Catch up on the latest out of Egypt every week, with analysis, news updates, photos, videos, and more.
His bronzed, gold skin, as gold as the sun’s rays, hides a keen, analytical fire within. He challenges the world not with bellows and bravura but with a soft, sombre reproach, with an audible timbre of compassion. | Lubna Abdel Aziz writes about Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Al-Ahram Weekly
- Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood facing wave of trials
- Gunmen kill four near church in Cairo suburb
- Militants attack CSF bus in North Sinai and in Ismailia
- Committee of Fifty begins voting on constitution
- Egypt to raise stimulus by a third, implement minimum wage by January
- Egyptian Christians fear chaos after wedding bloodshed
- Cabinet says emergency law to end mid-November
- Warraq church official says police absent during attack
- US Republican senator holds up $60M in aid to Egypt; Moussa blames rocky relations on United States
- ‘Harming national unity’ could become a terrorist crime: sources
- Four police officers charged with killing thirty-seven detainees
- New political movement to unite advocates of Egypt’s two revolts
- Tamarod to field 120 candidates in parliamentary polls, yet to decide on political party
- Muslim Brotherhood supporters rally in Egypt
- Death toll of Warraq church attack rises to five; Brotherhood denies links to attack
Egypt’s New Protest Law Sparks Controversy | Bassem Sabry, Al-Monitor
The draft protest law meant to structure and organize protests has sparked a wave of controversy. Bassem Sabry discusses what the proposed law is trying to accomplish and how it instead is conflicts with the right to protest, which Sabry describes as one of the ‘gains’ of the revolution.
“Practically speaking, this law, as it stands, rather paralyzes the right to protest rather than regulates its practice. Furthermore, it is more likely to backfire, as there will be simply no way to curtail Egypt’s flood of protests using the measures stated by the law without forceful confrontations that will inevitably cause further protests in consequence.”
“There is much that the government can theoretically do with less controversy to increase security and bring a degree of order to Egypt, including specialized training for security personnel on how to professionally deal with such situations. Wide legal reform on the subject is also best approached by an elected parliament. But whatever the government insists needs to be immediately achieved through legal measures, it will simply not succeed without wide political and public backing, without the law being realistic in what it hopes to achieve and without true protection of the right to protest.”
Bassem Youssef, known as Egypt’s Jon Stewart, returns to TV after four-month hiatus | Erin Cunningham, The Washington Post
Loved and hated, Dr. Bassem Youssef aired his first show since the events of June 30 and successfully ruffled Egypt’s feathers. Erin Cunningham writes of how political satire would play out in this new phase in Egypt as well as the risk Youssef took as he jabbed at current events and political figures.
“Egypt’s favorite funnyman is back on the air.”
“After a four-month hiatus, the popular and controversial political satirist Bassem Youssef returned to the airwaves Friday night to host an hour-long episode of his show “El Bernameg” (“The Program”).”
“Youssef appeared Friday to have retreated from his normal style of bluntly and often personally challenging political figures. Instead, he tested the waters — lampooning peripheral issues of military rule.”
“But in a more serious monologue at the end of his show, Youssef said he would not be intimidated by the ongoing attempts to censor him.”
““People want to know who I support,” Youssef said. “But I will tell you who I do not support. I am not with the people who called us infidels,” he said, referring to the Islamists that often tried to paint Youssef as anti-Islam. “But I’m also not with hypocrisy or ‘Pharaoh-ism,’ ” he said, taking a swipe at Sisi.”
‘Voices of Freedom: Egypt’ is an emotional, artistic and experiential look at the pro-democracy movement in Egypt – as seen through the eyes of the activists that have risked their lives to bring democracy to their country. (Warning: Graphic language)
Translation: “I know what is good for you.” (Source: Andeel)
On Twitter: Reactions to Dr. Bassem Youssef’s al-Bernameg
Bassem Youssef getting hate from both sides means he’s on the right path.
— Mina Fayek (@minafayek) October 25, 2013
Complaint filed against Bassem Youssef for ‘spreading chaos and disrupting nat’l peace.’ Spreading chaos? Everyone was at home watching TV.
— Erin Cunningham (@erinmcunningham) October 26, 2013
It’s only right that Bassem Youssef should work on his show with a flight of legal cases hovering above him.
— Wael Eskandar (@weskandar) October 27, 2013
Bassem Youssef is now accused of being #MuslimBrotherhood. Not sure is this the LOL of the day or Irony of the day? oh, #Egypt!
— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) October 26, 2013
Now that Bassem Youssef is back, here’s a reminder that filing complaints is the national pastime. We’ll see what comes of investigations.
— Basil الضبع (@basildabh) October 26, 2013
Image: Photo: NASA