Saturday, August 31, 2013

#Mallawi Museum Tragedy : We continue to lose our history

On August 16, 2013 while Egypt was witnessed the aftermath following the dispersal of Rabaa and Nahda sits in ,the Mallawi museum in the city of MallawiMinya governorate was completely looted and destroyed.

For hours the museum was looted completely and the police did nothing , it did not stop the looters. I ran through the photos of the looted antiquities and one thing for sure the looters did not come individually but they came in big pick up in order to transfer that large amount of artifacts. Here is a slide show for the museum from “Egypt’s heritage task force

It is very sad.

Officially 1089 artifacts were stolen from that museum. Only 216 artifacts have been restored so far.

Friday, August 30, 2013

#August30 : Another Friday of protests and anticipation

After the Friday prayers today the Muslim brotherhood and its Islamist allies are organizing mass protests all over the country.
Today yet again people believe that today we will know that the Muslim brotherhood has still got power in the streets or not and thus their political power.  The protests are big indication indeed but I believe it is an indication for their organizing power of demonstrations only but when it comes to politics , God only knows what is happening in the backstage.
You must know many people are worried from today. The media is adopting scenarios that the Muslim brotherhood supporters are going to burn police stations allegedly like what happened on 28 January 2011 !! “Oh yes rewriting a history we all lived and the world witnessed is going on so fast in Egypt and people buy it”
The security forces from army and police warned the people from going to the streets today. The army warned the people from any stranger in their roof urging them to close their roofs.
Currently the streets are deserted. All people are staying at home while there are army and police are spread in major spots in Cairo and Giza. Of course Tahrir square is off the limit , locked down by army troops.
Amazingly over 2000 MB members have been arrested in the past few weeks. Many of them are the cadres in the governorates responsible for organizing demos and rallies. Anyhow here is another live coverage for the protests.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

My two Cents on The Military intervention in #Syria and Its impact on #Egypt

So it seems that there will be a foreign military intervention in Syria so soon , may be with in days or even days.
I believe that a direct foreign military intervention in Syria is the last thing Egypt really needs now. Oh yes the direct foreign military intervention in Syria will make the public demand a military rule willingly to protect Egypt from the foreign conspiracy going after the strong Arab armies in the region. “Yes there is a deliberate misleading info in the media that the Syrian Arab army is extremely strong army and that it is the second strongest Arab army in the region after Egypt”
Thanks to the Egyptian media people began to support Al Assad and his regime as well his army against the Islamists above them the Muslim brotherhood and Al Qaeda. There is a deliberate misinformation when it comes to what is said and how it is said about Syria in the Egyptian mainstream media.
The Nasserites already support El Assad despite their idol Nasser used to curse his father and Baathist altogether. Of course these are the Neo-Nasserites.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

My two cents on the war drums in #Syria

First of all as a disclaimer , I am not a political analyst and this is my blog aka my space where I think and rant loudly as I want. Second I support Syrian revolution since day one since it started as small protests in Daraa. Third I do not support any of the fighting groups now in the war torn misfortunate country whether Al Assad regime or FSA or Al Qaeda.

All what I care for the Syrians now are their rights in dignified life , democracy and justice based on human rights and diversity that suite one of the greatest and most ethnic and religious diversified nations in the Arab world.

Here is what I think :

