Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Fahmi Huwaidi
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Our rottenness has been exposed by this refugee crisis
One child shook the conscience of Europe but how many children must die for the Arabs’ conscience to wake up? The image of Alan Kurdi, three years old, sounded an alarm, which is still echoing all over the world, when his little body was thrown up by the sea...
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Fear for democracy in Egypt is justified
The fear for democracy in Egypt is now justified and I would even argue that we need to remind ourselves of the warning signs; this is now an obligation. Let me explain why. On Wednesday June 4th, 2014, the members of the Faculty of Orthopaedic Medicine at Ain Shams...
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The three groups that boycotted the elections
Whatever the numbers are that are being broadcast about voter turnout percentages in the current presidential elections, one must bear in mind that the number of people going to the polls was very modest and that a carrot and stick was used to motivate people to vote. It took...
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A good omen
I was aware of the fact that I was forbidden from taking any course of action but never that I was forbidden from traveling. When it comes to being forbidden from taking any course of action, well, I have about fifty-five years worth of experience in that domain; however,...
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Demonization complicates the crisis not resolves it
If the effort spent on demonization (of the Muslim Brotherhood) was put towards finding a solution and the development of Egypt, the country would have greatly benefitted from this. Last Sunday, May 18, Al-Ahram newspaper featured a “Brotherhood leader removed from U.S terrorist list” story on its front page....
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Al-Sisi’s interview with Reuters falsifies Egyptian media propaganda
The following notes come from a very important conversation with General Abdul Fatah Al-Sisi, which were not allowed to appear in Egyptian newspapers that normally publish interviews with presidents and world leaders. The only fault to this interview appears to be that it was published by Reuters on Saturday,...
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The crisis of the Egyptian judiciary
The problem of judges in Egypt is not new. In the sixties legal counsellor Momtaz Nassar called for an end to the government’s meddling in the judicial system; this led to a massacre of judges in 1969. The crisis resurfaced at the first conference of justice in 1986 and...
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The drums of civil war are beating
Although I heard General Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi call on the people to take to the streets and squares on Friday to give him a mandate to deal with the violence in the country, I still can’t quite believe it and am not alone in my feelings. Several people called...
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Who benefits from distorting the January revolution?
My biggest fear is that the uprising Egypt witnessed on June 30 2013 will be utilised to attack the revolution of January 25 2011 in a manner that makes aligning with Mubarak and his regime an option. It is as if we are in the process of re-writing the...
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Egypt’s neglected questions
I have a number of questions regarding the current events in Egypt. The most notable of which are as follows: On July 23, Al-Ahram newspaper published a headline noting that the Attorney General ordered the detainment of Dr. Mohammed Morsi for 15 days on charges of collaborating with Hamas....
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Egyptian crisis at a deadlock
Egypt needs a miracle. The “positive” development in the past 10 days is that we have moved from denying the crisis to acknowledging its existence, but there remains uncertainty about how to solve it. While foreign diplomats were invited to intervene in the search for a way out, some...
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On the cheap blood of Egyptians
If an innocent and good-intentioned citizen who monitors Egypt’s news from abroad read Dr. Hazem Al-Beblawi’s recent statement, in which he announced his rejection of reconciling with and forgiving those with blood on their hands, I would not rule out the possibility of this citizen giving Al-Beblawi the benefit...
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Our sadness is doubled
Our sadness is doubled. We went to sleep with the massacre of prisoners while being transferred to Abu Zaabal prison, and woke up to the slaughter of soldiers in Rafah. In both tragedies, Egyptians had killed other Egyptians, which leads us to say that the two sides share three...
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Myths of a confusing time
I do not know when we will sober up and discern the truth of many of the myths spread across Egypt nowadays. However, I see indications that this sobriety will come soon. I am referring to some of the extraordinary writings that have appeared in Egyptian newspapers during the...
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What Egypt’s military spokesman missed out
At the end of July, Hamas held a press conference in Gaza in which it presented a number of documents issued by the Palestinian Authority security agencies in Ramallah. The papers revolve around the efforts being made to widen the gap and raise doubts and fear between Hamas and...
