are the only ones that will ever get to paradise, but frequently they think they are in the center of God's attention, and that the whole universe has been planned by God in advance to suit their needs. They also think that those who oppose them become the center of God's wrath. (See previous posts here, here and here)

The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood would not generally count as a 'fundamentalist' religious group but they certainly are part of the conservative religious right in Islam. Like many other groups in Egypt, they have become more vocal and less 'politically correct' since the fall of the dictatorship of Mubarak in February of 2011.

Day after day, their sense of 'specialness' seems to be expressed more assertively.  As I mentioned in a previous post, one of their leading figures tried to discourage marriage of MB members outside the group so that MB sublime members and their values do not get marred by mingling with less pure elements.

Shari'a in Egypt's Constitution: Leave it there or Take it out?

One of the problematic issues about the Egyptian constitution, currently under renovation, is Article No. 2, stating that the "principles of Islamic Shari'a are the principal source of legislation" in Egypt.

The article was introduced in the constitution few decades ago, during the time Sadat was appeasing the rightwing religious group in an attempt to stifle liberal secular groups, particularly leftist 'Nasserites' who continued to believe in the economic and pan-Arab policies of Nasser, Egypt's previous president.  Sadat's efforts were part of his attempt to look western-leaning, as he distanced himself from the Soviet Union.

Egypt's population is about 90% Muslim- an overwhelming majority.  From a practical point of view, Article No.2 was very unlikely to add much to the Islamic tendencies in legislations if the Muslim population elected to implement Islam inspired laws.  But since elections and the Egyptian parliament were a joke during the time of Sadat and Mubarak, the article practically meant absolutely nothing.

My tears are flowing again

The last 3 weeks have been more emotional than anyone can imagine.  I do not think I had cried in my whole life than I did the last few weeks, with all that was going in Egypt.  And the tears continued out of joy off and on since then, especially thinking of the those who lost their blood so that the rest of their fellow Egyptians can feel the pride of the rebirth of the Egyptian nation.

I had a break from uncontrollable tearing for a couple of days until a friend, an Egyptian American Jesuit priest,  posted this video on his Facebook page.
I could not stop tearing.

It is just a video - no word, just cheers of joy by the people on the street, and cars honking as the Egyptian flag stretched between the Church of the Saints in Alexandria (and the seen of bloody suicide bombing on New Years Eve), and the Mosque across the street form it.

-------------


Please, pray with me that the spirit of that great nation and all the goodness in its peoples hearts will last forever.

Khaled

Now it is official.

Thanks to Slama, fellow Egyptian blogger.  She checked the Wikipedia entry on Egypt's ex, and it has been changed.

Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak (Arabic: محمد حسني سيد مبارك‎, Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [mæˈħæmːæd ˈħosni ˈsæjːed moˈbɑːɾɑk], Muḥammad Ḥusnī Sayyid Mubārak; born May 4, 1928^[1]) was the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011.
^.......On February 11, 2011, Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak had resigned as President of Egypt, transferring authority to the Higher Council of the Armed Forces, following 18 days of protests challenging his thirty-year rule.^[5][6]

 Nothing that anyone does not know by now.
I just wanted to freeze this moment, and highlight the Past tense of his status.

"فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آيَةً وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ عَنْ آيَاتِنَا لَغَافِلُونَ"

 [Nay,] but today We shall save only thy body, so that thou mayest be a [warning] sign unto those who will come after thee: for, behold, a good many people are heedless of Our messages!" (Quran 10:92)

This is what the Quran said about the Pharaoh.

How befitting!

Khaled 

He is gone

It seems the momentum is building to cross the finish line

Today may be THE DAY for EGYPT

Twenty minutes ago the supreme council of the armed forces declared:
"Declaration Number 1: The council is in permanent session to see what need to be done to protect the country AND the gains and the ambitions of Egypt's people."
I cannot wait for Declaration #2.

Khaled

Change For Egypt: A re-post from Salma's Blog

This a great post by Sala, the young Egyptian blogger I mentioned several times before.  I like the way she writes. And the way she expresses her thoughts are very moving.  She, gracefully, gave me permission to re-post her latest blog entry.

-------- (Salma's post followes) --------

Change for Egypt..