  • Based on all the official statements and unofficial leaks from United States, UK, France and Israel it seem that there will be some sort of a military action in the upcoming 48 hours or 72 hours.
  • It will not be a direct intervention like in Iraq or Afghanistan at least for the United States as the majority of the public opinion is against military intervention in Syria. Most possibly air strikes in Al Assad strongholds in the country to cripple him.
  • I believe both Salim Idris and Manaf Tlass “especially the later as he is KSA’s favorite option” will play some roles in the upcoming days. Latest thing I read in Arabic news websites recently that Tlass would lead a rebel army that gets rid from both Al Assad and Al Qaeda”
  • I believe also there are 24 hours leaders’ telephone calls now in the neighbor countries of Syria :Turkey , Iraq , Lebanon , Jordan and of course Israel.
  • I fear sorry for Lebanon because it will be dragged to hell either ways. Hezbollah can attack Israel and Israel made it clear today that it will not stand still against any attack. Israel is also concerned about that Jihadists heaven next to its door step !! For God sake AIPAC supported what happened in Egypt just to get rid from the Muslim brotherhood and Jihadists in Sinai.
  • Iraq , Iran’s ally and thus Al Assad’s ally said earlier today that it will not allow anyone to use its skies.
  • Turkey got two things to care about in this crisis : The Kurds and the Jihadists who are using the country as a gate.
  • Jordan is in Saudi Arabia team.
  • I do not see Qatar playing a strong role now as it seems that the fall of the Muslim brotherhood in Cairo with the help of its rival Saudi Arabia turned things around. KSA’s princes are playing a bigger role in the current crisis more than Qatar as it seems.
  • Yes it was not a US Vs. Russia or US Vs. Iran thing only but it was also Saudi Arabia Vs. Qatar and it seems that the elder Kingdom won that round thanks to the fall of the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt
  • By the way many people were shocked by Russia’s stance on how it will not go to war for Al Assad. Well dear friends Russia will not start a world war for Al Assad , it did not do for Serbia for God sake.
  • Egypt’s stance is officially clear : It supports Syrian revolution as well Jihadists there and against chemical weapons too as well against military intervention in Syria.
  • Egypt’s stance is clearly opposite to Saudi Arabia’s stance. It is one of the enigmas in the Middle East.
  • Egypt supports political solution in Syria. “yes it is an irony that the Egyptian government now does not support political solution in Egypt itself !!”
  • Egypt also calls for another round of Geneva talks. Sadly I remember ElBaradei declared that he was preparing for this meeting. Now I see that there is a war council held in Jordan and Egypt was not even there. “At it was not announced officially”
  • Egypt or rather Egypt’s army is now busy with the internal issues woes.
  • Now I wonder what the FSA ,especially its Conservative groups think or do regarding the military intervention from the US and UK. Of course the important is what Al Qaeda’s Islamic State Iraq and Syria will do in front of this Western military intervention.

God bless Syria and Syrians.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

The language of Numbers : The Bloody Wednesday and What followed it

In 6 days only from 1666 Egyptians have been killed. Oh yes in one week 1666 Egyptians were killed including 1311 in one day alone ; Bloody August 14 !!

Wiki Thawra , the amazing website did a great work and gather all the details of those killed, injured, detained and are missing.

According to Wiki Thawra detailed Spreadsheet of the fatalities “Ar” :

  • 1666 Egyptians were killed from 14 to 22 August 2013 across the country including civilians, police and military.
  • 1311 were killed on 14 August alone.
  • 869 civilians were killed in Rabaa sit in dispersal alone. “The number is not final”
  • 42 policemen were killed on 14 August including 7 policemen were killed in Rabaa sit in.
  • 6 journalists were killed on that day.

This is far more than those who were killed on Friday of wrath on 28 January 2011. This spreadsheet is the most updated list of the victims.

For the record also according to the minister of interior himself 10 automatic rifles and 29 air rifles were found in Rabaa sit in. “They did not find the chemical weapons Al Akhbar newspaper was speaking about”

Saturday, August 24, 2013

And McCarthyism is spreading and Spreading in #Egypt

This post or rather was message spread like fire in Egyptian social media.

Of course it uses English as it is directed to Upper middle and Upper class Egyptians as well the whole world.The Source of this post is Facebook Egyptian Page "Egypt" for those who accuse me of fabricating news.
If you see anyone or any group on the Facebook or any Facebook or twitter user that uses those avatars “The Muslim brotherhood or Rabaa” then report him to fight terrorism !!!!! Probably your friend or cousin who has got Rabaa avatar on Facebook is a terrorist.
The post was referring to the internet investigation department in the ministry of interior not internet intelligence or the intelligence. It is just bad translation.
Yes people are being told to report each other in 2013 just like in the days of Nasser exactly. People are reporting each other based on avatars , posts as well opinions in 2013.
Yes people are encouraged to be informants against each other based upon their avatars !!

