My Egyptian Vacation Plan is On Hold

My Egyptian Vacation Plan is on Hold

I was planning for my family to spend a week in Hurghada this year, but now I am not so sure. I don’t think it is safe to be in a crowded place full of tourists in Egypt these days. The recent meaningless terrorist attacks would definitely make a vacationer anxious not relaxed and that defeats the vacation’s purpose. It makes me sad that I don’t get to enjoy a beautiful resort on the Red Sea but my family safety comes first. We can always take a cruise to the Bahamas or go to Disney World or even Europe instead.

I won’t return to the Red Sea resorts until I gain my confidence back in its safety probably in a couple of years (with God’s will) granted that no further attacks occurs in the area during that period.

On-the-other-hand, It is clear that the security in Sinai is deficient. The security forces can’t preempt such attacks; all they can do to is arrest and torture innocent people after the attack in order to put the blame on someone and close the case.

The poor leadership of this country can’t handle the situation. They are dedicating all their resources to beat demonstrators, attack honorable judges and arrest opposition leaders. Unfortunately this will only increase the spiral of violence which is not good for anyone.

Welcome to the world Hana

My sweet baby Hana was born on 4/19. Forget about everything else, and welcome Hana to the world. She may not change the world but for sure she changed mine.

Banned Article by Fahmy Howeidy

Banned Article by Fahmy Howeidy

I was disturbed after reading this article in El-Osboa weekly by Fahmy Howeidy an Islamic affairs writer in which he talks about human right abuse in Egypt by the police. At the end of the article he mocks the government for committing to change the emergency law’s name while keeping its contents. No wonder that this article was banned from Al-Ahram daily. It leaves a bad taste in the reader’s mouth knowing that human dignity was reduced to nothing in Egypt the mother of all lands

Here are some parts of the article

في 7/10/2005م أطلق أحد رجال الشرطة الرصاص علي سائق حافلة ركاب صغيرة (ميكروباص) ­ اسمه علاء محمد عبداللطيف ­ ومساعده محمد عدلي، فأصاب الأول بطلق ناري في منطقة الرقبة. أما الثاني فان إصابته في الرقبة أعجزته عن الحركة. وسبب الاشتباك ­ طبقا لما أورده تقرير مجلس حقوق الإنسان ­ أن رجل الشرطة أوقف الحافلة، وأمر ركابها بالنزول، ثم طلب إلي السائق أن يوصله إلي مقر إقامته (في منطقة أطلس جنوبي القاهرة). ولما رفض طلبه، أطلق عليه رجل الشرطة الرصاص فأصابه ومساعده علي النحو السابق ذكره. (القي القبض علي الشرطي بعد ذلك، وأمرت النيابة بحبسه مدة أربعة أيام). في واقعة أخري (بتاريخ 9/4/2005م) خرج مواطن آخر ­ اسمه محمد حبشي (27 سنة) من بيته متوجها صوب إحدي الصيدليات لشراء دواء لوالدته المريضة، فاستوقفه أربعة من أمناء مباحث قسم شرطة الموسكي (بالقاهرة)، وسألوه عن بطاقته الشخصية، ثم طلب أحدهم إلي السيد حبشي أن يقوم بشراء أربع وجبات 'كفتة'. ولما رفض صاحبنا انهالوا عليه سبا بألفاظ نابية، وضربه أحدهم بجهاز اللاسلكي حتي أوقعه أرضا، ثم قاموا بسحله في الشارع أمام المارة، وتم اقتياده إلي قسم الشرطة، حيث استمر حفل الضرب. في واقعة ثالثة سجلها التقرير أن مواطنا اسمه محمد السيد سليم مقيم في مركز مشتول بمحافظة الشرقية، احتجز في مركز الشرطة لاتهامه بجنحة، وأثناء الاحتجاز تعرض للضرب بالأرجل علي الظهر وهو مقيد من الخلف بقيود حديدية، مما افقده الوعي وأعجزه عن الحركة. وبعرضه علي النيابة العامة قررت إخلاء سبيله بضمان محل إقامته. (مما يدل علي أن التهمة الموجهة إليه بسيطة ولا تستدعي استمرار احتجازه). وأثناء عودته إلي القسم لإنهاء إجراءات الإفراج عنه، فوجئ باحتجازه داخل ديوان المركز طوال ثلاثة أيام، وهو فاقد القدرة علي الحركة. وحين أخلي سبيله في 27/1/2005م تم تحويله إلي مستشفي الزقازيق الجامعي. وفي تقرير حالته ذكر الطبيب المختص أن 'المذكور يعاني كسرا بالفقرات القطنية، وفقدان الحركة والإحساس بالطرفين السفليين، كما انه يعاني عدم التحكم في البول والبراز، ويحتاج إلي اجراء جراحة لتثبيت العمود الفقري بواسطة شرائح ومسامير، تكلفتها في حدود عشرة آلاف جنيه'