I do not even know how to start this post..i am over-whelmed by all the love i am seeing from Egyptians towards their country...

I was recently thinking of what may happen if Mubarak decided to leave this minute..will people just go home and wait for elections...and the next morning will be just another day that the sun rises upon where education is poor, pollution fills the land and air, an economy that has just fell apart..and the same people who have corruption for a culture because of the many years that they have been soaked in lies...
Just as this thought was lingering in my mind, i was added to a group on Facebook with the name "Misr 2020" ...
Young people who decided to make real change in this country post-protests...making plans to change people because the protests were only the wind that blew away the rotten system, but what about the rotted minds of children who got little or no education, rotted consciences of people who are used to bribes and "wasayet" in any of their daily transactions because thats the way they got it the past 30 years (which is to some people, their whole lives)...Ideas on this group are starting to pour in, things like introducing JCIMUN (Junior Cairo International Model United Nations) or any of the other extra-curricular activities which builds awareness and personality..or sweeping the streets of Cairo and picking up the garbage from them...or making awareness campings to fight the corruption within every structure in the society, whether the political, educational, social, or economic structure...As i was browsing this group in astonishment, i was invited to an event, that calls for Egyptians to invest in the stock market to save our economy..then groups and invitations started pouring in on me...i really was awe-inspired..

World, Egyptians are not going to quit until they rise with their country to the status it deserves..
As everyone was giving up on the people of this country, we have proven that we deserve so much better, that we refuse to be led as cattle, and that we could revive Egypt's greatness..
Once again, may God bless our great country and its great people...

--------- ( End of Salma's post)--------

Keep an eye on her blog.  She is worth following.  I only hope she writes more often.

Khaled

The first song written for the Revolution in Egypt

Salma, a young Egyptian blogger and frequent commenter on this forum has provided me with a link to what possibly could be the first song written specifically for the January 25 revolution.

It has a great beat, beautiful lyrics, and the video is pretty moving.  It is sung by Mouhammad Mounir, a well know and respected Egyptian singer.

Thanks so much Salma for the link.  I am sure more and more songs with be coming out, and I pray that we will remember all of them joyously in the future when we reminisce over and relish every moment we are living these days, and its success that we should all be praying for all the time.



Khaled

Corrupt Clergy serving their 'human' Masters: A safer bet as God forgives, Mubarak does not.

Al-Tayyeb: Al-Azhar Senior sheikh

The most senior Al-Azhar clergy, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb criticizes Iran's clergy for making [political] statements, using their 'religious authority'; statements which, in his opinions, contradicts the explicit statements of Quran and Prophetic teachings as well as the 'consensus' of the Muslim nation.
That usually means that Iranians made statements along the lines: "Demonstrators good - Mubarak bad"!
Of course, when Al-Tayyeb makes statements along the line of "Mubarak good - demonstrators bad", that is a totally different thing.
The pot calling the kettle ........

Moreover, if one knows 'the explicit statements of the Quran' they would knows that Al-Tayyeb either lies with out shame, or he is not fully aware of the content of the Quran.

And, one more thing: What consensus??? If Iran Clergy had a different opinion (be it right or wrong), that means there is no 'Islamic' consensus on the issue. If their opinion does not count, they are not an authority.  So, I am not sure what his point is.

I guess, Al-Tayyeb expertise is more in 'how to serve one's masters till the last breath, and not in Quranic studies or logic.

Egypt's Grand Mufti: Ali Jum'a

And, not to be outdone, Egypt's Mufti, Ali Jum'a issues an opinion that democracy and protests are OK 'as long as they do not interrupt peoples lives, and not add to unemployment!'.  But when it comes to his master's ruling Egypt for 30 years while the country went downhill, with rampant poverty, vanishing infrastructure, and unemployment (direct and indirect) estimated to be aver 40%; the 'grand' Mufti had no opinion on that.

There are many Egyptian sayings to describe people like those clergy, some are beneath my standards, even when I am as angry as I am, but a milder one would be: "Feed the mouth, and their eyes would not dare look critically at you أطعم الفم , تستحي العين ".  I guess Mubarak feeds them well.

