The Tale of Two Leaks And How The Truth Is Lost Between Them !!

There is on going press leaks on going war between the Muslim brotherhood and the army and unfortunately the truth is the price Egyptians pay in this war between those two.
It began first in early April with the explosive leaks published by the Guardian about the human rights abused committed during SCAF rule. The leaks were from the alleged the revolution’s martyrs fact finding committee commissioned by President after his election.That report should say in details who was responsible for the murder of protesters from 25 January 2011 to 30 June 2012. No one knows how the Guardian got its leaks but we know that the fact finding members finished their report and presented it to the Egyptian presidency. The members deny leaking it to anyone. The Presidency then referred the report to Talaat Abdullah , the Prosecutor general. For months nothing happened.
Before the Guardian would publish these leaks , Egyptian Daily Al Shorouk Newspaper also published leaks from the report in a series of articles but nobody paid attention to our local press.
Of course 2 days after the Guardian’s report , we found President Morsi holding a meeting with SCAF members then promoting three army commanders to higher ranks. Morsi also said “Any insult to the armed forces is actually an insult to all of us”. After the meeting minister of defense El Sisi swore by God in front of the TV cameras that the armed forces did not kill anybody.
The Guardian is being accused of those who hate the MB and are taking the army’s side “not few” of being on the payroll of the MB. Already some disbelieve the Guardian and suspect its credibility because they believe that the famous British newspaper lied about Mubarak’s $ 70 Billion fortune.
Personally I believed that this is another episode in that not so secret troubling relation between the MB and the Egyptian army. In the past months El Sisi’s popularity increased in Egypt and after bringing down the Qatari ambitions in Sinai plus the constant reports in foreign media on how a military coup is in the horizon , the MB had to move. Concerning the violations and abuse during SCAF rule , it is not a secret what happened during those two years.
Like a friend once said “It is old news in new bottles”. The timing explains everything here .The MB was trying to remind the revolutionary powers with what happened during those two years just in case they want to seek an alliance with the military to remove the brotherhood from rule. This is how I read it.
FYI the members of the fact finding committee members are demanding the presidency to publish the report publicly. The members as well human rights activists in Egypt launched a campaign called “Warakom Bltaqrir” or “We demand the report”. Till this moment the presidency has not published the report.
Now after couple of weeks of Guardian’s leaks , we found another interesting leak in Egyptian Daily Al Masry Al Youm last Thursday : The secret 5  phone calls between Hamas and Muslim brotherhood before and during the 18 days of 25 January Revolution. Journalist Yousry El Badry in Al Masry Al Youm says that he got the transcripts of those supposedly secret calls from an unnamed informed source in the Homeland Security “formerly known as state security”. 
The 5 phone calls allegedly took place on 21 January 2011 , 22 January 2011, 2 February 2011 and 11 February 2011.It is worth to mention that the Muslim brotherhood members know that the State security recorded their phone calls. The source did not say if those were phone calls were made on satellite phones and whether state security can spy on satellite phone calls.
In the Phone call on 21 January 2011 we find an alleged  phone call between the two MB leading “M.M” and “M.B” { allegedly Mohamed Morsi and Mohamed El Beltagy} speaking about there were special preparations for upcoming “25 and 28 January 2011” with the help of the neighbors “Hamas”.
For the record the MB did not participate officially in #Jan25 and was against it only few members participated individually and no one in earth knew how things were going to happen on #Jan28 in Egypt. In fact the Day of wrath was only planned on 26 January 2011. I got testimonies actually the MB would not be so pleased to see about how the leading MB figures especially in guidance office were not that revolutionary.
FYI for those who are really documenting the #Jan25 Revolution , the testimonies of the MB defectors say that the MB leaderships did not believe in the revolution and actually took the decision to participate late.
In another phone call on 2 February 2011 “on the day of the Battle of the camel” we find an alleged phone called between a MB figure “M. A” and some Palestinian guy speaking about how the “Palestinians supposedly Hamas” were preparing to get in to the fight with slingshots behind the Egyptian museum “which was under the control of the Egyptian army”.
It is worth to mention that the former regime is marketing the theory that the MB and their Hamas partners were the ones who killed the protesters in Tahrir square on that day. It is also worth to mention that the only slingshot the protesters made in Tahrir square during the 18 days was extremely big “like the one you use in the Lord of the rings” and it did not work !!!!!!
The newspaper added that Khaled Tharwet ,the head of the Homeland security handed over the transcripts of those calls to Khairat El Shater.
Interestingly the State security HQs all over the country were handed over to the army. on April 16, 2013 General Al Sisi stood in front of the court and said that the army did not know the content of the State security documents and records and that it only protected the HQs !! The big irony former minister of interior Mansour El Eissawy “who denies having a snipers unit in the MOI yet believes that the slingshots of Hamas killed  the protesters” said in an interview with Al Masry Al Youm that the State security records were handed over to the army.
Last Sunday the ministry of interior issued an official statement denying the whole issue from transcripts to the claim that Khaled Tharwet handing over the records themselves to Khairat El Shater.
Al Masry Al Youm  “AMAY”  knows how critical its position and that’s why yesterday it reported the alleged transcripts of the prosecutor general so he would investigate those calls. Of course I do not expect any progress in that case. Of course some people are attacking AMAY and are accusing its CEO and editor in chief of standing behind this leak. The CEO of AMAY is none other Abdel Moneim Said , the former Ahram CEO and journalist who supported Gamal Mubarak’s presidency. The AMAY editor in Chief now is Yasser Razek , the former editor in chief of state owned Al Akhbar during SCAF time who was closed to military council.
The Mubarak regime supporters are flying over the moon with those transcripts as they believe that the transcripts proved the revolution of 25 January was an illusion and it was a foreign conspiracy without realizing that if that were true , it would be a true conviction of failure and weakness to Mubarak regime as well his defense and national security apparatuses.
If those calls were true then the Mubarak regime was completely weak and did not deserve to rule the country by all measures. If those calls were true then we were in front a rotten old regime that could not stand against a militant group currently besieged in small sector for nearly a decade !! That regime would not be trusted to a rule a country or to protect it for real. People who lived the whole thing are still alive for God sake. I do not know what I am debating here.
Another thing the fact that those alleged phone calls that the ministry of interior officially denies suddenly appear now , it means that SCAF and GIS are involved too and can not to be trusted on the National security of the country. I wonder why those phone calls did not appear in Mubarak’s trial, more than the hearsay testimonies and wild conspiracies. I am speaking about the audio records themselves.
A journalist friend whom I trust his opinion told me that he believes the whole leak is intended to hit back police general Khaled Tharwet , the current head of Homeland security who is tipped to become the next minster of interior. Rumors are spreading that Tharwet was responsible for the MB activity in Egypt in from 1986 to 1904 in the State security and that he is close to them now. 
Now my opinion :
I believe that the leak in Al Masry Al Youm is actually a payback for the leak in the Guardian.
Unlike The Guardian which got a written copy of an alleged report in Arabic “We do not know officially if it is authentic or not ” , I believe Al Masry Al Youm’s editor in chief should not allow the story to be published like that because in the end it is an alleged transcript without any proof with my all due respect. There is no evidence at all that these alleged phone calls took place professionally speaking. It had to be solidified with some facts , with proof because not all the people are blinded with MB hate and believe in the Hamas theory from old regime supporters.
I also believe in both the details leaks whether in Al Masry Al Youm or The Guardian details were altered in a way or another for political proposes from the source not by the journalists.
What I hate in this leaks war is that how the truth is being lost , how the rights of Egyptians are lost because of dirty politics. Egyptians demanded in this revolution is transparency and accountability.Transparency and accountability are the corner stone of civilized nation for God sake. They got none now.
By the way we are in 21st century, the Egyptian revolution of 25 January 2011 revolution is from the most documented huge political events recorded thanks to the huge advance in media. You can fool some Egyptians but you can not fool all of them , you can fool some Egyptians but you can not fool the whole world.

