Only In Egypt

Only In Egypt...

- people get disappointed when they call for a demonstration and only 100.000 turn up!

- people really hate you when you tell them to do something for "the stability of the country"!

- the Nile Hilton rooms overlooking Tahrir square are now more expensive than rooms overlooking the river Nile!

- the formally banned politicians are forming political parties and the previous minister of justice in under arrest!

- people succeeded in toppling their government for corruption but the Italian president is the one who shows up in court to defend himself!

- people clean up after they finish demonstrating!

- and only in Egypt, people know that at last the last Pharaoh has been thrown out for good!

The Nation Decides

Today, Egyptians are heading to the ballot box to vote on a referendum about the latest changes made to the constitution. An estimated 40 million people are heading to vote compared to 4 or 5 millions in previous referendums when Mubarak was in power. For the first time in almost 60 years, people don't know the outcome of their vote before hand. The corruption was so bad that everyone knew what will happen in advance. Recently and during the revolution, in one police station people found full ballot boxes from previous elections!

There was a lot of debate on whether to vote "Yes" or "No" to the constitutional changes, but regardless of the outcome, I am so happy to see people waiting to vote and for the first time in a life time, they feel that their vote matter. For the first time they feel they are an important part in shaping the future of the country. The nation is deciding what to do and showing to the world that they ARE ready for democracy. Ques of men and women, young and old, Christians and Muslims, are with one aim....to take part in a step to protect the revolution.

Long Live Egypt.

Inside the Egyptian revolution

This is Wael Ghonim, the google executive in the Middle East who created a Facebook page memorializing a victim of the regime's violence. He was detained by the police for 12 days at the start of the revolution and here in this video he shares his views about how Egypt is changing.

Wael Ghonim: Inside the Egyptian revolution Video on TED.com

A step closer to cleansing the system in Egypt

Late last night, there were some reports coming out from Alexandria, Egypt about large trucks moving confidential official papers from security HQ. Protesters quickly surrounded the building and warned the army. During this time, there was a battle between officers inside the HQ building and protesters outside, some protesters were shot using live ammunition. After a long battle, the army secured the building. This morning, the picture started to repeat itself across the country with flames spotted in various buildings across the country. Protesters in cities like Cairo, Mansora, Sohag, Tanat, Assuit and others started to surround the buildings and throughout the day today, they were able to take control - with the help of the army - to secure the buildings. Some of what they found inside were piles of shredded documents (as you can see in the photo), secret passages and cells for torture under ground and burned documents.

It seems that by the appointment of a new prime minster sent shivers down the spin of a system that was known for its corruption, torture and abuse to human rights for years.
This is a huge step in this revolution. Removing the head of state was one thing, but getting into an organisation that most analysts in Egypt describe as a country within the country is another.
This is just the tip of the iceberg and there are endless amount of documents coming out with shilling details that I am sure will keep the new appointed minster of interior and the whole new government busy for some time to persecute all those responsible.

Long Live Freedom.

The shredded documents inside one of the offices of the security HQ in Cairo

People power

Few days ago, I wrote about the growing public anger in Egypt against Mr Ahmad Shafeek, who was appointed as prime minster by Mubabark 4 days after the start of the revolution. In an another victory step for the revolution and after so much public pressure and demonstrations, Mr Shafeek handed in his resignation early yesterday. Mr Essam Sharaf was appointed as the new prime minster. He is a very respected public figure and joined a march with all his colleges from Cairo university staff in support to the revolution few weeks ago. Mr Sharaf address the public in Tahrir square today and told them: "I am here because I get my legitimacy from you". People are very optimistic with this change and protesters have promised to stop their protest for the next 2 weeks to give the new government a chance to prove that they will listen to people's demands.

Egypt is changing and fast. People tasted freedom and they want those in charge to understand that they are serving the public and it is not the other way round.

All the best to the new prime minster and we wait to see the new cabinet. Long Live Freedom.

Egypt revolution one month on...celebrate, protest and keep the pressure on

Today, a month has passed since the start of the Egyptian revolution. In the last 4weeks, the eyes of the whole world was focused on Egypt and especially on Tahrir sq. After 18 days of protesting, Mubarak finally stepped down and people started to celebrate. However, the prim minster -Mr Ahmad Shafeek- who was appointed by Mubarak in an attempt to calm public anger 4 days after the start of the revolution, is still in charge and is still running things in the country. The army holds a very difficult position in Egypt at the moment. Today, people went out to Tahrir sq, again in their millions protesting and chanting against Shafeek and his government. 99% of the minsters in this transitional government are from the old regime, they worked for or were advisers to Mubrak and his men. People's anger is rising and as I write this tonight, there are a large group of protesters camping now opposite Parliament in Cairo declaring that they will not leave until Shafeek and the whole system leave.