وأننا لسنا بحاجة حقيقية لا إلي قانون الطوارئ ولا إلي قانون مكافحة الإرهاب. ان اكثر ما أخشاه في هذا الصدد أن يتكرر مع البعض إلي إساءة الظن بالفكرة ذاتها. وها نحن ازاء موقف مماثل يثير المخاوف نفسها، ذلك أن الاتجاه إلي إلغاء قانون الطوارئ أمر حمقانون الطوارئ ما جري مع تعديل المادة ال 76 من الدستور، حيث أطلقت فكرة ممتازة تقضي بتعيين رئيس الجمهورية بالانتخاب المباشر من بين مجموعة من المرشحين. ولكن صياغة الفكرة وتنزيلها علي الواقع أفرغاها من مضمونها، الأمر الذي احدث قدرا مشهودا من البلبلة، دفع يد ومرغوب لا ريب، لكن الإبقاء علي مضمون القانون في تشريع آخر ­ لا لزوم له ­ يحمل اسما مغايرا، يمثل صدمة أخري، توقعنا في المحظور والإحباط واليأس. ولن يختلف حالنا في ذلك عن حال رجل كان اسمه حسن زفت، وإزاء انتقاد الناس له وسخريتهم منه، فانه غير اسمه إلي إبراهيم زفت، ثم ذهب مزهوا إلي أصحابه ليزف إليهم الخبر

Time for Mubarak to spare himself the burden of leadership

Time for Mubarak to spare himself the burden of leadership


This editorial from the Lebanese newspaper “The Daily Star” is probably written by a Shiite, because it criticizes Mubarak for his comments with regard to Iraq’s Shiite being more loyal to Iran than Iraq.

It is sarcastic and fun to read but it is true for the most part..
“Perhaps Mubarak's blundering remarks were a sign of strain. After 25 years in office, the crown of the head of state seems to have become too heavy for him to carry. Mubarak has had a respectable career during which he has brought greater stability to Egypt, but now it seems that the hand at the helm has stiffened. Five terms in office would wear any president down. But it is not only Mubarak who is withered by the arduous role of leadership; the entire Egyptian nation is also weary from bearing the weight of his presidency. With no room for new and energetic leadership, Egypt's political process has become stagnant, even as other political systems in the region have become more vibrant.
Egypt ought to be leading the Arab world in its efforts to democratize and empower citizens. For this reason, Mubarak ought to consider a review of his comments, and for the sake of his nation, he ought to bring about a peaceful transfer of power by calling for early presidential elections. In doing so, he can relieve himself and his people of the burden of his leadership.”

Mubarak responsible for sectarian violence

Mubarak is Responsible for the Sectarian violence

There is no doubt in my mind that this is true. He is too busy planning the transfer of power to his son while the country in burning. People are suffering big time and they break loose at the weakest link which is the relationship between Copts and Muslims.

I like what human rights activist George Isaac said (below in Arabic) about the violence.



وجمع الوفد اعضاء في منظمات للدفاع عن حقوق الانسان وفي نقابة المحامين وحركة كفاية المعارضة التي اكد منسقها العام جورج اسحاق لوكالة فرانس برس ان ما جرى في مدينة الاسكندرية هو غياب للدولة لانها واجهزتها وجهت كل اهتمامها للحفاظ فقط على نظام الحكم الذي يتحمل رئيسه ووزير داخليته مسؤولية ما جرى من اعتداءات على الكنائس حسبما ذكرت العربية 
 واتهم اسحق كل من يحرض على هذا النوع من الفتنة بانه يقوم بدور مطلوب صهيونيا وامريكيا
وبرر اسحق هذه الاحداث بان "المواطنين من كلا الطائفتين يعانون من ظلم هذا النظام الاستبدادي الذي اوصلهم الى حالة من الاحتقان يبحث فيها المواطن عن متنفس فاتجه الى اضعف الحلقات في هذه العلاقة وهي العلاقة بين الطائفتين". 
واعتبر ان "استمرار هذه الحالة سيوصلنا جميعا الى الحريق فليس مهما ان يموت بضعة اقباط او مسلمين الان لكن المهم ان نعيد اللحمة للوطن وللمواطنين ومثال العراق ولبنان لا يزال حيا علينا ان نعتبر منه" داعيا الى "رفع شعار المواطنة اولا


Egyptian officials stuck to a ridiculous story about one insane suspect attacking 3 churches at the same time which is neither logical nor practical and now it is back firing on them. It’s such ridiculous comments that ignited the situation.