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#Nile University and its legal victory : Lessons for Those Who Understand

In a legal triumph for Nile University “NU” and its students  last April 24th the high administrative court ordered the return of the land and the building allocated by the government to Zewail city for science and technology “ZCST” to Nile University. The High administrative court also ruled that the NU should be

Nile University "From NU Tales"

registered as a civil university.
I am so so so happy for this legal triumph because it reminds us that people give up their rights. The NU students, the researchers and professors gave us an example of not losing hope and fighting back the system and the regime peacefully till the end. It is a lesson for those who understand.
Since March 2011 and the return of Ahmed Zewail and the regime whether SCAF and then Mohamed Morsi administration were in the side of the famous Nobel awarded scientist with no respect to NU or its legal rights.Yet they did not lose hope and they did not give up their fight and it is enough what happened with them in the time of the elected president last September 2012.
I am waiting to know the reaction of Dr. Zewail and whether he will respect the court rule or not and whether he will leave Egypt forever as he hinted once if the land and buildings are taken from the city for science and technology or not. There is nothing yet on his twitter account.
Yet on the official FB of the ZCST we find the city’s administration stating in an official statement that despite ZCST respects the court’s rulings yet the study in the city will start on time next September 2013 !! The ZCST is depending on the law NO.161 for year 2012 issued by President Morsi to found the Zewail city for science and technology.
The ZCST is saying that the state is going to waste LE 300 Million in emptying the buildings of the city !! Well last time I check ,Zewail and his city took over the buildings of the NU Campus in October city with what is in it.
From their side the NU students union after the court ruling issued a statement asking the state authorities to implement that the ruling officially. Till this moment the government did not hand over the buildings and the land to the Nile University.
Anyhow Egypt is too big to have two , three and four Nile Universities and Zewail city for technology and science. I wish that both the State and Dr. Zewail himself think of transferring the Zewail city for science and technology to a place outside the Grand Cairo area. I wish Dr. Zewail thinks like Sir Magdi Yacoub and Dr. Mohamed Ghonim. Sir Magdi Yacoub got his heart diseases center in Aswan while Dr. Ghonim got his kidneys diseases center in Mansoura.
I hope next time I write about the Nile University , it will be a post from the campus insh Allah

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Save our History : Abu Sir Al Malaq

El Badil Newspaper exposed another huge disaster taking place in the archaeological site of Abu Sir Al Malaq on the borders between Fayoum and Bani Sawif.

Abu Sir Al Malaq : Looting and destruction

It is just sad to see the video till the end. The site is looted as you see and the mummies are torn and left in the sun , it is horrifying and disrespectful even to throw the bones and mummies like this. It is just sad.
There is no security what so ever in the site and sadly enough the locals after the revolution come at night and dig. From what I see in the video , they dig the site and smash the beautiful colored wooden sarcophagus.
Whole tombs are destroyed and written records from papyrus and plates are destroyed.
In a country like Egypt , in these rural areas the unofficial digging in areas can not happen without being noticed by the officials in the city mainly the police. I am tired of the claims that the revolution brought down the police force when the police already is not trying to do any effort to do its duty. The digging was systematic and not amateurish thing in some areas in the site. 
Already from what I see in the video there is no official follow up to the site to the level I wonder where the state was even. before the revolution
Egyptologist Monica Hana spoke in this video about what happened to the site. Already the site is extremely old and its history as burial site goes back to the pre-dynastic age. This burial site includes tombs from the 17th dynasty up to the Coptic era. Hana added that the digging is unprofessional and thus the tombs are destroyed. It is sad. She believes that there are organized gangs involved in the digging and raiding of the tombs. The amazing archaeology activist suggests that state should build a small museum in the city of Abu Sir in order to gather the remaining mummies and to put it there. Her idea is that this museums will provide jobs for the locals and also will give them pride.
The site is also important for the science of mummification but unfortunately no luck for the scientists and Egyptologists.
The site is originally named after deity Osiris and amazing it is new info to me that the word “Abu Sir” in Arabic comes originally from the word Osiris. There are many locations in Egypt called Abu Sir like in Alexandria and even there is a tale in the Arabian Nights called “Abu Sir and Abu Kir” . There is another Abu Sir necropolis in Giza also that has been looted too.
Unfortunately when I know that the locals dig unofficial and rob these sites , I remember the fatwas of Sheikhs like Sheikh Mohamed Hassan and how it plays a destructive role in the life of the people in rural area. 
The state is officially responsible whether the ministry of antiquities or the ministry of interior or the governorates of Fayoum and Bani Sawif.