Friday, August 23, 2013

Another Friday of Rallies , protests and Anticipation

CHere is another Live blog for the protests and rallies planned by the pro-Morsi supporters today. There will be not less than 28 rallies in Cairo and Giza alone.

The Pro-Supporters today are not going to street alone today , Revolutionary Socialists are going to protest the release of Mubarak despite the criticism of other revolutionary powers for choosing the same day like the Pro-Morsi supporters.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

The #Friday After the arrests in #Egypt

Tomorrow Friday Islamist National coalition to support legitimacy or rather the Muslim brotherhood is organizing mass protests and rallies all over Egypt hoping that these protests will break the curfew and end it.

It is worth to mention that Egyptians respect the orders and do not break the curfews now unlike January and February 2011.

The coalition called the Friday of Martyrs.

There will be 28 rallies alone in Giza and Cairo besides the governorates.

I am somehow surprised that the Muslim brotherhood and the Islamists are organizing these rallies when there is a massive crackdown following the first and middle leaders of the brotherhood not only in Cairo but other governorates. The campaign also included those members responsible for mobilization and  protests.

We will be in front of a huge change tomorrow as the members are no longer waiting for the directives of their leaders according to the hierarchy of the brotherhood. The leaders are in detention now. Of course things now can go beyond the leaders who care less for the blood of the members. Now there is blood and blood always changes matters.

The MB members insist that they will stick to peacefulness but not most of them considering the anger of the young members especially from the Ultra-Qutbists who reject the idea of democracy altogether.We know our security forces too .. very well.

AFP journalist Haitham El Tabei was told by a Muslim brotherhood member that he did not receive new any new directives this week.

There is a strong rumor circulating online that the MB protesters may try to take over Tahrir square. “As rumor says Al Jazeera will transfer on air from there”

By the way not only the Muslim brotherhood supporters and their allies are going to protest alone tomorrow.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Regarding the Myth of Bad Egyptian liberals

I am really tired today. From two days I went to bed after knowing that 38 detainees “From Muslim brotherhood supporters” arrested last Friday were killed in prison transportation vehicle in vague circumstances “Contradicting ministry of interior’s reports” then today I woke up to know that 24 Conscripts were executed in cold blood by unknown militants in Al Arish “No group claimed responsibility and personally I think it has to do with the crackdown currently taking place against Jihadist groups in North Sinai”.

My Facebook’s timeline has become an obituary page for photos of deceased friends of friends whom the later swear that they are not terrorists. At the same time my timeline has become a nationalist political tabloid page full of rumors on how Obama’s brother is a member in the MB , how ElBaradei is secret MB leader and Germany is controlled by the Muslim brotherhood. This is besides the hate and ignorance that make me wants to smash the laptop. I am sorry for this introduction but this will make you know how I feel now.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Mahmoud Gamal ElDin Presents .. Chaos in #Cairo

Dear friend and photographer Mahmoud Gamal El Din was brave enough to be in the streets of Downtown Cairo last Friday as well Saturday. He took over 100 shots for what happened on those two days.

Everyone lost on that day but people do not want to admit it.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

And It has just started but I fear We do not know that yet

I do not know to say or write but it feels so heavy. At I knew that Egypt before August 14 was different than after August 14 and it is not a change for better but rather worse,the living proof was yesterday.

First I could not complete the live updates because I was sick , I had a fever and I could not complete. It was from the mercy of God to sleep while this on going tragedy taking place. It is hard for anyone to see his country falling in to piece and to see his own people killing each other.

Second I have a testimony which I have to share as a citizen journalist before being a professional journalist. I was on the verge of spending the day at my work down Al Galaa Street as the clashes between the Muslim brotherhood protesters but me and my real great colleagues found a way out taking back streets.  Our plan was to take the Sabatiya popular area and then cross the old Imbaba bridge to Imbaba as 15 May bridge and October bridge were all blocked.

#Egypt After August 16 , After the battle that Nobody won

By Mosa’ab El Shamy 
No comment.