“The government has said a "deranged" man was arrested for carrying out all the attacks at the three churches, but some Copts believe they were carried out simultaneously as part of an anti-Christian plot by extremist Muslims.
A judge has remanded the arrested man, Mahmoud Salah-Eddin Abdel-Raziq, 25, in custody.”


This is probably the straw that breaks the camel’s back

Bad Bird Flu Vaccine

Bad Bird Flu Vaccine

This story from Al-Wafd daily reports that a bad bird vaccine killed 100,000 chickens in Al-Kalyobia governorate 24 hours after administering the vaccine to the birds, the only 4 chickens that were no vaccinated survived!

Clearly a bad vaccine.

Here is the story in Arabic
كشف مصدر مسئول بمديرية الطب البيطري بالقليوبية عن كارثة خطيرة بشبين القناطر، تبين ان مصل انفلونزا الطيور فاسد ولا يصلح لتحصين الدواجن!! اكد المصدر ان 100 الف دجاجة بمزرعة علاء هاشم بقرية كفر ابو زايد تم تحصينها بواسطة الفرق الطبية، وحقنت جميعها بالمصل باستثناء 4 دواجن وضعت تحت الملاحظة. وبعد 24 ساعة كانت المفاجأة بنفوق جميع الدجاج في المزرعة باستثناء الدجاجات الاربع التي لم تحقن بالمصل!!

Polish tourist killed in Egypt

Polish tourist killed, many hurt in Egypt accident

If you ever been to Egypt, you’ll understand why so many people die in road accidents every year. It is sad that this only get international coverage when tourists are the victims.

When will this madness stop!!

Bargain plastic surgery in Egypt

Bargain plastic surgery flourishes in Egypt, but at a price


This is an Interesting article about the dangerous plastic surgeries and liposuction in Egypt

“At the other end of the phone numbers provided in the newspapers are shadowy clinics often tucked away in the grimy basement of a high-rise in one of Cairo's congested suburbs and run by physicians with dubious credentials.
A far cry from the modern sterilized atmosphere of the luxury centres where patients are surrounded by an army of friendly nurses, psychologists and occupational therapists at all times”
…..
“They maintain a high turnover ... That way if a problem arises, these centers can always say 'Sorry this doctor doesn't work for us anymore'," he explains.

I would not risk it by undergoing any king of surgery in Egypt. Many doctors are incompetent who aim for a quick dollar without regard to human toll or public safety.

Egypts Unjust Justice system

Egypt’s Unjust Justice System

I am disappointed in the judicial system in Egypt where court rulings are based on the judge’s point of view without regard to the rule of law or due process. Every ruling can be overturned in Egypt, because you can predict the outcome of a case in advance just by knowing who is the case’s presiding judge.

Many judges are corrupt, this was apparent in the recent parliamentary election when one honest judge  rated on her colleagues at a polling station headquarter in Bandar Damanhur – in Al-Bihaira governorate, some 170 kms northwest of Cairo, where Mustafa Al-Fiqi, NDP candidate, was declared winner while vote count clearly showed that the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Gamal Hishmat was the winner. The unfortunate thing is that the official result withstood and the whistle blower judge was stopped from work for telling the truth.

When the government wanted to ensure a guilty verdict in Ayman Nour bogus forgery case they appointed their yes-man judge Abdel Salam Gomaa who previously in 2002 - Convicted the sociology professor and rights activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim, an Egyptian-American, of tarnishing Egypt's image. Ibrahim was sentenced to 7 seven years in prison. The Court of Cassation overturned the verdict. This Egyptian judge is notorious for handling the president's dirty work. A sycophantic follower of Mr. Mubarak.

This comes as a no surprise as corruption is destroying every noble value in Egypt. Judges are becoming just a tool of the government to maintain a tight grip on power. While they suppose to be a separate authority that can't be touched by the government mighty apparatus, the justice system has become a mockery of society with no justice in sight.

Judges are just humans who can be bought if the price is right. This is so disturbing because with the current justice system broken, there is no justice and no rule of law, only rule of the jungle and that's bad.

Lastly, the judges club in Egypt is trying to improve things a bit by pressuring the government to pass a new law to give more protection to judges and separate the executive authority form the judicial one, but the law has not been signed and the situation is stagnant with no light at the end of the tunnel

Hamas running out of tricks

Hamas: Israeli move "a declaration of war"

Hamas reminds me of a small dog that parks a lot but can’t back it up when it is time to fight it out with a bigger dog. So Israel declared war on Hamas, what Hamas is going to do about it. Are they going to fight back or just talk till the cows come home. If they can’t back up their words with action, then they better shut up, and hope that someone generous would feed them.