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#UNICEF 's Numbers : Unemployment in #Egypt

I love the infographic prepared by UNICEF in Egypt and published in its official FB page in both Arabic and English. They are simple and with accurate numbers from the UNICEF. I wish that the Egyptian government would learn from these infographics. Now today the page published a very interesting info-graph about unemployment in Egypt.I thought of sharing it with you.
 I will not comment , I will leave you with the infographic with all the detail. Click on it to zoom in . 

Unemployment in Egypt 

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#Sinai : Questions to be answered

Today Egypt is celebrating Sinai day. For those who do not know what is , it commemorates the withdrawal of Israeli troops in 1982 from Sinai Peninsula except from Taba. After 31 years ago I have to ask two important questions today especially with all the debates around Sinai recently

Who killed our soldiers in Sinai  ??

Yes whenever I hear the word “Sinai” now I always remember how our soldiers were brutally murdered in cold blood last August 2012 and I remember how on earth months passed and we did not know the truth behind their murder. It is not an easy violent terrorist attack , it had shaken the society and I even remember how some compared it with the bitterness of 1967 defeat.

President Morsi , the army and the intelligence should be frank and honest to tell us the truth. The army commandership should respect the blood of those soldiers as well their families and tell us the truth.

Of course in the past few months wild conspiracy theories and claims about how Hamas directly standing behind their murders were taking Egypt’s mainstream and social media by storm. For several weeks in March 2013 Ahram Al Arabi published a series of reports by names of Hamas leaders claiming that they are responsible personally for the attack. Hamas of course denied those allegations completely.

Naturally when you bring Hamas in such debate you bring with it ; its mother movement the Muslim brotherhood is dragged and it is not a secret that many people are convinced now that the president Morsi and the MB stood behind the attack themselves.  According to that theory Morsi and the MB wanted to get rid from SCAF and they did. They say that GIS presented a full report  to Morsi about the attack a week before it took place and that he did not take any step regarding it. Of course one must wonder why the GIS did not warn the army about it.

The info or let’s just say that the leaks I heard from sources “supposedly to be trusted” say that Hamas did not do it and kill our soldiers but they do know those who stand behind their murder and they refuse to hand them over to Cairo.

The army announced some military operation called “Eagle” if you remember. Till this moment we do not its progress and actually all the indications in Sinai. From what I see the terrorists and the Jihadists have not been stopped at all.

I believe again if the GIS or the army knows any information about that attack both of them should share it with the people of Egypt because it is their duty in front of the people and the country. I think that age of keeping the things in secret so the president is not embarrassed is over not to mention they do not love the president or his group.

Of course one would dream to have a real constitution and a real parliament that would bring both the minister of defense and the head of the intelligence and ask them about what happened to our soldiers in a public hearing like the congressional hearings we saw about Iraq and Afghanistan.

Well I keep dreaming this and I wish to see it before I die !!

After 31 years What did we do in Sinai ??

Today hundreds if not thousands of Egyptians shared the photos of Yamit settlement and how its Israeli settlers were kicked out of Sinai from 31 years ago. Those who witnessed the event on TV remembered the scenes of Israeli forces pulling away the settlers from the agricultural settlement.

Now after 31 years I would like to say that unfortunately after seeing the photos of Yamit , I wonder where the urban development from in North and Middle Sinai !!

Why did we fail to have settlements like Yamit in the past 31 years !? For 31 years we have failed in securing Sinai for real. In 3 decades the people of Sinai are completely ignored by the centralized government in Egypt with jobs or education or even respect. In 3 decades Sinai became a hot zone for human and drug smuggling and trafficking. In the past decades Sinai saw a growing terrorist spots and now we got Jihadists in the past 3 years roaming freely. 

Of course the biggest blame here is on the Mubarak regime in that failure leaving Sinai without no real urban development plans all those years. The only thing related to development in Sinai in those 30 years was the tourism development in the South that actually is not enough. Sinai is empty land and it should not be so for too long.

I do not believe that Camp David treaty is the true reason as much as the lack of political will whether in time of Mubarak or in time of Morsi.

Speaking about Morsi , well it seems that Sinai is going to complete its suffering under the MB rule. Actually our national security in Sinai is being threatened by the MB’s own definition of National security and their regional and international policies.

The MB does not recognize the meaning of borders as the brotherhood believes in the caliphate , they believe that Egypt and Gaza are one part of global Caliphate.I do not think that they will think in the same way like we do if the scenario of resettling the Palestinian refugees in Sinai was suggested by the States and Israel as a permanent solution. After all Sinai is regarded an empty land in their eyes , a wasteland !!

By the way you must know that it was true that the MB and Morsi were approving to sell large pieces of land in Sinai to Qatari and Turkish investors , the thing that the army stood against. The ministry of defense issued a controversial law to ban the sell of land in Sinai to foreigners from couple of months ago. According to the law the ministry of defense and the intelligence should approve on the lease of land to foreigners and purchase of land in the Peninsula.

Of course the law made the locals extremely angry in Sinai because it banned the ownership and purchase of land on the borders and the area near to the borders.

This is the first law to be issued without the revision of the Shura council or the approval of the president. It was one of the milestones of the complicated relations between the army and the MB.

In the end Sinai will be always in danger as long as it is neglected , as long as its people are treated as second degree citizens and as long as the only development we think of when we speak about Sinai is the tourism development.

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Palestinian Refugees Escape from hell in #Syria to be in Limbo in #Egypt !!

There is on going human tragedy now in Egypt and no one paying attention to or care to speak about it as it should from the mainstream.
About 9000 Palestinian refugees including whole families have fled Syria to Egypt escaping the revolution turned in to war. Already Palestinian refugees have paid a huge price during those two years. El Assad forces killed many refugees during the fight inside the camps like Yarmouk camp. 
Some of them these 

From the sit in "Do Not kill us twice" by Kareem Farid 

The lucky ones are granted in Egypt a tourism visa where as they should be granted a refugee entry while the others are being deported back to Syria !!
We do not have UNRWA in Egypt and this is part of the problem when it comes to Palestinian refugees. Unlike Lebanon and Syria , we do not have Palestinian refugee camps. UNHCR does not deal with Palestinians , UNRWA only deals with them.
As I have been told from trusted sources that problem can be ended so easily if the Presidency and ministry of foreign affairs act as they should and help those families asking the help of the international agencies.
Of course another part of the problem is how the Palestinian embassy is dealing with the matter. It is just a disgrace.