This is not a new demand for the protesters, from day one, the chant was "down with the system" and "we want the system to fall down". Mubarak was a symbol of the system but not all the system. 'Mubarak to step down' was just the first item on a list of demands including releasing political prisoners, the immediate stop of emergency law, the trials of those who ordered the killing of protesters in the revolution and changes to the constitution among other things. The old regime is still talking about "a movement" or "dispute" or "demand for change" and they can't see it as a REVOLUTION. People can not and will not accept Shafeek and his men to run the government even temporarily, as they were picked by a fallen president and they were in charge when men and women were killed in the streets after asking for freedom.

The demands were and are clear, We want the system to fall, nothing more nothing less. The system means, the current government, the governors all over the country, head of the police and the secret police, media directors who served the system and all their men who are scattered all over the country.

It took 18 days for Mubarak to understand the message and I can understand that after 30 years in power, he became a little hard of hearing but he heard at the end non the less. I am sure that the current government under Shafeek's leadership may find it hard to hear people's voices, but they WILL hear it sooner or later.

So..Celebrate, Protest and Keep the pressure on.

Long Live Egypt.

This is Egypt no matter what the say

This clip shows the Egyptian flag between a church and a mosque in Alexandria. The significance of this is that this is the church that was bombed on New Years Eve just few weeks ago with 24 people dead. Reports now that the forces behind this attack is the previous minster of interior, Mr Habib El Adlee, who is now under police custody.

It has only been just under 4 weeks since this whole revolution started and we are trusting in God and standing firm as Egyptians regardless of religion, class or political views.
Long Live Egypt.

Another trick to ruin the revolution

News just in with the death of a Coptic priest in the city of Assuit-Upper Egypt. He was found dead in his flat. As you can see in this clip, Christians were out in the street chanting "we will defend the cross". This is the oldest trick in the book, to create friction between Christians and Muslims to keep them busy. Of course some might say it could be Islamic movement behind this event, however, the Muslim brotherhood is working really hard at the moment to change people image about them to gain more support in the next election and I do not think killing a priest will do them any favours. During the last 4 weeks, not one church was attacked and people finally started to see that the old regime wanted to rule over a divided country. It became clear that the previous minster of interior - Habib El Adelee - was behind the recent bombing in a church in Alexandria on New Years Eve and he is currently waiting trial. Few days later there was another killing against Christians by one of police officer who killed 6 Christians on a train. There are now so many stories to show that the government was supporting, protecting and inciting religious division to keep people away from other important issues like asking about corruption or demanding more rights. However, just looking at general comments tonight on Facebook, I can see that the majority of people can see through these tactics. I can only pray that God protect Egypt and its people from all the attacks.

Seven steps to ruin a perfect revolution

In the last few days, there have been so many rumors and talk about the Egyptian revolution and the changes happening in Egypt at the moment. So many pages on face book asking for forgiveness from Mubarak for what people did to him or asking to hang him. Pages to say "sorry" and some declare: "we are not sorry, Mr president. Many talks about Islamic threats and foreign agendas and meals from KFC. Experts call these "the counter revolution" . This usually happen immediately after any uprising, at some point you find some people suggesting new things, spreading rumors and trying to kill the spirit of the revolution so basically the old regime starts serving you the same drink but in a different bottle.


Here is an article I read today about 7 ways to kill a revolution, I loved it and wanted to share it.


Seven simple steps to ruin a perfect revolution
STEP ONE: Let bygones be bygones!
Forgive and forget! Turn the other cheek! Do not pursue anyone! No prosecution! No Trials! Be a bigger person and forget about the mean corrupt guys!
Examples:
People calling for the forgiveness of Mubarak!
People calling for the forgiveness of the members of his corrupt regime!
People accusing those who are insisting on a transparent live trial of ruthlessness and cold-heartedness!
Purpose:
Divide and conquer!
Create a split between people!
Create a counter team of people who are actually sympathizing with the toppled regime.

STEP TWO: Let there be chaos!
More protests! More strikes! More rumors! More confusion!
Example: Strikes in banks, oil companies, factories, and universities!
Purpose:
Make the country come to a standstill
Make people wish for the stability of the old regime!

