ICG Report on Sinai

31Jan07

I just received a report by the International Crisis Group entitled “Egypt’s Sinai Question“. Skimming through it, it looks like there’s some interesting information. But, in all honesty, I’m not sure how well-researched it is because some of their recommendations are already being worked on.

I did have time to notice that they tackle the lagging development (not that the rest of Egypt is shooting ahead, really) as a major problem. I agree, as would a lot of people i’ve met in the Sinai.  What’s strange is that i dont think the report makes any reference to the EC-funded SSRDP (The South Sinai Regional Develpoment Program), which is a little odd since it was such a public and exciting affair when i visited twice in the Summer. I’m not quite sure how anyone visiting South Sinai for non-sun-related reasons could managed to miss it.

Filed under: Cairene, Development, Egypt, Politics   |  2 Comments

Police Storm NGO in Shobra el-Kheima

24Dec06

I just received this from the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (HRInfo).

Cairo – 24 December 2006

Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) is highly concerned by the resolution of Qalubia governor to close Ahalina Center for Egyptian Family Support and Development (Ahalina). The governor’s resolution is aimed at revenge on Ahalina which disclosed the falseness of his mid-November statements that all slum areas in Qalubia governorate are completely supplied with utilities. Ahalina reported that many areas in the governorate are still lacking the minimum requirements of humanitarian life.

On 24 December 2006, employees from Shubra Al-Khima Municipality accompanied by policemen stormed into Ahalina headquarter and attempted to close and seal it with red wax, upon Qalubia governor’s resolution. The governor claimed that Ahalina is “inciting riots”; examples include submitting more than 11 complaints signed by the citizens of slum and deprived areas to the governor’s office. In addition, Ahalina issued a press release in response to governor’s false statements that the governorate has no slum or lacking-utilities areas.

More after the break.

Filed under: Cairene, Egypt, Human Rights, Local News   |  Leave a Comment

Muslims In The EU – Discrimination And Islamophobia

18Dec06

The EUMC (European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia) just released a report studying the conditions of Muslims in EU countries. I’ve only had time to skim through the 117 pages. At a first glance, they seem to have made an effort to maintain balance such as with the chickin-and-egg issue of marginalization and discrimination. If nothing else, it’s somewhat encouraging that someone took this initiative.

Filed under: Cairene, Europe, Islam, Society   |  Leave a Comment

Senate Could Get Split

14Dec06

I saw this article in the Washington Post. It seems the Democartic Senator Tim Johnson (South Dakota) is in critical condition after brain surgery. Generally, something of the sort is not all that noteworthy. However, it turns out that if he is unable to fulfil his duties, the Governor (a Republican!)  gets to appoint a replacement. This would effectively kill the democrats’ advantage and split the senate 50-50 (The Dems have only 48 seats but the two independents have said they will join the Dems’ bloc).

It’s probably too ealy to speculate and i’m not quite sure what the reprecussions would be. But maybe people on this side of the globe were a little too hasty with their collective sigh of relief. I hope not.

More info right here although i’d suggest google news for more updated info.

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IT and Education Reform

11Dec06

Frederik Richter has an interesting piece in Qantara.de.  It’s more reporting than in depth analysis. I would really like to see someone qualified take a long hard look at the prospects of educational reform in Egypt. But this is a start. The piece examines  educational reform initiatives using IT training. It’s no surprise that the bulk of effort has not been initiated by the government, but rather IT companies operating within Egypt.

Filed under: Cairene, Education, Egypt   |  2 Comments

Letter to HRW

11Dec06

I just received this letter from several human rights organizations addressed to Human RIghts Watch. They’re basically protesting the ridiculous statement issued by HRW towards the end of last month that i posted on recently.

Filed under: Cairene, Human Rights, Israel, Palestine   |  1 Comment

No Code

05Dec06

This is something that’s been bouncing around in the back of my head for about a week.I’ll start with a mundane example. As anyone who’s lived in Cairo knows, transportation is a bitch. Personally, I drive, although sometimes i wish i wasnt so reliant on the storage space. It’s such a stressful, nerve-wrecking ordeal. And it can be really really crowded. I’ve gotten cramps in my left calf from inching along for 2 hours. Luckily, over the years, i’ve gotten better at dealing with the road though. I scream out the window much less, at least. But some things continue to get at me. Here’s one: You’re at an intersection. The light is green. However, immediately after the intersection there is no where to go. The cars are backed up to the edge. Why the hell do Egyptian drivers invariably insist on proceeding through the light, ending up stuck in the middle of the intersection, and consequently blocking the other direction. Why? You gain nothing! See, i’ll kid myself not. I dont have liberal ideals. Well, I do. I just dont expect them much. I expect people to do what’s in their interest. But there’s just no explanation for blocking traffic without getting any positive benefit for oneself. It’s not just a jungle, it’s an irrational one.