Friday, August 16, 2013

#August16 : A day of going the streets against Each other in #Egypt

Today the Muslim brotherhood are organizing a day of Rage with protests all over the country especially in Cairo and Giza.
At the same time Tamaroud "Rebellion Campaign" called the Egyptian people to join the Popular Checkpoints to stand against terrorism as well against foreign intervention.
It is kind of intense and many people are praying that there will be more blood spelled today.
Again a live blogging to make our life easier.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Mosa'ab El Shamy presents : Rabaa's second massacre in photos "Graphic"

Brave Mosa'ab El Shamy took hundred of photos from Rabaa sit-in while it was dispersed on the bloody Wednesday . They are graphic and sad.


You must know that Mosa'ab El Shamy was detained and beaten by some vigilant checkpoint outside Rabaa. They stole his camera, but he was smart enough to hide his SD card in his sock. It was the smartest thing to do because if he did not do this , all those photos would be lost.

You must know also that another Photographer called Mosa'ab El Shamy was killed in Rabaa sit-in dispersal. 

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Dispersing the Sits in of #Nahda and #Rabaa

Earlier today the security forces have dispersed the Pro Morsi sits in of Nahda and Rabaa. 

I have just woke up by phones from relatives about the dispersal. Amazingly some lady married to some army officer claimed that both sits in would be dispersed earlier today. The thing that was claimed over and over yesterday.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

August #2013’s New Governors Reshuffle in #Egypt

Today 25 governors took the oath in front of Egypt’s interim president Adly Mansour in the presidential Palace.
Six of those governors who have continued in their positions since their appointment by Morsi. I will not comment on the names now. Below there is a list for the governors and short bios for those I managed to found now.
The governor of Monufia is still vacant as the man nominated for the position was exposed as a former Mubarak’s regime remnant, and he had to refuse it due to public rejection. His name was released before other names and people rejected it .

Here are the names of the new faces in the governors’ reshuffle :

  • Galal El Saeed : The new governor of Cairo. The former minister of transportation in former Kamel El Ganzoury’s cabinet in December 2011. The former governor of Fayoum till January 25 revolution was not only a member in the National Democratic Party, but he was also a member in the policies committee. He is said to be close to Gamal Mubarak as well.
  • Army Major Gen.Tarek El Mahdy : The new governor of Alexandria. The most famous name when it comes to military in this reshuffle. The former SCAF member was appointed first as the head of TV in the early days of revolution and he was so popular among the employees, but had to resign later. Then he was appointed as the governor of New Valley from August 2011 to June 2013. During then He was then appointed as the governor of Red Sea. It was worth to mention in Morsi’s last reshuffle , till the last moment he was tipped to be the governor of Alexandria but in the end we found him as the governor of Red Sea. During then people understood that the Muslim brotherhood could not give up Alex to the army especially that the deputy governor there Hassan El Bernes was the true governor.
  • Army Major Gen. El Arabi Sorror : The new governor of Suez. The commander of the Popular defense troops. As far as I know the Popular defense troops’ main mission now is to spread military awareness in the society. In the Past this department used to train high school and university students on combat and so on in order to help in protecting cities. Suez as a Canal City always had a governor from a military background. Current reports from the city speak about huge spread of arms there. It is also a stronghold for Salafists.

Monday, August 12, 2013

#Sudan launches its #Nafeer But will anyone hear its call ?? "Updated"

Sudan is literality drowning. The floods and heavy rain hit East of Sudan drowning thousands of houses and cutting off villages from outside the world.
The damage reached to areas inside Khartoum like Ombada and Omdurman as well several areas in East Nile region. 
The official death toll announced by Sudanese are 36 dead , 60 villages and not less 10,000 houses have been destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of citizens are displaced. The Sudanese activists believe that the death toll can be more. I believe it is more already especially with the media blackout in the country thanks to El Bashir’s regime.
This is the worst wave of floods and heavy rains Sudan has witnessed from five years ago. There are more heavy rains expected this week too.
Here is a photo gallery with photos from Sudan showing the crisis they got. The aerial shots can show the size of the disaster they are facing now. 

Here is a video for a Sudanese lady from Ombada region in Khartoum recounting how she lost her two daughters in the floods.
Ombada : A lady lost two daughters in flood
Here is another short video earlier shot this month by mobile phone camera showing the floods in an area called El Marabee in Khartoum. 

