According to multiple international news outlets, unrest erupts Ethiopia as violent clashes leave at least 67 people dead and 200 injured, police official reported. “The total number dead in Oromia is 67,” Kefyalew Tefera, the regional police chief, told the Guardian highlighting that five of the dead were police officers. Protests erupted out after Jawar Mohammed, an independent media organization owner, activist and political analyst, revealed on Facebook that there was a planned conspired attack against him by police officials after they ordered his security to clear the area. Police officials and the government, however, denied any ties to the expected attack. Soon after his post, clashes broke out in the Oromia region, which includes Ethiopa’s capital Addis Ababa, between civilians and security forces, resulting in the deaths of 19, while others were killed in clashes between supports of Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Abiy Ahmed and supporters of Mohammed, according to CNN. Although Tefera told AFP that the violence ended last Friday, Amnesty International’s Fisseha Tekle said that they are still receiving reports of attacks in the region, the Guardian reported. Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy, the first…
How Cairo’s Women Cyclists Are Claiming Their Urban Space
Earlier this year, the Egyptian government rolled out a national campaign, A Bicycle for Every Citizen, to promote cycling culture and healthy living and to reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption. In addition to changing Egypt’s transport culture, the initiative would see the government subsidize bicycles to get more Egyptians cycling. Despite the sound logic and valid policy objectives behind the government’s initiative, it is unlikely that all Egyptians will switch to cycling, and not just due to Egypt’s crumbling infrastructure and urban planning shortcomings, which the plan completely fails to address. Given the announcement’s gendered language and the use of the masculine form of citizen in Arabic, one could almost be forgiven for thinking that the government means to exclude women entirely from the proposed measure—or the definition of the word citizen, for that matter. “The government is promoting cycling for everyone, so they are selling the bikes for the same price for both genders, but if they [were] more serious about it, they [would] highlight the gender equality aspect, but I don’t think they really care. It is just a [PR stunt], the bikes aren’t affordable anyways,” 27-year-old…
European Parliament Calls for Member States to ‘Halt Exports’ of Arms to Egypt
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday condemning the human rights situation and the recent government crackdown in Egypt, calling for European Union member states to review their relations with Egypt. The resolution notes that the ongoing restrictions “undermine the fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly, which are all enshrined in the Egyptian Constitution, as well as international human rights law” referring to the “arrest of more than 4,300 people since the anti-government protests on September 20”. It also urged EU Member States to halt exports to Egypt “of arms, surveillance technology and other security equipment that can facilitate attacks on human rights defenders and civil society activists,” and for “the EU to implement in full its export controls vis-à-vis Egypt with regard to goods that could be used for repression, torture or capital punishment.” In response, the speaker of Egypt’s House of Representatives Dr. Ali Abdel-Aal released a statement condemning the European Parliament’s resolution on Egypt’s human rights track record, considering it an irrelevant third-party intervention that does “not hold the right comment on the issue” and a continuation of an unacceptable approach, in line with similar…
Egyptian Architect ‘Highly Commended’ in 2019 Tamayouz Excellence Award
According to a press release by Tamyouz, Egyptian architect Shahira Fahmy has been highly commended in the Woman of Outstanding Achievement award category of the 2019 Tamayouz Award. The Tamayouz Award, divided into two categories Rising Star and Woman of Outstanding Achievement, is meant to celebrate the achievements of female architects from the areas of the North Africa and the Near East. It especially commends eminent women for their efforts in architecture and construction, on a professional or academic level. Partnered with the Society of Egyptian Architects and The Knowledge Hub Universities, Tamayouz Excellence Award ‘s jury meeting took place in Alexandria on August 28 and 29. Shortly after, the short-listed contenders were announced with three Egyptian women, Shahira Fahmy, Omniya Abdel Barr and Deena El-Mahdy, considered for the awards. The finalists for this year’s award were Saudi Architect Dana AlAmri as Rising Star while Turkish Professor Dr Zeynep Celik obtained the Woman of Outstanding Achievement award. Fahmy was thus honored as ‘Highly Commended’ in Woman of Outstanding Achievement category. “Shahira Fahmy a very talented architect whose work is diverse, authentic and clear,” stated the award’s jury. “Her designs originate…
An Alternative Excursion by Lake Geneva: Charming Lausanne