The refugees are from all ages by Kareem Farid

The Palestinian families from their side started at the Palestinian embassy in Dokki area , Giza a two days sit in on Tuesday.They halted it for the weekend an are going to resume on Sunday.
The Palestinian ambassador met them on Wednesday and told them that he would inform the Palestinian ambassador in New York about their case so the later would tell the UN secretary general and find a solution for their agony !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The embassy already distributed a statement on Monday with what is currently doing and will do to the Palestinian refugees from Syria. Of course the achievements of the embassy were completely denied by the angry refugees.
Well the families need a solution now. They are not going to wait for ever.

The families at the embassy in Dokki by Kareem Farid

Now the following is the off the record talk , you know the type of talk you find in a blog and not in a news website. According to trusted sources the Palestinian refugees of Syria are the price of the regional politics and the fight between Fatah and Hamas as well its mother movement in Egypt aka Muslim brotherhood. The Palestinian ambassador is from Fatah and it seems that he is not acting in a hurry for real to solve this human tragedy in order to embarrass Hamas and the MB with no consideration what so ever to the people.
Here is a  photo gallery from the sit in , unfortunately I did not go there to cover it but friends and tweeps did go and cover it in solidarity.

You can follow the case of the Palestinian refugees from Syria on twitter on the following hashtag : #DoNotKillUs 
Mosireen made a video about the suffering of the Palestinian refugees from Syria in Egypt. It has not been translated to English yet.

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#Aleppo : The Minaret is gone

This is just sad , extremely sad in a way you can not ever imagine. Yes the human souls are precious but seeing the famous Umayyad Mosque without its famous minaret today was a huge shock. The minaret was destroyed after the mosque was shelled by Al Assad security forces.

The mosque without its minaret "AMC and AP"

After and before "AMC and AP"

Ironically some Muslims , mainly from Arabs believed that Prophet Jesus will descend from heavens on this minaret in particular to start his war against the anti-Christ in the end of days. 

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Gadallah resigns : Jumping from the ship or what !!

President Morsi’s legal adviser Judge Fouad Gadallah has resigned from his presidency tonight.
It is unknown if he was forced to resign as the MB wants to sacrifice someone or he resigned. Already the Morsi ordered the return of the people’s assembly. This man’s legal advices were more than devastating whether from returning back the people’s assembly and standing against the constitutional court or with the prosecutor general’s debate or with the constitution debate or the constitutional declaration in November. Is he jumping from the ship now !?  We will see

Judge Fouad Jadallah

Pro-MB Judge actually is the among the direct reasons on how Egypt entered political and legal crisis since last November or even since last July
His resignation was leaked to the internet and he stated 7 reasons on why he could not continue :

1. No clear vision in managing the country and building Egypt’s future as it should !! “All those months after defending Morsi , he is attacking him now !!”
2. Insisting on keeping Hisham Qandil’s cabinet  despite its constant political and economic failure and not communicating with the opposition to have proper reshuffles.
3. The attempt to assassinate the judicial authority  through attacking its independence whether through the prosecutor general debate “I am sorry but you were supporting the decision in public, now you are speaking !!?”
4. How one single political power is controlling the transitional period. “ I do not know if he is speaking about the Muslim brotherhood or the Islamists in general a he is already Islamist !!”
5. The failure of conducting a true national dialogue to achieve political, economic and security consensus. “Again attacking the President and Presidency” 
6. The failure to empower the youth especially the revolution youth.
7. Opening the doors of Egypt in front of Shiism “Ok it is turning crazy from here” and allowing to build Hussainias “not true” through Iranian tourism. He believes that the Iranians will restore the Fatimid State and eliminating Sunni Islam in Egypt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “ Not so surprising the Salafists are praising the resignation of Gadallah , either Gadallah is actually a Salafist or he is trying to win Salafist in a very cheap way”

Of course the resignation does not stop here because Gadallah continues to reveal interesting stuff :

• He was responsible for cancelling the SCAF’s constitutional declaration.
• He was responsible for the decision to restore the parliament
• He was not responsible nor was involved in the dismissal of Abdel Magid Mahmoud or sending him to the Vatican.
• He was not responsible nor was involved in the 3 taxation laws that were issued and later cancelled
• He warned Morsi from articles 2 and 4 from the controversial November Constitutional declaration. “Articles 2 and 4 about immunity to president's decisions and to the constituent assembly”  
• He warned Morsi from not sending the parliamentary elections to the Constitutional court.
• He is not a MB member nor a member

Journalists are saying that the true reason behind the resignation of Gadallah is his interview with Al Masry Al Youm today where he said that Morsi consults the MB guidance office in some issues. He also praised the army and judiciary in Egypt in the same interview.
Several MB members are saying now in the media whether in News websites or talk shows that Gadallah should not have spoken like that about the president.
It is worth to mention that Gadallah is being attacked by the MB tweeps and MB supporters in social media now. They are claiming that his resignation is the best thing ever because he was standing against Morsi’s progress and that he resigned because he failed to secure a ministerial position !! Amazingly they forget on how they chose him and how they defended him for months.
Of course political observers and commentators do not have nothing except analyzing the resignation and even comparing with Mekki’s mild resignation. This is extremely angry resignation and unlike Mekki who praises Morsi and prays for him, Gadallah is attacking Morsi and his Muslim brotherhood. Mekki is criticizing both the President’s supporters and opponents while Gadallah is speaking to the opposition of Morsi whether from Non Islamists or radical Islamists.
Gadallah is not the first adviser in Presidency to resign in fact he was from the few remaining Non MB advisers in Presidency. In fact I believe now Morsi is surrounded by MB except one man : Emad Abdel Ghafur. Abel Ghafur is a Salafist. I do not know on what side Pakinam Sharkawy is , she is not a MB member.
Anyhow when I think about it I believe Gadallah is jumping from the ship.