STEP THREE: Turn the ousted president into a compassion-worthy figure!
Poor old defeated President Mubarak! Humiliated in his old age!
Examples:
Mubarak is in a coma!
Mubarak's sons are fighting!
Mubarak is sick!
Mubarak insists on dying on Egyptian soil!
Mubarak has served the country for 30 years!
Purpose:
Guilt-trip: Making people feel like ungrateful brats!
Emotional blackmail: Coercing people into sympathizing with a dictator.
Replacing the image of the dictator by the image of a father who was abandoned by his kids in his old age!

STEP FOUR: Defame those protesters and revolutionary figures!
Plant the seed of doubt and reap the fruits of confusion!
Examples:
Wael Ghonim is part of a masonic conspiracy theory!
El Baradie is behind the ruin in Iraq!
God-knows-who is an addict, etc!
Purpose: Make people lose faith! Kill their hope in a better future! Destroy their glory and victory!

STEP FIVE: Clear the corrupt slate on TV
Shows and interviews with the very same people accused of corruption and of abusing their powers and authority. Instead of apologizing they present bedtime stories of how they were forced to do what they did or how they never did what they are accused of doing!
Example: Interviews with officers from the Ministry of Interior!
Purpose:
Opening people up to the idea that those icons of corruption could be innocent!
Getting people to calm down and accept step one; let bygones be bygones!

STEP SIX: Creating conflict and tension between the army and the protesters
There is already lack of trust between the people and anyone representing the government! By capitalizing on that tension and adding more fuel to its fire, the army is bound to start attacking the people!
Examples: Many bloggers are now highlighting the torture incidents in military camps and how the army was neutral in the face of the regime during the revolution and over the past 30 years!
Purpose: If the army turns against the protesters; the revolution is over! Change is history before it even starts!

STEP SEVEN: The old regime is reintroduced in its new attire!
A new name, a new face, and a new voice … the same corruption … the same nepotism .. the same injustice … the same abuses!

Happy retirement to every dictator

I have been watching the events in Libya very closely and can't help but feeling outraged at the brutality of the regime against its own people. It seems that all the Arab leaders had -at some point- a crash course on how to cope with any revolution. I think it was all in all a one day training course and it must have covered the same old points:

1- how to use scare tactics (weapons, machine guns, thugs, brutality, etc)
2- keep everyone busy hating one another (tribes against each other, Muslim against Christians etc
3- burn all government offices and police stations to remove all evidence when the going gets tough
4-use threats like: if i go; it will be chaos, if i leave; the country will be occupied by foreign forces, etc
5- accuse everyone who criticise the system of being an agent and a spy working for Israel or the USA (this one always work against anyone)
6- maintain the media under your grip, broadcasting calming music, Tom and Jerry, patriotic songs in the middle of any million man marches that come your way

Other general points include, withdrawing your police force and arming thugs to frighten people and keep saying that you -as a leader- will NEVER leave until you finish your time in office (which is usually lasts for 50 years).

If all this fail, pack your bags, move your billions abroad and book one way flight to Saudi Arabia, the whole revolution thing usually takes about 3 weeks max!!

Ahh, one last tip, after you leave office do not forget to spread rumors that you have suffered a coma and that you are on your death bed.

Happy retirement to every dictator.

Getting to know you...

It seems that the next Arab league meeting will be a chance for the leaders meet new faces and for them to get to know each other. The old bunch got to know each other for the past 30+ years and now the time has come for a new stage and new direction for the whole reagion.

There might be an event on Face Book to invite all the new leaders to attend :)

We asked for change in Egypt for so long...now we have a chance...are we big enough to take it and do something?

For years we wanted change, for a long time we talked and complained about the state of our country, about the poor and the unemployed, about the emergency law and the corruption in EVERY office in the land. Now we have a chance for our voice to be heard, to make a difference, is it going to be easy? Of-course not. Some say who is good enough for this position? I am sure among 82 million; there will be one person we can trust. Surely, we cannot just simply stand with a corrupt system just because there is no alternative!

So what can we do now?

1- Support the moderate forces in our country

2- Go and exercise our rights in electing members of parliament

3- Teach each other and educate one another on the best way forward

This is OUR land, our country and we owe it to ourselves and to our kids. To simply do nothing is just not an option. For so long they sold us the lie that we cannot cope with change, that it is better to stay as we are because we are not sure about what the future might bring. My fellow Egyptians, if you stand and do nothing then you cannot come and complain that no one is listening to you or giving you your rights ever again. I would rather die free than live as a slave.