Saudi Mufti

Saudi Arabia Mufti, of course, had to have some input as well, but I generally would not care to comments on Saudi Arabia religious edicts, unless they are comical, which happens a lot.  This one unfortunately, is plain stupid, and not funny.  So, just take my words for it: it is as stupid as the opinions of his Egyptian counter parts.  Additionally, it makes sure that the word 'Fitna' (popular word for the conservative Muslim demagogues) is thrown in, associated with the word 'demonstrations', which he describes as  Haram, i.e., religiously forbidden by divine commandments!!!! (See links below in Arabic).

Some men of God these ones are!

Khaled

Links:

• ملفات الاهرام - الازهر يدين السياسات الإيرانية والتصريحات الاوروبية والأمريكية التى تتدخل فى الشأن المصرى
•  الأخبار - عربي - الأزهر ينتقد فتاوى تدعم الاحتجاجات 
• الأخبار - تقارير وحوارات - انتقاد لموقف مفتي السعودية من مصر

Past relevant blog posts:

• Khaled Hamid Forum: Egyptian Christians: some voice of the People on the BBC
• Khaled Hamid Forum: Organised Religion: Never fails to disappoint (at least in Egypt)

• Coptic Pope is still embracing Mubark warmly. Thank God many Copts don't.

Great idea for Egypt: sub-lease Mubarak to the idiots that admire him.

Mubarak as most Egyptians see him

I am baffled: Democracy is supposed to bring good elements (with, hopefully average IQ at least) to government.  But, if that is the case how would idiots like Biden, Blair and Berlusconi made it?

According to them Mubarak is (1) not a dictator, and not only (2) a courageous man, but apparently (3) a very wise one too.

Those darn Egyptian ingrates!  They do not appreciate the jewel they have.  Mubarak deserves a different kind of people.  He sacrifices 30 years of his life ruling them, yet they do not appreciate it.

Mubarak in his wise man look

Oh, Wait a second: I just had a brilliant idea: how about sending him for an additional 6 year term of non-dictatorial, courageous and wise leadership in each of the lovely countries of US, UK and whatever the hell Berlusconi leads.

(Note: I used to think Berlusconi was leading Italy, but I cannot imagine Italians are that dumb to elect him in the first place, and them re-elect him.  So, I must be wrong about that!).

So, remember that you heard about it first on my blog: Egypt should franchised it wise guy to any one that admires him.  They will do it for free.  Any takers?
Khaled

Links:

• Joe Biden says Egypt's Mubarak no dictator, he shouldn't step down... - CSMonitor.com
• Tony Blair: Mubarak is 'immensely courageous and a force for good' | World news | guardian.co.uk
• Berlusconi: Mubarak is a wise man - Europe - Al Jazeera English

It is time for a personal note

Since I have started blogging, I do not recall that I have talked about anything very personal. But with all the amazing events unfolding in Egypt at the hands of the millions of the brave and beautiful Egyptian men and women of all ages, religions, social classes and education levels, it has been difficult to hold back from expressing some personal emotions that have been recurring on my mind for the last 3 days.

I have lived most of my life in Egypt in my parents house about half a mile from Tahrir (Liberation) square. It was the center of my activities, going and coming from middle and high schools.  It was where I met my closest friends every weekend for a decade to sit at one of the cafes there to talk about every thing: politics, physics, medicine, religion, the future of our nation and everything else in life.

It was the place I passed by  as I walked or drove to medical school and to our social and sporting club.  It was the place where we met on days when friends got together to go on a picnic or to the movies.  

I was even born in a hospital about a mile from the Tahrir square on the western side of the Nile, across from the Tahrir Square.  And, very likely, my parents drove through Tahrir square with me when I was one day old to go back home.

Today, a revolution reshaping the face and future of Egypt is happening very close to where I spent most of my days and nights in Egypt, and all I can do is watch it on TV or online.  The fact that I am not there with them is shaking me so hard.

I am fantasizing about being there now.  I have never regretted leaving Egypt and I have built a good life in my new adopted country.  But last week's events will keep me asking myself: Should I have stayed there to be part of those glorious events?