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#EarthDay : Meet Merna

On the Earth Day I would like you to meet the Arab Youth Climate Movement and its leading member . Merna Ghaly and her friends from 15 Arab countries are fighting another war

Merna Ghaly on MBC Misr

Merna Ghaly
The 18 years old Merna Ghaly was featured in the Newsweek among 25 girls to watch worldwide under the age of 25.Merna fights a battle everybody is ignoring in Egypt whether the government or the civil society. The battle is about Climate Change.Yes tell me who speaks about it now !! 
Here is what said about the GUC student who is completely unknown in Egypt unfortunately

Merna Ghaly and other activists in the Arab Youth Climate Movement demonstrated at the December U.N. climate talks in Doha, Qatar, calling for emissions cuts and a focus on climate change. Ghaly, an Egyptian student, is set on making sure that the Arab uprisings will give birth to a climate spring.

This is what Ghaly said in Qatar.

Merna Ghaly speaks at COP18 in Doha 2012

And

Merna Ghaly

May God bless Merna , she gives me hope. Of course environment and environmentalists are facing hell in Egypt but again Merna and other environmentalists are giving me hope. May be in the end this generation will bring true change.
Now I have been searching the 125 women List of Newsweek to see whether there are Egyptian women featured or not and I was lucky.I found two Egyptian ladies featured . Dina Farid , the founder of “Egyptians girls are red line” movement against sexual harassment was featured. Filmmaker Jehane Noujaim was featured too with her documentaries.
It is amazing to see nice young ladies like those girls honored like this.
We got nice share this year.
By the way there are other Arab, Muslim and African women in the list. I will focus here on the Arab women. Besides Merna Ghaly , we got Saudi Child rights activist and professor Fawziah Al Bakr , Qatari first lady ‘Not so popular in Egypt’ Sheikha Mozah and her daughter Al Mayassa.
We got also late Syrian blogger Fatima Saad who was tortured and killed by Al Assad regime last November 2012. Syrian English teacher turned in to war photographer Noor Kelze is also featured.
Also Ann Peterson is featured in the list as the Arab Spring Ambassador. It is worth to mention there were strong rumors in Cairo that Peterson was not going to continue in her position as the US ambassador to Cairo.

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And God will be the Judge

Minister Ahmed Mekki has resigned from position as minister of justice in Egypt today as we have known. According to news reports he resigned on Saturday.
Here is what Mekki had said in his resignation."Thanks to dear Friend Bassem Sabry who published it on AOE"

Your Excellency Dr. Mohammed Morsi,

The President of The Arab Republic Of Egypt,

Warm greetings and respect,

Since you assigned me to take over the burden of the Ministry of Justice, the opposition has been

The resignation "Judge Abo Shosha"

urging me to resign in conformance with my previous positions.

And yesterday, under the slogan of "cleansing the judiciary" and the legislation for a new Judicial Authority Law, your supporters have united around the demand of my dismissal to achieve their noble goals. And thus, consensus has been achieved.

And therefore, the time has come to grant my wish that my shoulders are relieved of this burden, and I appeal to you that you respond accordingly as soon as you read this letter.

May God save you and save Egypt for your supporters and your opposition, and may God save you from both of them.

The Minister of Justice,

Councillor Ahmed Mekki

The man did not resign because he lied in a case like the case of Mohamed El Guindy , he did not resign because he misled public opinion. He only resigned because the president's supporters from Islamists protested against him demanding his dismissal on Friday. 


Ahmed Mekki and his brother Mahmoud Mekki erased a huge history with what happened in the past months. We will stand and ask ourselves how they changed like that from defenders of judiciary reform and independence to defenders of a regime that is not different from Mubarak's regime in its wants to control all powers and authorities in Egypt. Judge Mekki has resigned and his allies from Islamists are extremely happy that he has gone.

Ahmed El Mogheer {MB youth leading figure} on FB about Mekki
 "We are not sorry for you "

Judge Mekki has resigned and his once allies during the battle of judiciary independence in 2005 are also happy that he got what he deserved from Islamist allies : A stab in the back.
Sorry Judge Mekki , history will not be the only judge but God will be the ultimate judge of your actions.

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Soaring Legends in #Egypt

For the lovers of natural life and environment , this short documentary is highly recommended.

Soaring legends

This short documentary is about the migratory birds and its trip in Egypt especially in Sinai and red sea.

BY the way there is an Arabic version of the documentary.

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The story of Every Friday in #Egypt : Protesters Vs. #MB

Today there have been extremely violent clashes as usual between protesters and MB members as well other Islamists in Cairo. It has been a norm now. Of course everybody will put the blame on the other. Today the Muslim brotherhood and couple of Islamist groups and parties protested at the Supreme court in order to purify the judiciary. The numbers of their protesters to be honest were less than what I expected to the level I wonder till now the MB called for this protest at all.

The MB protesters at Prosecutor general office "AP"

In all the previous protests organized by the MB the numbers were important to show off not in front of the Egyptian people but in front of the army and the United States. In all the previous protests of the Islamists the MB was careful to send that message to the United state and the army in Egypt that they are the majority.
May be the location at the Supreme court is not that big to handle the big mobilizations of MB from all over the country. Already MB leading Member Mohamed ElBeltagy hinted that the brotherhood will restore back Tahrir square next Friday.
Today was terrifying scene. Egyptians Vs. Egyptians , both sides were armed and both sides did not win but actually failed.

That boy stood against MB members on October bridge 'AP'

Things started from bad to worse when unknown assailants attacked the MB members then clashes erupted between protesters and activists from surrounding downtown Cairo specifically in Ramsis street.

The clashes in Ramsis street

We are speaking about vital areas steps away from several parties and Tahrir square. The so-called Black Bloc group already organized a small protest at Talaat Harb square to denounce the decision of the prosecutor general to arrest its members.

The Black Bloc defies the prosecutor general !!

During that protest the BB alleged members set the MB flag on fire.

Al Masdr : Setting the MB flag on fire

Sooner gunshots appeared in the hands of everybody MB and non MB , Islamists and non Islamists.

From Al Masry Al Youm : Gunshots in the hands of everybody

Already things became mad when the MB members and supporters clashed with the protesters of Tahrir square at Abdel Moneim square. They attacked the other protesters  from October bridge. There were crazy scenes today.

