Egypt has recently been embroiled in political turmoil that has threatened Egypt’s stability both economically and politically. Last weekend, feeling the need to visit several tourist sites around Cairo and see what has changed in the past two years, I decided to visit the Pyramids for the first time since the January 25 2011 Revolution. What I saw was shocking, depressing, disappointing, and very worrying. However, for the sake of optimism, I will start with the positive aspects of my trip. Click here to skip through to my eye-opening experience at the Pyramids. Mena House Oberoi [Update: As of January 1st, 2013 The Oberoi Group – which had been managing Mena House since 1972 – has announced that they are no longer managing Mena House] Any Egyptian knows that before going to the Pyramids, one has to stop by the historic Mena House Oberoi. Mena House hosted Australian troops during both World War I and World War II, the first peace settlement talks between Egypt and Israel in 1977 (which led to the Camp David Agreement), and a host of historic figures such as Winston Churchill, Richard Nixon and Jimmy…
Egyptians Call For Morsi’s Departure
Today Morsi supporters and Anti-Morsi protesters gathered throughout various cities in Egypt for massive demonstrations. The Pro-Morsi group – mainly consisting of Islamists from numerous parties – gathered to support the constitution and the President, while the Anti-Morsi supporters gathered to take part in what they dubbed as the ‘Tuesday of Departure’. Morsi’s supporters gathered early in Cairo’s Rabaa Al Adaweya – a square in Nasr City (Cairo). At around 3p.m. hundreds had already arrived, and some roads were blocked by the demonstrators. Continue reading “Egyptians Call For Morsi’s Departure”…
Egyptians Give Morsi a ‘Red Card’
After two days of violent clashes between Anti-Morsi protesters and Muslim Brotherhood members, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians in all cities protested against Morsi’s continued dictatorial rule. In his speech last night, Morsi stated that those on the streets are the “minority” and that they must respect the “majority…because that is democracy.” He also stated that the “minority” were violent on Tuesday – the ‘Final Warning’ Protest which attracted millions of peaceful protesters across the country and very few reports of injuries. Tonight, Egyptians once again proved that Morsi and his party continue to lie. Tonight, I stood by women, children, seniors, and even the Presidential Guard to protest against the continued injustice against the Egyptian people. I did not witness one incident of violence – and reports of injuries have so far been due to congestion, dehydration, or accidents (such as a man I saw who fell off the shoulders of another Egyptian while chanting against Morsi). Upon my arrival at approximately 4.p.m. I noticed six Interior Ministry Trucks parked along one of the side streets. However, throughout the early hours of the protest, there was no presence of the Interior…
Egyptians Say “No To Dictatorship!”
Tonight I stood by hundreds of thousands of Egyptians outside Morsi’s Presidential Palace. The protesters consisted of children, students, both veiled and non-veiled women, seniors – not one thug as Pharaoh Morsi claims. They were the most peaceful, respectable and honorable people I have ever had the opportunity to meet and stand by. I arrived at the ‘Etihadiya’ when only several thousand protesters were present.Unlike my visit to Tahrir Square, there were absolutely no merchants: simply passionate Egyptians protesting for a better future. The first thing I noticed was the large presence of women and children. No one was sexually harassing the women and everyone was peacefully chanting alongside one another. Flags were being given out, water bottles were available, and face painting – it was quite festive.Continue reading “Egyptians Say “No To Dictatorship!””…
Tahrir Square on the 30th of November
On Friday the 30th of November, I visited Tahrir Square early in the morning (between 9:30a.m to 12 noon) before the one-million man ‘Martyr’s Dream’ protest against President Morsi’s anti-democratic constitutional decree and the unrepresentative, Islamist-dominated, Constitutional Assembly. This was my first time in Egypt in 3 years – and my first time at Tahrir Square. Arriving at Tahrir and witnessing the burnt down headquarters of the NDP was spectacular: the national Egyptian Museum representing our ancient history stands before a burnt down building that represents the fall of the former regime. Continue reading “Tahrir Square on the 30th of November”…
Step down, Mr. President
For the first time since the January 25th Revolution, Egyptians flocked to Tahrir Square in numbers which rivalled the 2011 protests. Children, professors, students, feminists, judges, journalists, farmers and all other walks of life have been chanting “Down with the Muslim Brotherhood,” and “Egypt is too big for you, Mr. President!” Egypt is indeed too big for you. 90 million people should not be experimented with. The Muslim Brotherhood should not make 90 million people suffer in order to further their interests. But Essam El-Erian (Vice Chairman of the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party) and all other Islamists have supported you and argued on CNN “This is democracy!”Continue reading “Step down, Mr. President”…
Introducing Pharaoh Morsy
Overnight Egypt has turned from being a new democracy to a dictatorship governed by what El-Baradei and other leading opposition leaders called “Egypt’s new pharaoh.” His Majesty Morsy issued the revolution’s execution orders in a presidential decree which included:Continue reading “Introducing Pharaoh Morsy”…
Assiut Train Disaster: 51 Egyptian Children Killed
Fifty-one Egyptian children between the ages of four to six were killed yesterday following a collision between their school bus and a train. Fifty-one children were killed while President Morsy was busy riling up the country against Israel. Fifty-one children were killed while Egyptians celebrated the victory of Al-Ahly in the African soccer league. Fifty-one children that will probably be forgotten. The new government has been in power for almost half a year now, yet no action has been taken to address serious local issues, such as traffic conditions which kill 8,000 Egyptians per year and has ignored Egypt’s increasingly hazardous garbage collection problem.Continue reading “Assiut Train Disaster: 51 Egyptian Children Killed”…
Egypt: Falling Apart Brick by Brick
Women getting their hair forcibly cut off by niqab-wearing ‘Muslims’, a jihadist who lived in Afghanistan and helped destroy the Buddhas of Bamiyan is threatening to blow up the Pyramids, trains are crashing, Egyptian policemen and soldiers are being murdered by ‘jihadists’ in the Sinai, and garbage and electricity problems continue to plague Egypt. Is this what Egypt has become following the Islamic uprising revolution? The Egyptian people have entrusted President Morsy to take decisive action and to help build Egypt’s future. Continue reading “Egypt: Falling Apart Brick by Brick”…