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There is no fear over the Arab Spring in Tunisia
Although the Egyptian scenario is overshadowing the picture in Tunisia, the difference between us and them is that they can see some light at the end of the tunnel, while we are still looking for the tunnel. I was invited to speak in Tunisia about the developments in the...
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Cairo under occupation
This is a true story: A young man drove an unlicensed motorcycle and decided to ride it into oncoming traffic. When he ran into a police officer, he did not hesitate to shoot at him, but the police chased him down and arrested him, in addition to seizing his...
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Egypt: into the unknown and beyond the bounds of history
Egypt’s current problem is that it is moving beyond the bounds of history and it is feared that the Arab world will follow suit. Those who read Egyptian newspapers and the statements made by the country’s politicians, which flatter the military establishment and do their bidding, may not have...
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Search for the politics…
The first hearing of the case against ousted President Dr Mohammed Morsi has shed light on several mysterious issues and, more importantly, has helped to clear up many questions that have been on many people’s minds. For example, we learnt that Dr Morsi has been held at the Abu...
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The security state has returned to Egypt
It was reported in Al-Sabah newspaper that 575 soldiers who worked for Mubarak’s security state and were dismissed during the revolution, have been reinstated. I then read of a young man named Alaa Hawari from Sohag, who was protesting about the shortage of gas barrels for stoves and found...
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Collaborating out in the open
I have spent quite a long time trying to determine the definition of the term “collaborating” now being used across Egypt. I resorted to Arabic dictionaries and found that the word was innocent and neutral, as it is a derivative of the word “inform”, meaning exchanging information and discussing...
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The winners and the losers in the Egyptian constitution
The Egyptians did not have the chance to follow the discussions of the constitution committee, which were held behind closed doors, in keeping with the new-old “transparency”. However, some coincidences give us hints about what has been going on behind those doors. We were destined to find out about...
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Israel’s plunder of Egyptian gas must be investigated
It is essential for an investigation to be opened into Israel’s plunder of Egypt’s huge natural gas resources. The matter is too serious to be met with silence and too dangerous to be disregarded. It is undoubtedly good news that exploration indicates the presence of huge gas reserves in...
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A truce is no longer a possibility
I was not surprised when I read a story on Twitter about a man divorcing his wife after 12 years of marriage and having two children because he was a supporter of Dr Morsi while his wife continued to support General Al-Sisi. Nor was I surprised by what I...
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Who is really harming the Egyptian regime?
When the head of military justice tried to defend the article in the new Egyptian constitution that allows civilians to be tried before military courts, he included any person who attacks military installations “and the like”. This applies to all of the army’s economic interests including petrol stations, hospitals,...
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Two historical narratives to the Egyptian crisis
Last Saturday, an Egyptian government fact-finding committee met to discuss the events that took place during the June 30th coup. At the same time, a group of human rights activists held a conference on violence and injustice at the journalist’s association. The committee decided to begin with files pertaining...
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When the people become the problem
I have two observations on the current campaign against the result of the constitutional referendum led by loud voices among the political class; one on its form and the other on the subject. In terms of form, as I understand it, when 77% of the voters support the proposed...
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Before the courts of history
The latter is no longer immortalised or mentioned in his country, despite his dramatic decision in the mid-1970s to turn his back on Moscow and face toward Washington. In addition to the policy of openness toward the West which he pursued, he went on to sign a peace treaty...
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A comprehensive interview with Recep Tayyip Erdogan: “Turkey will face up to Israeli arrogance” – Part 1
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGANPART 1 When Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks everyone listens carefully, especially now that Turkey’s Prime Minister has become the most outspoken, most credible and most respected amongst leaders in the Middle East and his government is a key regional player. He has a say...
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An attempt to understand what we have done to ourselves
It is important for us to know what others scheme for our revolutions, and we should not be surprised if they attempt to hijack or abort them. But what is more important is to know what we have done to ourselves, because it is truly strange and surprising. From...