One of the crazy scenes today "AP"

Footage of protesters beaten by MB members spread all over the day.

The security forces came to stop the clashes.
 The buses of the MB from governorates were torched as usual

MB buses on fire as usual "AP"

Of course the photographers and reporters were the biggest losers. Today the MB supporters attacked the TV crew of ONTV. Photographer Ibrahim El Masry from El Badil was shot and he is currently in critical condition.

ElBadil's Ibrahim El Masry shot

I do not need t tell you that the Mubarak regime is using today’s events and the footage showing the MB members attacking the protesters with gunshots in the same Abdel Moneim square. The thing is the MB always claims that its protesters are peaceful whereas today handmade guns were seen in their hands.

Ahram Online : Islamist protesters filmed using firearms

According to the ministry of health over 95 have been injured today mostly in Cairo. 17 officers and policemen were injured as well. 19 Protesters have been arrested according to the ministry of interior.

One of the injured "AP"

It is worth to mention earlier today , in dune just like in 1960s the authorities arrested 22 of not so famous protesters from all over Cairo and other governorates accusing them of   being members of the Black Bloc.

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A Message From Kafr Nabl to #Boston

The people of Kafr Nabl in Idlib , Syria got a special message to the people of Boston , United States

 No comment.
The message is clear and honest.

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GIS in Campus , yes it is official after the revolution

Strange thing that this new has passed away in silence since last January 2013.

In last January 2013 I found this strange news “Ain Shams University uses the intelligence to face the spread of arms inside campus”. According to what was said then the General intelligence in Egypt “GIS” would supply Ain Shams University “ASU” with metal detector gates and to secure the university’s entrances and exists. The deal will include training the security of university to fight thuggery.
Of course in the January news the ASU officials told the newspaper that they would study the offer of the GIS to see if its prices are reasonable or not.

Al Watan Newspaper during then had published more interesting details regarding the GIS deal : LE 6 million for installing 8 metal detector gates, 67 surveillance cameras and training to the University Campus. The ASU administration said that it will pay LE 3 million only. 

On last April 4,2013 the ASU Students union wrote on its official FB page that the ASU administration signed a 6 months contract with the intelligence in last February 2013 for LE 4.4 million. The students union welcomed this because they had enough from thugs attacks and assaults actually. The problem is that this is not how it should be solved or is going to be solved.

Of course I have never heard in my life that an intelligence apparatus was hired by a university to protect it from local thugs !!!!!!!!!!!!! This is just wrong on too many levels and I do not know from where I shall start !!

What I know and I understand , the GIS’ role is protect the Egyptian national security especially from outside dangers from spies to terrorists as well to secure Egypt’s strategic not to protect University campuses. University Campuses’ security is the duty of the University’s security and local police. In fact this is the duty of the ministry of interior. The ministry of interior is the one that should supply the university with metal detectors gates and train the security personnel and so on.

The Egyptian intelligence is not a commercial security company last time I check and I believe those men who founded in 1950s did not want it to be like that.

I remembered this news now because because the study has been suspended indefinitely due to the lack of security !!

Ain Shams University is from the most active university in Egypt when it comes to political activism since 1970s. Its students played a vital role in the last two years of the revolution and it has got its own share of martyrs above Dr. Amr Abdel Hady who was killed in the Clashes of Cabinet HQ last December 2011.

The recent attacks in the ASU Campus are more than interesting because when I searched for its origin , I found out that the attacks are led ASU Law school graduate turned in to thug 32 years old Gharib Mahmoud who was being used by State security and University administration during the Mubarak days. Already I am amazed why Mahmoud was not stopped and arrested by police if he is the reason in what is happening in ASU. 

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Carmen Weinstein's Funeral : A Dying Community remembered

Right now the Jewish community in Egypt is holding the funeral of Carmen Weinstein , the late head of the community. The funeral and memorial service are held in an annex of Cairo's Sha'a Hashamayim Synagogue aka Adly Synagogue.
There is a huge surprising media presence as well security presence where those invited to the funeral have to show their IDs. I am surprised to see such media presence as I knew from a friend who is attending the funeral it was private event.
Anyhow the security presence can be explained by the fact that there are VIPs including the Israeli ambassador attending the funeral. The Israeli ambassador already returned to Cairo yesterday after nearly month working in Israel.
Now Rawah Badrawi is attending the funeral and is sharing with us what is happening , I storify her tweets.
Late today I will speak about Magda Haron the new head of the Jewish community.
@9:51 PM
Magda Shehata Haron is the new head of the Jewish community. She was elected from two days ago. Now Magda Haron is very interesting person because she is the daughter of late Shehata Haron.

Magda Haron "Youm7"

Late Shehata Haron was famous Anti-Zionist Leftist lawyer whose positions against Zionism was well known everybody.
Magda Haron is married to Italian Catholic doctor where as her sister Nadia is married a Muslim. Today Magda told the people in the funeral that the Egyptian Jewish heritage is for the Egyptians and they "The Jews of Egypt" are handing this to us in order to remember that once Jews lived here.
It is sad thing.
I wish to see Mrs. Haron more in the media as well other Egyptian Jews even if they are tens.

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And I knew that was going to happen !! The Battle between #MB and Judiciary is on Folks

The Muslim brotherhood has become more than predictable , seriously speaking they have become like a cult film’s plot which you can know its end so easily. I told you that the Muslim brotherhood will use the Mubarak’s release order in order to push for their own agenda against Judiciary. It started with few Pro-MB pages and now they declared officially : They will go to the square to purge the bad judiciary !!
The Muslim brotherhood announced on its official page that it was going to protest next Friday “April 19,2013” for the following demands :

1. To demand the Shura council to issue the judicial authority law that allegedly achieve judicial independence.
2. To purge all the state’s institutions from corruption
3. To demand the trial of all those responsible for the murder of the revolutionaries as well to put the former regime members responsible for spoiling the political life in Egypt on trial.
4. To work on restore Egypt’s stolen money abroad.