I know one thing: If I were in Cairo last week, I would have spent every moment of my day and night at Tahrir square.  Last night, while journalists were interviewing some of the brave Egyptians holding there positions in Tahrir Square in the face of the security forces thugs: the sound of repeated gunfire filled the background.  Every shot I heard shook me as if I were there, and I wished in my heart to have been there taking the chance with them on my birth land and its future.

None of those who were killed or injured was more deserving of death or injury than I do. None of their families deserved to suffer the pain, anxiety and the sense of loss than my family does.

I know for sure that my father and my mother would have not for a second doubted that I should be there. For them, that would have been the place to be, no matter how big the risk was.

I know also one more thing for sure.  My father passed away 5 years ago at the age of 80 years.  If he were alive today, he would have been there with the revolutionaries, possibly to be the oldest amongst them. It was the dream of his life to see Egypt become what it should be - a dream that the revolution is bringing closer everyday.

He would  have loved to take a bullet instead of one of the young heroes.  He would have loved to die there. He would have died on the happiest day of his life.

Khaled 

Egyptian Christians: some voice of the People on the BBC

وفقا لرفيق وهو أحد الأقباط في مصر بأن أسطورة اعتبار الرئيس حسني مبارك أفضل مدافع عن المسيحيين في مواجهة المتشددين الإسلاميين تحطمت مع وقوع تفجير كنيسة القديسين في الاسكندرية عشية العام الجديد.

وواصل رفيق وأقباط اخرون التظاهر إلى جانب مليون مصري على الأقل خرجوا يوم الثلاثاء مؤكدين أن رغبتهم في إنهاء حكم مبارك المستمر منذ 30 عاما أكثر الحاحا من أي مخاوف بوقوع تغيير في السلطة يصب لصالح الجماعات الإسلامية. 

".. According to Rafiq, an Egyptian Copt, the myth that President Hosni Mubarak is the best defender of [Egyptian] Christians in the face of Islamic extremists is a myth that has fallen with the bombing of the 'Church of Saints' in Alexandria on new year's eve.
Rafiq and other Copts continue to demonstrate together with at least another million Egyptians that took to the streets on Tuesday affirming that their desire to terminate the 30 year long Mubarak rule, superseded any fears of a change in authority that benefits Islamic groups."

ويقول محللون إن مبارك الذي خاضت حكومته مواجهات شرسة أمام المتطرفين الإسلاميين في التسعينات يقدم نفسه للغرب بوصفه الشخص الأنسب والأكثر أمانا في مواجهة التطرف كما أنه يظهر في صورة المدافع عن الأقباط الذي يقدر عددهم بنحو 10 بالمائة من تعداد سكان البلاد البالغ 80 مليون نسمة.

وعلى الرغم من ذلك انضم المسيحيون الى المتظاهرين الذين تدفقوا إلى شوارع مصر رغم تعليقات من البابا شنودة بابا الاسكندرية وبطريرك الكنيسة المرقسية أشاد فيها بمبارك مع بدء الاحتجاجات.

   "... Christians have joined the protesters pouring into the streets of Egypts despite the statements of Coptic Pope Shnouda's that supported Mubrak as the demonstration broke out." (see my previous post here)

ويقول مينا شحاته وهو قبطي من نجع حمادي التي شهدت مقتل ستة مسيحيين مطلع عام 2010 في اطلاق نار "جئنا الى هنا لنظهر ان كل مصري يجب أن يكون هنا ويريد أن يكون هنا وأنه لا فرق بين المسيحيين والمسلمين ."

  "... Mina Shehata, a Copt form Nag'a Hammadi [in Upper Egypt], where 6 Christians were shot and killed in early 2010, said: We came here to show people that Every Egyptian should be here, and should want to be here.  No difference between Christians and Muslims"

وبين المحتجين في ميدان التحرير تكررت مشاهد صور الهلال يعانق الصليب التي ظهرت بعد تفجير كنيسة الاسكندرية الذي قتل فيه 23 شخصا.

"... Amongst the protesters in Tahreer Square, repeated there were images of the Cross joining the Cross, imahges that became more noticeable after the bombing of the Alexandria Church [on new years eve] where 23 individuals were killed"

وقالت متظاهرة أخرى قبطية "نحن لا نريد مبارك والناس هنا لا يريدونه، المسلمون والمسيحيون لا يريدونه.

