The Last Tweet of #Chatah

This is the last tweet by former Lebanese minister Mohamed Chatah on twitter , just one hour before his assassination in Beirut in another huge explosion that rocked the city earlier this morning.

#Hezbollah is pressing hard to be granted similar powers in security & foreign policy matters that Syria exercised in Lebanon for 15 yrs.
— Mohamad B Chatah (@mohamad_chatah) December 27, 2013

The last tweet just one hour before his assassination.
The more moderate people are killed and forced to shut up , the more  radicals flourish. A fact we know in the hard way in the Middle East !! 

Read More

Strike4Sudan : The Sudanese Won't give up

You may think that things have calmed down in Sudan after two weeks of protesting against El Bashir , you may think that Sudanese gave up quickly. Well they did not give up and they know that this is just the start in a path that will end up with freeing Sudan from the iron fist that dictatorship they were cursed with. 

Sudanese activists have started since yesterday a 5 days hunger strike. Yes 5 days hunger strike for those specific demands.

1. Release of all political detainees.
2. Bringing those responsible for the killing of protesters to justice and allowing people to demonstrate without fear of detention or use of force. 
3. Freedom of expression and allowing journalists to resume their role and lift the bans on newspapers.

You can follow the updates of the strike4Sudan in this blog. 
Also this blog "Sudan Martyrs" follow the list of Sudanese martyrs fallen in the past weeks. 

You can follow the updates of the strike on the following hashtags on twitter : #Strike4Sudan and #اضراب_للسودان in Arabic
By the way I am so astonished on how the West has been silent on what was taking place in Sudan , was not Omar El Bashir a criminal wanted by the ICC !? Was not he wanted for his crimes in Darfur !? Is not he a dictator ? I know that there is an iron curtain when it comes to media inside Sudan but this is too much. 

This video below is Mosireen Collective production about Sudan. It is Arabic and has not been yet translated. It is called "Revolution continues ..Sudan".Please share it.
I am shocked to see such footage now especially when it comes to the massacres in Nuba mounts !!

Indeed Revolution does not only continues but it grows day after day

Read More

Regarding the NYTimes Map Dividing 5 Arab countries in to 14

NY Times published a op-ed about how 5 countries in the Arab world can be divided in to 14 countries by Robin Wright. The graphic representation of the op-ed as a map became a viral in the Arab social media especially in Egypt.

It spread like fire as if that map was a reality , not the visualization of some analyst’s views that may happen and may not. It spread like a fire as if that that was going to happen for real. As Big Pharaoh said on twitter this map in the New York Times would fuel debate and conspiracy theories in the region especially in Egypt for the upcoming 825 years.

This is not the first map of its kind where American Middle East analyst says something similar, if you remember some American Magazine published another similar map during the invasion of Iraq about possible divisions and unlike Wright’s map Egypt was among those unlucky countries that were going to spilt.

I know that what I am going to say now won’t appeal to many people now as fascism is the fashion nowadays along with waiting for the strong just dictator Messiah to bring order and stability to the country that suffers from foreign plots from here and there. We will not have those maps and those predictions if there are true democracy and equality that does not differentiate between any citizen in those countries.

All those countries mentioned in that map scaring the people in their dream do not and did not enjoy freedom or democracy or justice except may be for short times from long time ago.

“The Divide conquer” policy will not vanish by dictatorships in fact it becomes a true reality through dictatorships that spread hate and fear as well racism through religious nationalism , ideological nationalism and ethnic nationalism.

This map can turn in to a reality if the people in the Arab world do not wake up and admit that they got huge problems when it comes to religious sect and ethnic minorities. Of course I do know how many alarms the Arab world has to hear to wake up since the first spilt of Yemen and the first civil war in Lebanon in 1950s !!

Interestingly at least for me that Sudan is being neglected from Wright’s map when actually both Darfur and Kordofan have their own woes thanks to El Bashir regime considering the fact that like South Sudan they were independent from Khartoum and had their own rulers.

The Pro-Military supporters think that Egypt was saved from that theoretical map and won't be divided thanks to the 30 June and the army , well I have to say that it is more complicated than that.

When it comes to Egypt , unlike other countries in the region including those mentioned in the map I would like to hint out that for 3000 years our borders have not changed and we do not have this extreme mix of ethnic and religious minorities like in Syria or in Iraq “for example Shiite and Kurds” or  violent tribal nature thanks to Qaddafi in Libya as He used to favor tribes over others” or in Yemen where the South feels that is being discriminated by the North.