The MB will protest at the prosecutor general office which is at the Supreme court. This means that the MB members will be mobilized.
The proposed the judicial authority law will force 3500 judges in to retirement because it lowers the retirement age to 60 years old.Amazingly as I hinted in the previous post which I added it link above the former MB guide Mahdi Akef said to Kuwaiti newspaper from two weeks ago that nearly 3000 judges will be forced in retirement soon.
Interestingly on April 6 ,2013 the MB issued a statement claiming what Akef said was media fabrication “the interview was recorded” that the MB was not drafting a law that will force thousands of judges in to retirement. The statement claimed that that bad rumor was spread by Mubarak’s regime to turn judiciary against the brotherhood !! I can not believe the amount of lies.
It is as if the Muslim brotherhood is reviving Nasser’s worst legacy ever. It is like their own their judges massacre. To read more about the judges massacre of 1968, you can go back to the Egyptian Chronicles’ archives as well the Judges Club’s entry in Wikipedia. Ironically the judges Nasser dismissed in 1968 were over 200 judges and they were reinstated again where as the MB will see the law to force over 3000 judges in to retirement.  Ironically my source in the 2006 post was judge Ahmed Mekki who wrote its history in Al Masry Al Youm and now after 6 years Minister of Justice Ahmed Mekki will oversee the new massacre. Alas for real !!
The Muslim brotherhood does not really want to purge the judiciary from corruption but rather make it another arm from its arms.
By the way today hours before that statement would be announced officially , I found the members of the MB on twitter announcing that next Friday they are going to protest in Egypt’s squares to purge the judiciary. The leading figures in MB and Freedom and Justice started working on making their members support the upcoming battle.
Here is Hassan Ibrahim , the secretary general of Freedom and Justice Party saying on his FB page that one of the reasons why 25 January revolution took place was to stop the control of the executive power over other powers and that people after the revolution will not accept any power or authority to force its power against its popular will. He added that The people are the sources of all powers and authorities.

A screen capture for Hassan Ibrahim's status

Populism always sells. 
Scary enough , the agent of chaos and the omen of death before any protest MB youth leading figure Ahmed El Mogheer “they deny that he is one of them” told Al Watan that they “MB” will purge the judiciary and the media peacefully but they will have martyrs !!

El Mogheer : Some of us will die as martyrs

Watch this guy people , whenever he opens his mouth people do die and get killed.
Now here is what will happen in the Weekend. The MB will protest on Friday. On Saturday either the Shura council will approve the law or Morsi will issue some badass decisions. BY the way the elected President will have his fire live interview next Saturday night …on none other than Qatari Al Jazeera TV channel.

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#Hala’ib Triangle Again and Again

We want to know what Mohamed Morsi promised the Sudanese officials regarding Hala’ib triangle during his visit to Khartoum because what we hear from the Sudanese officials needs a stand. Yes the issue is back again resurfacing after the Presidential Statement about Hala’ib triangle and the army hints here and there that it will not allow a single inch of our territories to be taken away from Egypt. The presidency claimed that Morsi did not speak about the disputed triangle at all during his talks with the Sudanese counterparts.

The last leak was the most powerful one from them all , from the meeting between Morsi and SCAF members above them El Sissi from couple of days ago.

People are alarmed in Egypt after the statements of Sudanese minister of environment on Monday in Alexandria.  Sudanese minister of environment Hussein Abdel Kader told Egyptian reporters while attending some conference in Alexandria that Hala’ib triangle is Egyptian Sudanese common land “which is true” and that there should be projects in the triangle under Sudanese administration. “He repeated this as you can see in the video below”

Minister of environment in Sudan : Hala’ib and Shalateen are Egyptian Sudanese territories

MENA , the official news agency on the same day published that the minister hopes the return of of Hala’ib and Shalateen to Sudan ‘He did not say so in the video’.

The thing is that people are now digging the MB archives and knowing how the MB as a group does not recognize borders especially between Islamic countries with Islamist rulers from their own point view like Sudan , people are worried.

Mahdy Akef speaks about Hala’ib

Here is an old video for former MB guide Mahdy Akef saying that it does not matter whether Hala’ib under Egyptian rule or Sudanese rule as we are all Muslims. Well the man did not lie and this is how the MB members think.

What I fear of that this issue with current Anti-MB sentiment feelings in public can create anti-Sudanese sentiments just like the there are these anti-Gazan sentiments . Many Egyptians now believe that Hamas is going to invade Sinai and at the same time is helping Mohamed Morsi by creating chaos in Egypt.

Of course Hamas leaders deny any involvement in Egypt or that they want Sinai but Sudanese officials do not deny that they want Hala’ib triangle.

Now the poor rich triangle needs a post , yes I want to go there but unfortunately not now. But my friends have gone and I think I will ask them if I am able to use the material they got from photos.

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Mubarak’s trial : You know this was going to happen so why a sad face !?

So the criminal court in New Cairo ordered the release of Mubarak in the Killing of the protesters but he will remain in prison pending investigation in other corruption cases. It was expected and purely procedural and got nothing to do with the evidence.
Judge Ahmed Atia Abu Shosha from the real reformist judges in Egypt explained the court ruling :

إخلاء سبيل مبارك اليوم ليس له أى علاقة بقوة الأدلة أو ضعفها..الموضوع إجرائى بحت..الحد الأقصى للحبس الاحتياطى سنتين فأوجب القانون إخلاء سبيله
— Ahmed atia aboshosha (@AD_Shosha) April 15, 2013

Releasing Mubarak has nothing to do with how strong or weak the evidence is , the issue is completely procedural. The maximum limit for temporarily detention is two years and thus according to the law he had to be released.

معلومة:مبارك لازال يواجه اتهامات بقتل المتظاهرين تصل عقوبتها إلى الإعدام..إخلاء السبيل لا يؤثر فى ذلك..العبرة بتقديم أدلة تثبت هذه الاتهامات
— Ahmed atia aboshosha (@AD_Shosha) April 15, 2013

An info : Mubarak is still facing charges of killing the protesters , these charges’ penalties reach to execution. Releasing him will not affect other cases. The idea is about representing evidences to prove these accusations.

Judge Abu Shosha predicted this already last week so I do not know why people are overacting.
Of course many indications and leaks say that he will be acquitted because there is no real evidence incriminating him for real as all these months his people were doing a great job especially in time of SCAF.
Mubarak has not been acquitted yet. He is still waiting for the new judges panel in the killing of the protesters case. He is also facing other cases as you know.