Sunday, August 11, 2013

You are not Getting #Morsi back by terrorizing Christians

 Last Friday Pro-Morsi supporters mainly from Islamists organized marches all over the country, especially in Cairo.  One important thing they allegedly left from trace was the offensive and provoking graffiti on the walls and doors of churches and Cathedrals they passed by.

graffiti on church's doors
Islamic in reference to Islamic State on the doors of Church in Heliopolis
This is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to harassments and attacks against Christians in Egypt since July 3, 2013.
The Muslim brotherhood members and their supporters from supporters are inciting hate in Egypt whether online and offline.
Now since July 3, 2013 Christians in Upper Egypt have been a subject of continuous attacks by Islamists in North Sinai, Assuit , Minya and Sohag where people were killed and houses were torched. There is no police protection what so ever for churches or even for Christian populated areas in Upper Egypt.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

#Ramadan Arabian Nights #2013 : The Tale of Prince Amar El Din and King Zanzibar "Ep.28,29 &30"

I apologize for the delay in posting the rest of our tale’s episodes. I was facing technical problems in the past few days that prevented me from posting the files online. 

By Edmund Dulac from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

By Edmund Dulac from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Anyhow here we are in Eid and I have managed to upload the files and they are working fine.

First things first, you should refresh your memory and remember what happened on the last Arabian night.

Second here are the last episodes with the synopsis :

Episode 28

Princess Amar El Din ran away with her maid from the kingdom in order to find the Lovers island meanwhile evil vizier Zangir failed in poisoning her sad depressed father. 

Amar and her maid disguised as men, as merchants and rented a poor fisherman boat to get to that unknown island. After a couple of days and a bad storm, they found the island. A beautiful tropical island in the middle of an unknown sea where lovers come to complain about their beloved departure. 

There they met an old sheikh called Emotions who told them that Prince Amar El Din was, in the end, crying day and night for his beloved Amar. He told them that they could find in the sad Lovers parade at sunset 

The fisherman was famous late comedian Mohamed Rada by the way.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Jonathan Rashad Presents : Raba’a .. on the eve of Eid

01. Rabaa Sit-in

Talented photographer Jonathan Rashad was in Raba’a sit last Wednesday night capturing shots from the Eid’s eve in the sit in.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Happy Eid Fitr From Egyptian Chronicles

Happy Eid from Egyptian Chronicles to all the readers celebrating Eid El Fitr around the globe.
Of course this year the Eid comes in very intense time in Egypt.I do not know this post to be serious, but I can not keep politics out of it.

The MB pro-Morsi protesters are keeping their spirits high in Raba'a sit in , the housewives there even baked Eid cookies there at the sit in. The cookies they baked had a political message. 
From Raba'a : Cookies say "Morsi is my president", "Islamic"&"anti-coup"
Not so surprisingly the Pro-military supporters from housewives had to fire back too.
Counter MB Cookies : Egypt El Sisi aka Egypt CC Cookies

Happy Eid El Fitr 2013 

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

And The witch hunt against #Elbaradei is on once again

This is what vice President Mohamed ElBaradei tweeted earlier today in Arabic

It seems that my work to make the nation avoid violence does not reach to the state owned newspapers .. except op-eds and reports about how dangerous I am on the people and the state. The way in front of us is long and hard.
The vice president was speaking about what Gamal El Ghitani , the famous writer wrote in a whole page in Tuesday issue of state owned Al Akhbar attacking him and describing him as a danger on Egypt.
Ironically the current editor in chief of Akhbar Hassan El Banna “Not related to the MB” did not let El Ghitani write in the paper during the MB days now , he lets him to write a full page slamming ElBaradei.
The contradictions of ElBaradei By El Ghitani
What Gamal El Ghitani wrote in Akhbar was the latest episode in the new season of “ElBaradei :The enemy” that has been running since the days of Mubarak !! For the past three weeks Mohamed ElBaradei has been under a furious attack in the media.
Of course a common factor between all those who attack ElBaradei that they are the same old Pro-Mubarak Pro-Military Anti-Revolution Faces like Ahmed Moussa , Tawfik Okasha , Magdy El Gald , Mostafa Bakry and Amr Adeeb. This is besides the marathons of the anti-ElBaradei op-eds in the newspapers from that camp.
Of course when someone too close to the military like Mostafa Bakry opens his mouth ranting against ElBaradei to know that there is trouble, huge trouble in Mount Olympus.