God Bless Egypt

To all Arab leaders

Three things Arab leaders are worried about at the moment:

1- Their people

2- Facebook

3- Fridays

This is Egypt

Some said that Egyptians are not ready for democracy, that they need an iron fist to control them, that they are not ready for freedom and that they don't know what is good for them. However, for a nation that was never allowed to protest or ask for its rights or cry out in the face of injustice, they did pretty well so far....the only violence came from the police while the protesters shouting "Selmeya" which means "peaceful", the protesters turns their slogans into songs played out on guitars (see previous posts) and they formed search teams to check that those coming into the square where not armed or trying to cause trouble. However the most striking images that came out in the last few days were the images of the cleaning process taking place not only in Tahrir square itself but all over the country. One of the CNN reporters said: "for the first time we see people cleaning the streets after they finish their protests". For me, this is great nation that is proving that it is ready for real and true democracy, they deserve it and I have every confidence that they will work hard to get it. The next stage will be hard and no one is under any illusion that it will be easy, but if people work together then impossible is nothing. I am proud to be an Egyptian. Long Live Egypt.

This is how the crowd responded to Mubarak last speech tonight 10 Feb 2011!

In the middle of the Egyptians revolution, the media played a very important role. However, while the cut of the Internet and the phone lines by the government, the Egyptian TV was -for many Egyptians- the only source of information. The top picture was the reality on Tahreer Sq on Friday 28/1 while the bottom picture was what the state media broad casted. No wonder that people are now asking for the media minister to resign from his job for misleading people.

Let us never forget

These are some of the young men and women who died in the last few days during clashes with the police. Until now, more than 300 killed, 2000 injured and thousands missing. All they are asking for is freedom, fair elections, end to government corruptions and a better future. We will never forget you guys, we will carry on till the end...Long Live Egypt.

The last few days were filled with tear gas, burning, attacks with camels on peaceful protesters, some 500 killed and over 2000 injured. However, since the start of this revolution, the Egyptians always found hummer in the way they put their demands and in their slogans. Here are some of the comedy side to the protesters making their demands very clear.

A sign in the shape of school report, student name: Mubarak, scoring zero in every subject (health, education, security, etc) with a stamp that says "failed".
In the last few days, the state TV mentioned that some of the anti Mubarak protesters were paid to be in the square and given a meal from KFC! This sign reads: "this person is wanted as he belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood and he gave meals in Tahreer square. Wanted cooked or alive".
A sing with an equation: nation+freedom -"someone"= stability.


مكاسب الثورة المصرية حتى الآن :
١. اقالة الحكومة الأردنية
٢. رفع قانون الطوارئ في الجزائر
٣. اعلان الرئيس اليميني عدم ترشيح نفسه للرئاسة
٤. تعديل الدستور الصيني
...٥. قمع الشعب السوري قبل ما يفكر يثور
٦. بقاء الرئيس المصري ولا كأن حاجة حصلت

These are the results of the Egyptians revolution so far:
1- The removal of the government in Jorden
2- The stop of the state of emergency in Algeria
3- Declaration from the president of Yemen that he will not stand for elections again
4- Change in some part of the constitution in China
5- Oppression of the people of Syria before they start to think of a revolution
6- The Egyptian president still here as if nothing has happened.

An Egyptian Revolution

Since the 25th of January, I have been so wrapped up with the events in Egypt, hardly sleeping and hung up on all sorts of media coverage. Between the Internet in the shape of twitter, Face book and YouTube and the different TV channels from El Jazeera to NBC and the BBC even the Egyptian TV, which I have to say provided the comedy factor during this difficult time by how it reported what was happening. However, blogging was taking a back seat as I felt somehow it was not fast enough in a - to quote the white house - very fluid situation! Today, I was thinking about the significant of the last few days in history and with the flood of information, I felt that in the middle of all these names, photos, statuses, tweets and clips; things will get lost and forgotten and we need to start to think about preserving the place of those brave enough to risk everything for freedom. So here is my very humble attempt with a selection of photos, clips and comments that were exchanged in the last few days. Some in Arabic and some in English, some written in a poetic style and some just came as jokes and black hummer, some brought me to tears and others made me fuming with rage, some from close friends and some from complete strangers. The one thing that join all these together is one cause, "Give us back our country"!