 We know this is the price we will be paying for not having a revolutionary court.It is a curse and a bless as the same time. The Mubarak supporters are flying over the moon gloating and living their dream that Mubarak is coming back along with his regime. Some pro-Revolutionaries in social media are feeling sad and despair actually as if the revolution is defeated !!
Anyhow the MB and its members are turning the whole in their advantage as usual claiming that the Mubarak’s judiciary system is responsible and that it must be purged !! It is interesting when you relate this to the Controversial statements of former MB guide Mahdy Akef in Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida from couple of weeks ago. The outspoken MB leading figure claimed that not less than 3000 judge will be forced to retirement.
The MB is trying to push a new Judiciary authority law where the age of retirement will be lowered.
Already the MB Pro-Pages began to call the people to protest against the judiciary next April 26,2013.
It is not about the judge in the case of Mubarak. In fact the judge did what he should have done. He did it according to the book. If there is a problem in Mubarak and his cronies’ cases , it will be in the prosecutor general office. Morsi and the MB claimed the new prosecutor general who was appointed illegally will announce more cases and more incriminating evidence against Mubarak regime and yet since last November 2012 we have seen nothing except promises. The one thing for sure is that the prosecutor general appointed by Morsi is active against journalists, TV hosts and protesters more than Mubarak and his cronies.

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Does the Anti-Narcotics administration know about this website !?

I do not know if I blogged about this website or not but there is a website that suddenly appeared out of no where on internet sharing the prices of Hashish all over Egypt. The website is called “El 7Ashesh Bkam” { How much is the hashish price now ?}
Yes all over Egypt you can the prices and dealers of hashish in Egypt. Amazingly the website got a twitter account and Facebook Page.
Hashish is illegal in Egypt and we got here the names of the dealers in different areas so I wonder what is the position of the famous Anti-Narcotics general administration in the ministry of interior from this website ???!!!? Ok if you check the comments , you find the admins of the website correcting me and saying that the names mentioned that in the website are actually the users of hashish who send to the admins the prices of Hashish in their areas. They say that their website is based on the game concept !!
I know that the department is active , at least this is what I get when I read from two days ago that the oldest anti-narcotics police department in Africa published its annual report for year 2012. It announced that in 2012 it busted 12 tons of Hashish ,77 tons of Marijuana and 435 millions narcotics pills especially the Tramadol.

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The tale of two trials : #Mubarak and #Hassan_Mostafa

Today we had two trials in the morning both are significant and both will make you think a lot of how things developed in Egypt in those two years.
Today was the start of Mubarak’s retrial. Yes after so many months we see Mubarak , the ousted ex-president who was sentenced 25 years life in jail for failing to protect the protesters last Summer. His appeal was accepted and today was his retrial. Surprisingly he looks amazing and healthy , even more cheerful for a person who was transferred from Tora prison to Maadi military hospital clinically dead !!

Leaving Maadi military hospital today to the court

 It seems that he is being taken care off in Maadi military hospital after all . His spirit was extremely high to the level of smiling and waving to the camera.

Waving to the camera with all confidence "ONTV"

His sons Gamal and Alaa were there sans Holy Quran unlike previous trial, already I do not know why there were there. It was not their case according to my knowledge. They are not involved in the killing of protesters. I think this is the first time a defendant is allowed to bring companions with him !!
 Habib El Adly was there with all confidence saluted by some beard man as usual whom the MOI said to be Mohamed Ismail El Shaer , the son of the infamous Ismael El Shaer the head of Cairo directorate. The MOI is claiming that Mohamed El Shaer resigned from his work in the state security. Ok if Mr. Mohamed El Shaer is no longer an officer , what did he do in the trial today !?? 
Now it was really short session because the judge and the judges’ panel have stepped down from the case. Thus the case will be back to the appeal court till we got a new panel.
The judge who stepped down is actually the one who acquitted all defendants in the battle of the camel. This is why many revolutionaries welcome the decision. Farid El Dib is claiming that the judge is sick and that’s why he stepped down.
Thus the trial is adjourned to the summer.
Of course there were scuffles outside the court as usual in New Cairo between Mubarak’s supporters aka Mubarak’s children and the families of the martyrs.

A supporter holding the photo of Mubarak by Bel Trew

Mubarak's supporters kissing his freaky doll !!

 No activists have been there because they are in Alexandria attending another trial.
The other trial is the trial of the famous Alexandrian activist Hassan Mostafa. That activist is from the reasons why we know the case of Khaled Said from two years old. He was the one who exposed how state security officers  were burning documents in their SS headquarter. Last 25 January 2013 there were clashes at the court in Alex between the families of the martyrs in Alex and the security officers in the killing of the protesters trial there. Hassan Mostafa was arrested during the clashes and was accused of assaulting a prosecutor. According to the official papers of his case his so-called assault on the prosecutor turned his cheeks in to red !! Yes this is what officially documented in the case !! I would assume that Mostafa is accused slapped the prosecutor from that description !!
Mostafa was sentenced two years in jail for this charge.
Mostafa’s lawyer demanded the case to be adjourned despite he proved that one of the witnesses that testified against Hassan was lying. He claimed that the person who assaulted the prosecutor had long hair where as Mostafa is bald !!
Many activists from Cairo and Alexandria protested in solidarity of Hassan Mostafa today during the trial and after it was over they headed in a rally to his house.

The rally in Alexandria "Salma Said"

The trial of Mostafa is adjourned to the 4th of May 2013.
According to those who met with Hassan , he was smiling.
On the same day we have  two different trials for two different contradicting characters in two cities. I do not know to say if you see these trials and think carefully about what is taking place in Egypt, you will find them a reflection. After two years of ousting Mubarak , his regime does not suffer or even end while the ones who are paying the price are the activists who refused his dictatorship and the MB dictatorship.
By the way controversial prosecutor general Talaat Abdullah has order the Maadi hospital to send a report regarding Mubarak’s health condition in order to return him back to Tora prison.
The fantastic Doaa Adel drew this cartoon about Mubarak's trial today

 The natural evolution of the century's trial :
1- Right After the revolution
2- During the transitional period
3- Under the MB rule

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