#Ramadan Arabian Nights #2013 : The Tale of Prince Amar El Din and King Zanzibar "Ep.27"

Ok guys we are getting closer to the end of the tale this year, the tale of Prince Amar El Din and king Zanzibar.

By Edmund Dulac from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Tonight is the 27th episode of our tale, the 318th episode of our famous Egyptian Radio show. 

Episode 27


Synopsis

The princess and her maid decided to go to that place where the old lady told them that she saw Amar El-Din.

 In that magical place, the princess found a pot with food in it. Both the princess and her maid fell asleep. At the same time, Amar El Din found them. He decided to leave a message on the princess’ hand. The message was to follow come him to the Lovers Island.

Till next night inshallah.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

#Ramadan Arabian Nights #2013 : The Tale of Prince Amar El Din and King Zanzibar "Ep.26"

Another Ramadan night, another new episode of our old radio show. 

First, You can refresh your memory and know what happened last night here.

By Edmund Dulac from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Second, here is the 26th episode of our tale this Ramadan, the tale of Prince Amar El Din and King Zanzibar.


The synopsis of the episode in English after the break. 

It is hard to be a journalist in #Egypt nowadays

It is hard to be a journalist in Egypt those days. It is not about highly polarized atmosphere where truth is lost and fingers of accusations are always pointing to you. It is not about freedom of expression only not but it is about the basic safety demand. Egyptian journalists are now attacked by all parties involved.
The Muslim brotherhood supporters and members attack Egyptian journalists and photographers and Anti-Muslim brotherhood supporters also attack Egyptian journalists. The Egyptian security forces also do what they always do and attack Egyptian journalists.
The Muslim brotherhood say that the Egyptian media does not cover their protests and their sit ins , well the Egyptian media representatives from reporters and photographers have been attacked over and over in their sit ins. Here are some examples and testimonies , I managed to collect.
On last 3 July talented photographer and friend Mosa’ab El Shamy was in Raba’a sit in while El Sisi was saying his famous speech ousting Morsi. Mosa’ab was taking photos for their reactions when some of them got suspicious and asked what he was doing and why he was taking photos for men while crying. Sooner he was attacked and two of his lenses were broken. He was also taken to the stage. Later the MB officials knew who he was and apologized for what happened. 
Photographer Mohamed Shahab was also attacked and beaten at Rabaa  in the early of the days of the sit in. TV reporters also attacked and banned from coverage there.
Of course this is the tip of the ice berg because now journalists pay their lives for covering clashes like late Ahmed Assam who was shot in the Republican Guards Club. It is believed that Assam filmed his shooter in what it could be one of the strangest and saddest coincidences in life.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

#Ramadan Arabian Nights #2013 : The Tale of Prince Amar El Din and King Zanzibar "Ep.25"

Another Ramadan night, it is time for our tale. 

Here is the 25th episode of our tale, the tale of Prince Amar El Din and King Zanzibar. 

By Edmund Dulac from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

First, you should refresh you remember what happened last night.

Second, here is the episode in Arabic 

Third, here is the synopsis of tonight’s episode in English after the break.

Sharon is alive Dear Egyptians , He is alive and in coma

Yesterday a strong rumor took the Egyptian as well Arab social media by storm. The rumor claimed that Ariel Sharon passed away after 6 years in a coma.
Of course Sharon is infamously popular in the Arab world , he is so much hated that everybody was happy spreading this rumor and at the same time making fun of Sharon who he died in the last 10 days of Ramadan and he will be spared from hell. “It is wide belief in the holy month of Ramadan”
Now ironically no one care to deny this rumor or even to say it is a rumor in the media. Instead,this rumor produced other rumors that related currently with the domestic and regional conflict in Egypt and the Arab world over the Muslim brotherhood !!
Oh yes today I found the Anti-Muslim brotherhood websites , Facebook pages and twitter accounts claiming that the only Arab country that sent an official condolence telegram to Tel Aviv was Qatar.
On the other hand I found the Pro-Muslim brotherhood websites, Facebook pages and twitter accounts claiming that the only Arab country that sent an official condolence telegram to Tel Aviv was United Arab Emirates.
OH yes !! It is ironic by all measures.
By the way that photo for Ariel Sharon in come is actually an sculpture for the war criminal that goes back to 2010 and caused controversy in Israel then.