Why did it all start?
In an interview with Adel Emam (Egyptian actor), he was asking the question: "what did Mubarak do to deserve insults from people?" This question is repeated throughout the clip. Throughout the clip, there are images of why does he deserve this. Few headlines in Arabic
about electricity cuts and brutality against people. [be aware there are brutal images in this clip].




the first few days of the revolution



The million man march

the day of rage, Friday 28/1/11
Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one." Benjamin Franklin

Unforgettable guy


An inventive way to avoid being hit on the head with stones :)
The sign read: "leave...my hand is hurting"
هاحميكي يا اما ويا ابويا هاحميك يا شجر التوت
هاحميكي بدمي وهاحمي الشوارع والبيوت

هاحميك يا نيل ويا بحر هاحميكي يا قاهرة يا اسكندرية يا بور سعيد

يا سويس يا كل شبر فية تراب اسمر

هاحميكي يا سمرة وهاموت وانا واقف بطل وحررتك من الطغيان

(a poem about protecting every part of the land)

Christians and Muslims stand together for freedom

And Christians men form a ring around Muslims to protect them during their prayers at demonstrations in Cairo.


And let us not forget all the women of Egypt, http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/album.php?aid=47355&id=100001256040548&fbid=162572827127918


"But it turned out that the camel that was released on the protesters was originally from Israel, carries a foreign passport, trained in the Middle East and was originally a shark. It was also said that the camel was mentally ill and had some kind of “electric shock” that affected its behaviour".



Some of the martyrs who died in the clashes with the police and the government's thugs
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/album.php?aid=332932&id=593045109&fbid=10150132914260110

أخبريني يا دولة المُسَكِّنات...
هل يُهمِّك من مات؟
هل تُهِمّك الدماء؟
هل تهتزين عندما تسقط البنايات؟
هل يهمك احتراق القطارات
وغرق العبارات
وزوارق الهجرة
وحوادث السيارات
أم يهمك فقط أن ننسى
ونحرق الحشيش
وقُرص الفياجرا
ونشاهد المباريات؟
*********************
أخبريني يا دولة المُسَكِّنات...
هل تهمك النساء؟
هل ترتجفين
عندما تُنتَهكُ الفتيات؟
هل تُهِمُّك المطلقات
اللاهثات في أروقة المحاكم
ومصلحة المعاشات
أم يُهمك فقط أن ننسى
ونملأ بطوننا
وأنت تملأين عنّا
صناديق الانتخابات؟
*********************
أخبريني يا دولة المُسَكِّنات...
هل يُهِمُّك الأطفال؟
حين ماتت الفتاة ظلماً
في عيادة الختان
وحين مات الولد ضرباً
هل عرفت الأحزان
هل يُهمك طفل الشوارع
وعقل في المدرسة فارغ
إلا من التفاهات؟
أم يُهمُّك فقط أن ننسى
ونملأ عقولنا بالفتاوى
ونحبا في الدار الأخرى
وأنت في المنتجعات
*********************
أخبريني يا دولة المُسَكِّنات...
هل تهمك الأبدان؟
حين عُلِّق المصري
في لبنان
هل شعرت بالغضب
وحين بيعت الفتاة حلالاً
لشيوخ العرب
وحين تباع أجزاء البشر
كقطع الغيار في المحلات
أم يُهمك فقط أن ننسى
ونحلم بشقة أوسع
وسيارة أكبر
وتكييف
وتزييف
ومزيد من الفضائيات
*********************
أخبريني يا دولة المُسَكِّنات...
هل يهمك التاريخ ؟
هل تهمك الذكريات؟
هل أصابتك القشعريرة
عند بيع الآثار
وسرقة الأفلام
واشتعال الوثائق
وسرقة اللوحات
أم يُهمك فقط أن ننسى
ونحلم بنمو الوديعة
ومزيد من الاستثمارات
ودرجات الأبناء
في غباء الامتحانات
أخبريني يا دولة المُسَكِّنات...
هل يُهِمّك حقاً من مات؟
هل تهمك الدماء؟
هل تهمك النساء؟
هل تهمك الأبدان؟
هل تهمك الأطفال؟
هل يهمك التاريخ؟
هل تهمك الأوطان؟
By Awsam Wasfi, a poem with questions to the country on daily issues and if anyone cares about ordinary people.

Protesters having fun with the slogans


So far the revolution is still going strong and the end is near.