Still I can not ignore that we will be always live in fear as usual if we do not face our problems as we should. We should stop hiding our problems and claim that Egypt does not suffer from sectarian or ethnic problems that truly threat our national security and our future as a nation.

We got a Nubian problem that can be solved so easily if the Egyptian Nubians restore their land and compensated equally and fairly as well treated like other Egyptians.

We got a problem in Sinai that can be solved so easily if you start to develop this desert and change its demographics in the the right way at the same time , treat its locals the Bedouins as true Egyptian citizens not third class citizens you disrespect coz you know they are untrusted Bedouins !! 

We got a Hala’ib triangle problem that we think we are going to hide by banning all the maps showing it as disputed region in Egypt when the whole world shows it as a disputed region. Hell we do not even try to improve the horrible conditions there to make those people really feel that they are Egyptians.

Of course I do not need to speak about the Christians and how they suffer in Egypt and before anyone tells me that this is over and it was the Islamists problem , I hate to tell you that it is beyond the Islamists.

We should not rely on the intelligence and military intelligence when it comes to deal with the religious and ethnic minorities files. As a society we have even bigger and more important role. We should stop those stupid useless reconciliation media stunts.

With my all due respect not 100 revolutions or military intervention can save a nation from doom if its people do not recognize their problems and try to solve them for once and for all in the correct way.
Again “Divide conquer” does not happen in a healthy society but rather weak society and God knows how many weak societies we have from the ocean to the gulf.

Read More

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.

Read More

It started as A revolution then It became like this in #Syria

It started as a revolution in Syria then it became as you can see in this cartoon unfortunately.

Over the weekend the Syrian Observatory for human rights issued a new death toll estimating that more than 80,000 Syrians have been killed , half of them are civilians.

Read More

#Reyhanli Explosion : Could it be a turning point between Syrians and Turks !?

Today two car bombs have killed not less than 40 people in border town of Reyhanli. Despite that no one has claimed responsibility all fingers are pointing to Syria including Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
As it is a border town , there is a Syrian community of refugees who fled the country and I am afraid such explosions would harm those Syrians as their host in the town could blame them. Already from local Turkish testimonies I have been reading online , the locals blamed their government as well the Syrian refugees and Syrian revolution turned in to a civil war.
Today I read that the locals of Reyhanli smashed by rocks the cars carrying Syrian plates in the border town angrily. I fear this could be a turning point between the Syrian refugees and their Turkish host and here I am speaking about the people not the government.
To add more fuel to the problem ,there is Alawite Turkish community in the city . I can imagine how the sectarian talk adopted by some Syrians can be harming in these situations.
Here is a photo album for more than 50 photos from Reyhali’s explosion “graphic” by Brown Moses

Read More

Happy Mother’s Day From #Egypt

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mothers in Egypt and the Arab world.
This was the first post stamp issued in Egypt to commemorate the National Day in year 1957

Mother's Day 21-3-1957

And here is the Google Doodle for the Day from Google Egypt.

Also here is the Mother’s Day song for the year by the legendary Soad Hosny from Lyrics of Salah Jahin and the music of Kamel El Taweel from the Egyptian National TV archives. “Legends summit”

Good morning my majesty

It is worth to mention that Egypt was the mother of the idea to have the Mother’s Day on March 21st in the Arab world thanks to the famous Amin brothers in 1956. The Amin brothers adored their mother as well their godmother , the mother of all Egyptians Safia Zaghlol.
The mother’s role in Egypt and how it is highly regarded is rooted deeply in our folklore without knowledge now. From Isis to Virgin Mary to Lady Zeinab
Today also is the first day of Spring and is the Nairoz for the Kurds and Baha'i's by the way.

Read More

Arresting Qaddaf El Dam , a big noise like his late cousin

Early Tuesday the Egyptian police arrested by the orders of the INTERPOL 3 top wanted Ex-Qaddafi regime’s officials above them Ahmed Qaddaf El Dam , the top Qaddafi’s aide and his cousin in a very big scene in Zamalek area.
The other two arrested along Qaddaf El Dam are former Libyan ambassador in Cairo Ali Maria and Mohamed Ibrahim , the brother Moussa Ibrahim, the former minister of information.
Just like his cousin, Qaddaf El Dam did not give up except with a fight in a big scene. It turned out that his guards opened their fire at the police force that came for his arrest injuring a police officer in the quiet clam upper Class Zamalek neighborhood in early morning. Reporters claim that when the police force stormed his residence he claimed that he believed the police force were actually Libyan rebels searching for him !!
In that time it seems that Qaddaf El Dam spoke with Jihan Mansour on Dream TV in her morning TV show.  He said that he was not a terrorist to be treated like that.