Friday, August 2, 2013

#Ramadan Arabian Nights #2013 : The Tale of Prince Amar El Din and King Zanzibar "Ep.24"

Another night, we continue our adventure.
We continue the adventure of Prince Amar El Din and his quest that led him to marry the Viper Queen to get her crown.
By Edmund Dulac from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

 By Edmund Dulac from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam


First, remember what happened last night and refresh your memory here.
Second, here is tonight’s episode which was the 315th episode in the 1001 Egyptian Radio Arabian nights.

Synopsis

The viper queen knows who Amar El-Din was and why he came. She did not want him to leave thus she confronted him. 

To make it impossible for him to escape and open the other forbidden door, she ordered her lethal viper snake pet to guard the forbidden door.  

He had no other way except to kill both the queen and her snake pet.
Amar El Din has got two days only to return to Amar El Din with the crown.

Till next night inshallah.

The orphaned Friday of Ramadan 2013 , exceptional more than usual

Today is known in Egypt as "The Orphaned Friday" ,the last Friday in Ramadan which Muslims celebrate by praying to God for prosperity, peace and happiness. It is the last Friday in the holy month before Eid. Of course this year no one can argue that it is the least Ramadanian Ramadan "It is like the least cheerful traditional Ramadan".
Now we are all concerned on what will happen today. The Muslim brotherhood and its supporters are going to have mass rallies across the country. Allegedly not less than 33 rallies are planned for the day in different governorates.
On the other hand the ministry of interior got the orders to disperse the sits in according to the law. We fear that there will be bloodshed today.
Anyhow here is alive coverage for the day

Thursday, August 1, 2013

#Ramadan Arabian Nights #2013 : The Tale of Prince Amar El Din and King Zanzibar "Ep.22 & 23"

We are back in sleepless nights where we are waiting for disasters to happen and there is nothing to calm us better than the old Radio Arabian nights. 
Now tonight’s episodes are extremely interesting.

By Edmund Dulac from The Rubaiyat  of Omar Khayyam
By Edmund Dulac from The Rubaiyat 
of Omar Khayyam

First, you should refresh your memory with last nights’ episodes. I am sorry there were technical problems with the files but I fixed them.
Second here are tonight’s episodes

Episode 22 :

Fearing an Egyptian Waco

The time cover during then
In April 1993 , the World watched how a disaster was taking place in Waco, Taxes. After nearly 51 days siege the ATF agent and FB dispersed the sit in at compound in Mount Carmel held by Branch Davidians sect killing 76 people inside the compound including the infamous cult leader David Koresh and ..28 children in a big fire.
The ATF believed that federal firearms law had been preached and the sect members had already a stock of firearms in their compound. Still there were women and children killed in the siege.
Till this day this is a controversy about Waco siege and there has been a debate since then about how the ATF dispersed the siege despite everybody knew that David Koresh was crazy cult leader who deserved to be sent to some mental asylum.
Now in 2013 we got two sits in Cairo and Giza and I fear that they will have the same fate of Waco sit in especially knowing that our police is not trained to disperse sit-ins peacefully or even sits in that are that big in residence areas where children as well people who are ready to die for their cause. “Some of these people are also armed according to different news reports including a report from The famous Robert Fisk himself
I am not comparing the Davidians with the Muslim brotherhood supporters but I can not stop myself of drawing parallels between the sits in and the doomed end. Some Egyptians believe that we are going to have a Jonestown Massacre in Cairo and honestly I think that this is wrong comparison.
Yesterday the Egyptian cabinet ordered the ministry of interior to end the Pro-Morsi sit-ins in both Rabaa and Nahda square , of course in accordance with law and human rights.
Today the ministry of interior called the protesters in both sits in to leave quickly and to clear the sits in promising them a safe exist and full protection.