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Free, but confusing, Libya
No one can deny that Gaddafi-free Libya has to be a better place in all respects, but a Libya protected by NATO troops and under UN trusteeship is not what we hoped for post-Colonel Nightmare. Replacing evil with evil was not on the agenda, nor was getting rid of...
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From Tunisia, to whom it may concern
Events in Tunisia carry several important messages for us. When the results of the Tunisian election came through, many were surprised that the An-Nahda Party had done so well, taking 90 of the 217 seats in the Constituent Assembly, around 41%. Officials in the country had predicted a maximum...
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Partners not guardians
One of the dilemmas of Egyptian politics is that the feuding parties are acting as guardians and not partners, even though no one has given them a mandate to be either. The party of which we see and hear the most in the media is made up of the...
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Letter from Tunisia
As the Tunisian Constituent Assembly holds its first meeting to start the process of handing over authority to the civilian revolutionary forces, the people of Tunisia can claim success where the Egyptian revolution has failed to-date. I am talking about a meeting in which the election of a President...
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An apology to the Syrian people
We owe the Syrian people an apology for every day that they were slaughtered before our eyes during the past eleven months. The Arab people have let them down and have watched on from the side-lines as if the “the heart of Arabism” has become surrounded by Arabs with...
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The Muslim Brotherhood must reassure everyone
Revolutionary Egypt is at a crossroads, with the revolution itself under threat, requiring all factions to reconsider their positions, especially the Muslim Brotherhood. The Islamic group must be alert, ready to mobilise its supporters and prepared for self-denial. Let’s not forget, though, that Egypt is on the coat-tails of...
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Call for disengagement between peace and complicity with Israel
Post-revolutionary Egypt should make a distinction between the peace treaty with Israel on the one hand, and partnership and complicity with it against the Palestinians on the other. We understand the first through necessity but consider the second a disgrace that should be disowned. When Gaza’s Prime Minister, Ismail...
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Morsi in Beijing and Tehran
It is an exaggeration to say that President Mohamed Morsi’s proposed visits to China and Iran are a turning point, but we hope so. They could pave the way for a qualitative shift in Egypt’s international relations and foreign policy, presenting an opportunity for a positive impact if the...
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Egypt’s billions are looted
Researchers from the BBC spent six months on the trail of the money looted from Egypt; on the day that the resultant documentary was broadcast, the Guardian newspaper published an investigation into its findings. Combined, the BBC and Guardian exposés were revealing: the leaders of six Arab states looted...
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The mysterious decision to destroy the tunnels
Neither I nor anyone I know understands why Egypt has decided to demolish the tunnels connecting Gaza and Northern Sinai; not even the Mubarak regime resorted to this. I know that the spokesman for the armed forces told a press conference that the step was taken for security reasons;...
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Against Morsi, not Israel
Within the past two weeks, Cairo has received two messages of special significance. The first was from Washington and the other was from Tel Aviv. During his election campaign, US President Barack Obama made a point of saying that Israel is a “red line” for America regarding its relationship...
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Why is dialogue not accepted by Egypt’s opposition?
Is the opposition in Egypt really interested in reaching a national consensus or not? This is the obvious question following recent statements from some opposition leaders signalling their refusal to get involved in, or imposing impossible conditions for, dialogue with the government. This suggests to me that the revolutionary...
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The propaganda machine
There is, today, nothing louder than the voices of sabotage, destruction, and incitement in the Egyptian media. There has been a determined attempt to aggravate the relationship between the regime and the army. In recent weeks, there have been rumours of complaint and anger amongst the armed forces, as...
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Salutations from Samer Al-Issawi
Samer Al-Issawi has been on hunger strike for almost 220 days, and he is still determined to continue, making his protest the longest in history. As much as he embodies the determination of the Palestinians to defend their dignity and freedom, he also exposes the ruthlessness of the Israeli...