The latest Interview with Qaddaf El Dam on TV through phone

After that he surrendered himself to the Egyptian authorities and went to the International Cooperation Office at the Prosecution office in a big scene waving to the people while in custody like his late cousin !!

Saluting the people after Arrest !! "AP"

The international cooperation office follows the Prosecutor General office and from what I understand is like the link between the INTERPOL and the Prosecutor General office.
Now there is a debate both in Egypt and Libya about whether Egypt should extradite that eccentric guy or not and whether he gave up his Libyan passport or not. Some human rights activists in Egypt like Hafez Abu Saeda believes that as an Egyptian he should not be extradited to Libya .
The chairman of the Egyptian organization for human rights believes that the wanted Libyan ex-officials should not extradited in general except if there is a guarantee for a fair trial with no random killing and tribal vengeance. 

ليس معنى رفض تسليم الليبين ان يفلتوا من العقاب لكن لابد من ضمان محاكمة عادلة ومنصفة ورفض الانتقام القبلى والقتل العشوائى

— hafez abuseada (@hafezabuseada) March 19, 2013

Abu Saeda raised the matter of Qaddaf El Dam’s Egyptian nationality and the Libyans are speaking in their TV channels that the man gave his Libyan passport. Now there is implication also raised by Abu Saeda . According to the extradition agreement between Arab states in 1952 Arab citizens are not extradited and face trials in their own countries. “If I understand correctly”

اتفاقية تسليم المجرمين بين البلاد العربية لعام ١٩٥٢ ووقعت عليها مصر المادة السابعة تنص علي لايجوز التسليم اذا كان من رعايا الدوله وتحاكمه هي

— hafez abuseada (@hafezabuseada) March 19, 2013

Despite millions of Egyptians faced and are facing trials all over the Arab world , it is worth to mention that Hisham Talaat Mostafa was not extradited to  UAE and had a trial in Egypt.
Qaddaf is already half Egyptian half Libyan. Born in 1952 for Egyptian mother and Libyan father in Matrouh and it seems that he got an Egyptian citizenship even before Egyptian mothers’ children are granted the citizenship.
Well personally I believe you will find many sympathizers from the media with Qaddaf El Dam as the man supported several newspapers and journalists.He also owned a TV channel in Egypt. Already the man is believed to have estimated US $ 10 billion investments in Egypt.
Nevertheless of the charges he is facing in Libya , this man is facing charges of possessing illegal arms and resisting police forces. He is detained pending investigation for 30 days in Egypt. He is facing corruption charges in Libya and Egyptian INTERPOL is waiting to study his file from Libya.
Now regarding that sudden change in Egypt’s position towards the Libyan wanted officials. Well there are two theories and both are speaking about pressure and deals.
The first one I hinted to earlier is related to the crisis between Libya and Egypt regarding these wanted ex-officials. The theory says that Egypt is trading those three “and may be more” for the Egyptian detainees in Egypt from illegal workers and Egyptian Christians accused of spreading Christianity.
It is worth to mention that there was a meeting between the Pope of Coptic Church and the Libyan ambassador to discuss the fate of those Egyptian detainees. Already now the Prosecutor General assistant is in Libya to discuss the fate of those detainees.  
The second theory says that MB strongman Khairat El Shater reached to deal with the Libyan government by which Libya would pay $ 3 billion to get those men.
I believe the first theory more than the second or to be honest there could be a deal between Egypt and Libya to hand over these men and keep some of their assets as well to release our detainees.
I think  we will know soon if the Egyptian Libya relations improve in the future and out detainees are released.

Read More

Historical moment in wrong time !!!

And President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has become the first Iranian President to visit Cairo since the revolution in Iran from more than 30 years.
Here is the reception of the Iranian President in Cairo airport.

It is a historical moment but not the perfect one. It is not the correct image in my mind for this important meeting between the heads of those two important countries in the Middle East not to mention these are not the correct image for the "heads" of these states !!

The two presidents at Cairo airport "Egyptian presidency"

Unlike the Muslim brotherhood and their supporters who are suddenly open to dialogue with Iran , the Salafists are somehow in shock. The Salafist call criticized the visits and even put conditions that actually constraints on the visit of the distinguish visit. 
The Iranian president has met the Sheikh of Al Azhar and the grand Mufti. 
You must know that Ahmadinejad is visiting Egypt as a the head of member state in OIC. In case you do not know we are having an OIC summit in Egypt.

Read More