Tucked in the heart of Europe, Switzerland easily captures travellers’ entusiasm for its reputed picturesques towns and mountains. The little but rich nation boasts a rich assortment of cheese, meticulous watches, handcrafted chocolates, long hiking trails and adventurous ski paths. As an Egyptian, I couldn’t help but admire the cleanliness and organization of the city of Lausanne, Switzerland’s most well-known student city. The latter had, through the years and on par with Geneva, become synonymous with European luxury, thriving culture and unrelenting workaholic attitudes, so I was curious to experience the city first hand as I expected it to contrast strongly with my hometown, Cairo. A historical bond Interestingly, Lausanne’s historic relationship to Cairo isn’t as far-fetched as many would believe. Not only was there a large presence of Swiss in Egypt’s northern towns, but, as Nasser started to sequester properties and nationalize enterprises, a large number of expulsed Egyptian Jews, mostly cotton merchants, were able to find a home in the peaceful nation. Most resettled in Lausanne and Geneva, the French parts of Switzerland, where they continued their business activities and trade in the 20th century. Their relocation to…
Egypt’s Economic Reforms Increased Poverty Rates, Social Solidarity Minister Admits
Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Waly told Masaa DMC’s Ramy Radwan that she predicted an increase in the poverty rates in Egypt as a result of the recent economic reforms pushed by the International Monetary Fund’s program. “It was predicted that the poverty rates in Egypt would increase, particularly after the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the fuel crisis and the food crisis, which all occurred before the 2011 uprising. All of these crises resulted in the slowing down of economic growth at a global level, which negatively impacted Egypt,” she noted. Minister Ghada Waly added that with the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, cutting fuel subsidies, and the increase in prices, it was inevitable that such measures would increase the poverty rate. Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) released a report revealing that 32.5 percent of Egyptian citizens are living below the poverty line, a 4.7 percent increase from 2015, when 27.8 percent were living below the poverty line. Chairperson of CAPMAS Khairat Barakat stated that this increase is a reminder that some segments of Egyptian society have had to bear the burdens of the recent economic reforms…
Egyptian Photographer Captures an Abandoned Cinema in the Village of Fowa
Young Egyptian photographer and documentary filmmaker Muhammed Omar captures the beauty in midst of the destruction of an abandoned cinema in Fowa village in the governorate of Kafr El Sheikh in Nile Delta region. Fowa village is famous for its handmade kilim industry. “I was visiting the village of Fowa to photograph archaeological sites and mosques. During my photowalk, I stumbled upon this cinema by chance,” Omar says. According to the young photographer and filmmaker, the cinema was built in the late 1940s and was inaugurated by Greek ‘Khawaja’ named Elias, who later left Egypt in 1952. After his departure, the cinema was administered by the Egyptian government until the 90s. Originally, the land lot consisted of a ‘taraboosh’, also known as fez, factory, scutcher and a cinema. Later, the owners of the different properties fought over the land rights in a feud that is ongoing until now. Omar says that as a result of the decades of neglect and stagnant activity, the area was turned into a horse stable. In addition to that, it also became the meet up spot for many drug users due to its deserted nature….
What If Madonna’s ‘Papa Don’t Preach’ Hit Was Released in Egypt?
Dancing around the stage, wearing a black leather jacket and a white Spanish-style dress, 29-year-old Madonna was performing her controversial 1986 hit ‘Papa Don’t Preach’ during her ‘Who’s That Girl’ tour in 1987, with the screen in the background showing portraits of Pope John Paul II and then-US President Ronald Reagan. Known for her powerful use of imagery, the performance juxtaposed images of prominent male figures behind her as she jumped around the stage, repeating passionately, papa don’t preach, I’m in trouble deep, papa don’t preach, I’ve been losing sleep. Like many of her other works, there was a huge confusion around the philosophy behind the song. Released during a polarizing time in the social history of the United States, when conservative religious movements were gaining momentum in parallel with liberal social and cultural changes, the song caused heated debates about its lyrical content, as she declares in the song, I made up my mind, I’m keeping my baby. Alfred Moran, executive director of Planned Parenthood of New York City, attacked the song in a 1986 New York Times article, saying that the “the message [of the song] is that…
Uganda Appoints the First Ever Egyptian Goodwill Ambassador to Promote Tourism
Egyptian businesswoman, Nancy Hadi was officially appointed by Uganda’s Ministry of Tourism to be their Goodwill Tourism Ambassador for Uganda in Egypt. This is the first time an Egyptian has been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador by Uganda. Uganda’s Ministry of Tourism’s decision to target the Egyptian market, to promote ‘Destination Uganda’ in Egypt and then to officially appoint an Egyptian to be their Goodwill Tourism Ambassador is a clear indication of Uganda’s strong interest in building on and strengthening ties with fellow Nile Basin country, Egypt. Hadi, sees this as an opportunity that will allow her to play a role in the strengthening of ties between her nation Egypt and Uganda and will give her the opportunity to serve and benefit her country as well as the continent of Africa. The official appointment, which took place on September 18, 2019, came as a result of Hadi’s efforts to promote Ugandan tourism and culture in Egypt during the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2019) event which Egypt successfully hosted. Hadi, who was born and raised in the United States to Egyptian parents but spent most of her summers growing…