Pro-Sisi journalists criticised for gloating over Paris terror attacks

Four female TV presenters and journalists known to be supporters of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, have been criticised for expressing apparent “delight” over Friday’s terror attacks in Paris. At least 120 people were killed in the attacks, which have been claimed by Daesh/ISIS.

“We will send a team to inspect restaurants in Paris,” tweeted Lamis Al-Hadidi, “that [security] would be a source of concern.” When someone accused her of mocking and expressing delight at the tragedy, she denied it immediately. “Of course there is no delight… we too have been victims of terrorism. I am only striking a comparison between the two situations.”

However, her comments angered many social network activists. “Without amazement,” wrote one, “whoever expresses delight over the death of his own fellow citizens [Egyptians] it would be OK for them to express delight over the death of foreigners.”

Egyptian journalist Bussin Shalabi lives in France. She was also scathing about the security situation in the French capital. “They said that we could not secure the airport of Sharm Al-Sheikh. Well, you do not know how to secure the stadium while your own president was there. What goes around comes around.” In a separate tweet, she said: “I pray to God that I return to Egypt tomorrow, to the country of security and safety… This is Bussi Shalabi from the incident scene.”

Kuwaiti writer Fajr Al-Saeed, who is known to be a staunch supporter of Al-Sisi, took the opportunity to be even more sarcastic about the events in Paris. She posted 14 tweets while commenting on the shootings and bombings. “Flights should be grounded and all tourists should leave Paris. It would not be wrong to declare Paris a disaster area. I hope that Ban Ki-moon will express concern. Why only at Sharm Al-Sheikh?” Responding to the Paris police calling on citizens not to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary she said, “Frankly, I am delighted.”

In a tweet directed at “Uncle Putin” she pleaded, “Please send your planes to evacuate Russian tourists from Paris, France is no longer safe.” Let them taste one quarter of what the Arabs have been through, Al-Saeed added. “I am laughing my gut out.”

According to pro-Sisi journalist Nashwa Al-Houfi, “The West is now tasting what they have done with the terrorism industry, which they unleashed in the Middle East.” In a telephone interview with a programme called Sabah On broadcast by ON TVon Saturday, she said: “The Paris events are painful. But Britain and America should wake up and should know that the terrorism industry will not be directed only against the Arabs, and that they will eventually pay.”

Taking a slightly different approach, pro-regime Al-Ahram newspaper tweeted mockingly, “France beat Germany by two goals in a friendly match and terrorism scores seven goals in Paris.”

In response to such comments, journalist Lilyan Daud tweeted, “Some expressions of delight and statements of incitement by public figures should be compiled and distributed among news agencies and news websites so as to take the necessary legal steps.”

“Those who express delight and gloat over what happened [in Paris] are terrorists too,” insisted director Amr Salama. “Their guns are their black hearts and their bullets are fired from their mouths. They earn their punishment of losing their humanity.”

Translated from Arabi21 14 November 2015.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.