Hamas came to power as protest vote against the overwhelming corruption of the PLO. Their story is very similar to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Nobody would pay much attention to a fanatical organization if the condition was good and corruption was limited, but with so much corruption going around people tend to vent their anger by supporting a fanatical organization with the idea that any change would be better than the existing situation.

Now with Hamas in power they are running out of tricks, they can’t fight and they can’t survive without the support of western aid. They can’t be corrupt because they don’t have any money to steal from. Their treasury is empty they don’t even pay their salaries. Their financial situation will only get worse, either they change their ideology and start embracing the concept of country called Israel or they will bring their people more suffering and push them to the edge of starvation and chaos. Both options will bring Hamas down. It is only a matter of time.

Human organs theft in Egypt

Human organs theft in Egypt


“In a recent interview to the independent Al Masri Al Yom daily, they explained how they had been promised jobs but were requested to undergo a medical examination beforehand. The doctor "discovered" that they were all suffering from a kidney infection requiring immediate surgery. They woke up later in hospital with a missing kidney. The go-between had vanished but they feared to speak out. A few days later, the health ministry caught a trafficker red-handed as he was selling a kidney to a Saudi citizen for $3,500. The Cairo hospital was supposed to be paid the same amount “


How can you trust health care in Egypt with all these horror stories? Read the full story here.

Greed, corruption, and the absence of the rule of law, have rendered Egypt a magnet of ill will. My advice for anyone traveling to or living there is to avoid doctors by all means. Just stay healthy if you can so you wont end up another victim in a horrific urban legend story

Silence of the lambs Egyptian Style!

Silence of the lambs Egyptian Style!

This article in Arabic from AlMesryoon.com describes Egyptians as a powerless herd of lambs used and abused till death with no salvation in sight. It talks about the thousand plus who died in the ferry boat accident off the Red Sea shore couple of months ago. It stems from what the head of Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety said in Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper interview where he described the poor Egyptians on the ferry boat as powerless lambs cramped together in inhumane conditions so that the ferry owner can make more money.

I found that disturbing but true, Egyptians lost their dignity and are treated poorly in their own country and their life is not worth much.

Idiot Noaman Gomaa and Al-Wafd Party

I’ve been following Al-Wafed party saga, and was glad to see Noaman Gomaa 77 behind bars. He reminded me of Saddam Hussein when he got the green light to invade Kuwait, and when he did he was confronted by the whole world and was punished hard. Similarly this was the case with Gomaa who got the green light from the government to forcefully enter the party’s headquarter last Saturday with the help of thugs using all sort of weapons, and when he did and his attempt failed the government had no choice but to arrest him in his disbelieve.

I feel that this is the lowest moment in Egyptian history, when the rule of law is abandoned and corruption governs all walks of life. This is the time when you lose trust in every noble value. It is worrisome to see the police endorse violent by thugs by watching and not acting as if they are mere spectators in a soccer game. This is not the first time we see this behavior form the police, it happened before during round one and two of the parliamentary election last November. The same thing happened during last May referendum and nobody was charged.

I’m surprised that Noaman Gomaa fell into the trap that easily. He tarnished his last bit of respect in the people’s mind, and now he well go down in history as just another unsuccessful politician who destroyed his party with his numerous wrong decisions. Gomaa, a law professor apparently forgot all about the law and decided to take matters into his hands.

It is funny though that both the runner up candidate in the presidential election Ayman Nour and third place candidate Gomaa are both behind bars. This sends a subliminal message to Egyptians saying, don’t dare to challenge Al-Mubarak , if you do, you will rot in jail.

Now Al-Wafd party has a new leader Mustafa Al-Tawil, who seem to be grounded just from reading his article in Al-Wafd online newspaper. He will have a challenge to rebuild the party and gain the trust of the people again. Though it seems that he is just a temp until Wafdist MP Mahmoud Abaza takes over after the next party’s general assembly is held.

The government is worried about liberal parties like Al-Wafd and Al-Ghad because they are approved by the US as a possible future replacement to the current regime that are can deal with, so our government is trying hard to disturb those liberal parties so they have no chance. So far, the government is successful as long as there are traitors such as Noaman Gomaa who are willing to follow government orders.

Some people go further by linking Al-Wafd saga with the planning to appoint Gamal Mubarak to the presidential post by using this as a media distraction so they can go ahead with the plan without being noticed.