"... Another Coptic woman demonstrator said: We do not want Mubarak.  People here do not want him.  Muslims and Christians do not want him."


Read the full report of BBC-Arabic here.

As history keep teaching us: organized religious institutions keep failing their people as the institutions survival become eventually the institutions' raisons d'être. Thank God that people also keep figuring that out.

May God Bless and Protect all the freedom seekers in Egypt.

Khaled 


Other links:

• ‭BBC Arabic‬ - ‮الشرق الأوسط‬ - ‮الأقباط بين الرغبة في التغيير ومخاوف صعود الإسلاميين 
• ‬ تصاعد (احتجاجات الغضب) لموقف الأنبا شنودة من مظاهرات الغضب - بوابة الشروق

Coptic Pope is still embracing Mubark warmly. Thank God many Copts don't.

Even at a time when the will of the people of Egypt (Muslims and Christians, religious and secular, men and women) is heard loud and clear allover the world, The Coptic Orthodox Pope Shnouda III is sending greeting and his 'people's' support to the criminal dictator.
The story on the street, on the internet and on TV is telling us that Egyptians Christians are as determined as Egyptian Muslims not to let go until the dictator leave.  Thank God for real Egyptians: all of them.

Here is some of the text of the report:

أعلن بابا الإسكندرية وبطريرك الكرازة المرقسية شنودة الثالث أمس الأحد تأييده للرئيس المصري حسني مبارك، الذي يواجه انتفاضة شعبية تتصاعد وتيرتها يوما بعد يوم.

وقال شنودة الثالث في تصريح للتلفزيون المصري الرسمي "اتصلنا بالرئيس وقلنا له كلنا معك والشعب معك. فليحفظه الله لمصر".

 And in English:

"The Pope of Alexandria Shnouda III announces yesterday [Sunday] his support for the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who faces a popular uprising that is escalating on daily basis.

Shnouda III announce in a talk for the government-controlled Egyptian TV that: ... We contacted the President and told him that  we all are with you, the people are with you.  May God keep him for Egypt"

I have one word for the Coptic Pope that places large photo of Mubarak next to his Crucifix:

Shame on you.

Out of respect for my fellow Christian Egyptians who are on the streets risking their lives to save Egypt from the hands of a dictator that their Pope endorses, I would have no further comments, for now.

Khaled

Links:

• الأخبار - عربي - البابا شنودة يعلن تأييده لمبارك

Previous Posts

• Khaled Hamid Forum: Organised Religion: Never fails to disappoint (at least in Egypt)

Does hating Israel make one Anti-Semitic?

[More linked articles added on February 2, 2011]

From Haartz Newspaper (read the full article here):

Israel urges world to curb criticism of Egypt's Mubarak

Jerusalem seeks to convince its allies that it is in the West's interest to maintain the stability of the Egyptian regime.

By Barak Ravid

Israel called on the United States and a number of European countries over the weekend to curb their criticism of President Hosni Mubarak to preserve stability in the region.

Jerusalem seeks to convince its allies that it is in the West's interest to maintain the stability of the Egyptian regime. The diplomatic measures came after statements in Western capitals implying that the United States and European Union supported Mubarak's ouster.

So, if an Egyptian knows this, and hates Israel, does that make them anti-Semites?

Let me word that differently.

If I were a country that claimed to represent Jews, and I tried to stop others from not-supporting the government that tortured you, killed you children, stole your money and incited sectarian violence within your community, then you hated me: does that make you anti-Semite?

And if protesters who think that Mubarak is an Israeli agent (as they suggest in the photo) are correct, would Mubarak hater be anti-Semitic too?

Can't wait to hear how the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) answers that question, although I have a pretty good idea what their answer would be.

Khaled

Also see:

• Israel and its American friends want to stop the Egyptian ‘earthquake’
• Israeli Deputy Prime Minister: Arab Democracy Threatens Israel 
• Pro-Israel groups cool to Egyptian protests
• Israel shocked by Obama's betrayal of Mubarak | Reuters

More recently added articles more Israel Lobby efforts to discredit pro-democracy efforts in Egypt:

• Hoenlein: ElBaradei a ‘stooge’ for Iran | JTA - Jewish & Israel News