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Demonisation of Palestinians continues in Egypt thanks to the old regime
The past week has seen a lot of media speculation about seven Palestinians who were taken into custody as they tried to enter Egypt and their subsequent release. Was their treatment merely coincidental or the last shout of a phase of Egyptian history that the nation rejected and revolted...
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A profession in danger
A group of young journalists, men and women, visited me recently to complain about the pressure that is exerted on them by their editors, particularly in the privately-owned newspapers. They say that they have been asked to favour one party over another in their coverage of events in Egypt....
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No more sacred cows
Is a British newspaper report of violations against protesters in a military hospital in Cairo defamatory of the Egyptian Armed Forces, justifying hostile official statements? Does it play down the role of the Armed Forces and their role in protecting the revolution in Egypt? I have more questions of...
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The revival of the old regime and the crisis of the revolution
Surprising things happened in Egypt this week, reminding us that we were on the verge of forgetting about the revolution and opening our eyes to one or two things. At the beginning of the week, former president Hosni Mubarak resurfaced to attend his retrial. He looked as if he...
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The question of the hour
Opposition newspapers in Egypt insist that the Muslim Brotherhood were the ones who opened fire with shotguns during recent protests (yesterday, one newspaper mentioned what it called “The Brotherhood’s shotguns”). Meanwhile, the Brotherhood insists that members of the Black Bloc and thugs attacked them during Friday’s protest with shotguns...
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Liberating Sinai is an overdue duty
There should be no other way to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Nakba in Palestine than to call for the liberation of Sinai because of the close connection between the two. Let me explain. Although some may find it odd, this idea was inspired by Egypt’s Minister of...
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Sectarian drums of war lead us to communal suicide
The worst thing that could happen to the Arab world is for the struggle for communal improvement and development to turn into a doctrinal conflict leading to fragmentation and setbacks in all areas of life. Take the sectarian drums of war that have been beating in the past few...
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The outlaws of our time are spreading poison in society
A Palestinian student I do not know asked me, “Is it true that we are being expelled from Egypt?” I was shocked by her question and replied quickly that I could not imagine it, nor would I expect this to happen under any circumstances. The young woman said nervously...
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Will the Arab moderate camp be revived?
Clues which have emerged on the political horizon in recent days call for the following question: Is Egypt regaining its role in the “moderate” Arab camp? I do not need to point out that the camp in question does not have a good political reputation, simply because it includes...
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The Hamas dilemma in Egypt
I realise that the environment in Egypt is not conducive to discussion of the state’s relationship with Hamas, which has been accused of interference in Egyptian affairs post-January 25 Revolution. Nevertheless, a press conference held by Hamas in Gaza on July 30th revealed a number of dangerous documents in...
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A raid on Sinai
The bad news is that an Israeli drone strike killed five Egyptians in Sinai last week; they were, it is alleged, “jihadists” who intended to launch a rocket against Israel. Even worse news is that the operation was coordinated with the Egyptian army. More disturbing still was the fact...
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Aborting the Arab Spring is the goal
I’m not sure if we are all aware of the extensive efforts taking place around us in order to use the “failure” of the Muslim Brotherhood’s year in office to attack the Arab Spring and apologise for it. While it is true that the death of the Arab Spring...
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Torturing the Palestinians will not create security
When our friend made a statement calling for the Rafah crossing to be opened to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, he was faced with accusations of slander in a story in al-Ahram newspaper on October 10th, from so-called “politicians” who said that his statement indicated his ignorance of...
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Hamas: the monster in court
The level of absurdity in Egypt currently knows no limitations, and it is for this reason alone that I will mention only one particular absurdity that caught my attention. The Al-Ahram newspaper published a report on 25 October under the following headline: “Egyptian security forces discover a plan between...
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Would we be surprised by an understanding between Iran and Israel in the New Year?
The potential scenarios for the New Year pose some interesting questions. Will an understanding between Iran and Israel, for example, be one of the options for the re-structuring of the Middle East? I know that simply asking the question is taboo for those who consider that its mere thought...