This Week in Egypt – August 9, 2013

Catch up on the latest out of Egypt every week, with analysis, news updates, photos, videos, and more.

Quotes of the Week

“If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck.” Senator John McCain
 
Egypt in the News

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

 
This Week’s Interviews

Members of the interim government and leading secular politicians have made a concerted effort, through interviews in foreign press, to share their narrative of current political events in Egypt. Below are a few of the most notable interviews. 

  • Watch an interview with Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy | BBC
  • Read an interview with Vice President for International Affairs Mohamed ElBaradei | The Washington Post
  • Read excerpts from an interview with Egyptian General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi | The Washington Post
  • Read about the interview with leadering figure in the National Salvation Front Amr Moussa on Egypt’s after the Brotherhood | AP

 
In-depth

Egypt’s Islamists Turn Violent | Bel Trew, Foreign Policy

As tension has continued to build on the streets in Cairo, and the political stalemate has not come to an end, there is growing evidence and concern about the presence of torture and weapons in the Raba’a al-Adaweya and al-Nahda square  sit-ins. Bel Trew writes reports on the evidence of torture and weapons, as well as the continued attacks on journalists.

“There is now mounting evidence that some Brotherhood loyalists within the pro-Morsy sit-ins—which up until now had remained largely peaceful—are indeed armed, and have committed what some human rights groups describe as torture against their political opponents.”

“These reports don’t bode well for likely upcoming efforts to break up the sit-ins: If protesters are armed, Egypt’s poorly trained police force may not be able to shut down the encampments without considerable use of force and possibly further bloodshed.”

“Meanwhile, reports of attacks on Egyptian journalists at Morsi rallies continue to rise. The Brotherhood has feuded with local media since the military takeover—and most Egyptian news outlets are staunchly critical of the protests, sometimes to a fault. In reaction, demonstrators appear to be taking matters into their own hands.”

Egypt on the Edge | Editorial Board, The New York Times, The Opinion Pages

Writing briefly, the New York Times Editorial Board, highlights the dangers of the expected violence if the police attempt to disperse the Raba’a al-Adaweya or al-Nahda square protests.

“The generals who now call the shots in the world’s leading Arab country and their handpicked civilian government have halted efforts to reach a compromise with the Islamist supporters of the man they ousted—Mohamed Morsi, the country’s first democratically elected president. Instead, they have threatened to forcibly disperse tens of thousands of pro-Morsi civilians from two sit-ins in Cairo.”

“The government has carried out a sweeping crackdown against the Brotherhood, jailing Mr. Morsi in an unknown location, and blamed the group for inviting the crackdown even though the two main sit-ins, which are demanding Mr. Morsi’s reinstatement, are open and seemingly nonviolent.”

“It is difficult to understand why the army, which considers itself the guardian of the state, would think that crushing the Brotherhood could benefit the country…The Brotherhood, having been tossed out in a coup, might legitimately wonder whether the democratic process can ever be trusted.”
 
Videos

Raba’a tours for tourists


Supporters pose for pictures in support of President Mohamed Morsi

Photos of the Week


Photo Credit

Also take a look at Jonathan Rashad’s photos from Raba’a al-Adaweya on the eve of Eid al-Fitr.

 
Cartoons


Cartoon: Youm7
Translation:  Tourism has halted, but Egyptians still amaze the world


Cartoon: Oum Cartoon
Translation: “The television is not working right, I think I will get the plumber to fix it tomorrow!”