Similar examples crop up everywhere. In any interaction with the bureaucracy for example. In the metro. In any line, obviously. This got me wondering why Egyptians dealt so horribly with each other.

Cogitating on this while driving, i found it very difficult to reconcile with the fact that there is undoubtedly a very rigid, albeit unwritten, code on what is or isnt acceptable in dealing with people: How to address various people depending on their age, sex, marital status, profession, rank, degree.. what’s expected of each party in the case of hosting, engagement, employment, marriage, death.. And generally, Egyptians seem very keen on upholding this code.

It seems to me that although Egyptians have a very rigid set of interpersonal behavior regulations, this seems , at least for those in Cairo, to apply only to direct connections: relatives, friends, work-related acquaintances. There is obviously neither a sense of respect nor consideration involved during interaction in the public sphere. As such, people have no problems stopping in the middle of the street, blocking traffic. Or parking second row and leaving the handbrake up. Or cutting into an obvious (believe it or not i’ve seen a rare few) line. Whether or not this ever existed, i wouldnt know. After all, if you go back only a couple of generations (prior to mass transport and urban migration), you could make the argument that everyone anyone interacted with during their lifetime fell into the acquaintance category.

Anyway, while this lack of respect and consideration is a general problem, it is manifested much more acutely with marginalized/disenfranchised groups. This is obvious in Muslim interactions with, perceptions of and attitudes towards Copts. Think fish and sharks; Or Alexandria riots. But those are just big issues of a much more pervasive problem. To give an example, a (Muslim) friend of mine who was conscripted would tell me stories of how the Muslims used to take all the food and then give the Copts the leftovers. They started giving him a hard time when he tried to protest this treatment.

It is even more evident in the treatment of women, especially in public. The way women are treated on the street is absolutely inexcusable and infinitely repulsive. The Eid mass-sexual assaults highlighted an already long-standing problem.

I think that Egyptian society needs to develop a “code” for public interaction. A social contract, if you will. But from where i’m standing, it sure as hell looks like we’re going in the opposite direction.

ADDENDUM: It seems I was misunderstood, so I’m adding this addendum.First, I’m not making claims about whether or not people think about what they’re doing. I believe that when making decisions the vast majority of people do not have respect for others they come into contact with in the public sphere. They are inconsiderate.

Second, I do not, under any circumstances, believe that we need to legislate a code for behavior. I ultimately have little faith in laws and their implementation. In any case, I think that laws – or, rather, legislation in a representative system as opposed to edicts (or rubber stamping) – are little more than a formalization of something that is already generally accepted in a society or community. What is generally accepted in a group most definitely evolves. And that is precisely what i’m talking about. Whether this is inculcated through school, the home, or public service announcements (although, if you’re talking about top-down enforcement and restricting freedom, i’m not so sure how different incorporating behavior into the “national curriculum” is from legislating it) may be subject to opinion. But the need for this sense to evolve is undoubtedly there.

Filed under: Cairene, Egypt, Society   |  4 Comments

“Rights Group Disgrace”

01Dec06

This isnt very Egypt-related, but I thought I would post it.

I was reading the Ahram Weekly when i came across this opinion piece by Jonathan Cook. He essentially tears apart this recent report by HRW. He says:

“If one thing offers a terrifying glimpse of where the experiment in human despair that is Gaza under Israeli siege is leading, it is the news that a Palestinian woman in her 60s — a grandmother — chose last week to strap on a suicide belt and explode herself next to a group of Israeli soldiers invading her refugee camp.

“Despite the “man bites dog” news value of the story, most of the Israeli media played down the incident. Not surprisingly; it is difficult to portray Fatma Al-Najar as a crazed fanatic bent on the destruction of Israel.

[...]

“Just at the moment Fatma was choosing death and resistance over powerlessness and victimhood — and at a time when Gaza is struggling through one of the most oppressive and ugly periods of Israeli occupation in nearly four decades — Human Rights Watch (HRW) published its latest statement on the conflict. It is a document that shames the organisation, complacent Western societies and Fatma’s memory.

“In its press release “Civilians must not be used to shield homes against military attacks”, which was widely reported by the international media, HRW lambastes armed Palestinian groups for calling on civilians to surround homes that have been targeted for destruction by aerial bombardment by the Israeli air force.

“Noting, almost as an afterthought, that more than 1,500 Palestinians have been made homeless by these demolitions in the past few months, and that 105 houses have been destroyed from the air, the press release denounces Palestinian attempts at non-violent and collective action to halt the Israel attacks. HRW refers in particular to three incidents.”

There’s a little more right after the jump. To be honest, I am appalled. I dont recall when last HRW was this disappointing. Read the article to get Cook’s assessment of the factors that lead to their “disgraceful” behavior.

Filed under: Cairene, Human Rights, Israel, Palestine   |  2 Comments