Archive: egypt
22nd December 2010
An Egyptian cleric has issued a fatwa authorising the killing of Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the IAEA who is campaigning for reform in Egypt.
The fatwa, from Sheikh Mahmoud Amer, which is posted on the website of the Ansar al-Sunnah al-Muhamadiya, says:
"We, in Egypt, are a people that… Read more
21st December 2010
Egypt's state-controlled Dar al-Ifta has issued almost half a million fatwas this year, according to its annual report.
"The edicts pertained to modern-day issues, such as a widow’s in vitro fertilisation, fetal gender determination, abortions, artificial heart valves made of pig tissue, and real… Read more
18th December 2010
An short news item in al-Masry al-Youm says that 13% of the Israeli army's civilian employees are Egyptians, "according to recent reports in the Israeli media".
I'm curious to know more but the report has no further information beyond saying that the Egyptian ministry of manpower estimates there… Read more
17th December 2010
Egypt continues to dispute that large numbers of Eritrean migrants are being held hostage in Sinai by human traffickers.
On Tuesday, foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki described the reports as "fabrications" concocted by "dubious organisations" to stir up public opinion in Europe.
"We called… Read more
14th December 2010
In the aftermath of Egypt's rigged election, Zakaria Azmy, the chief of Mubarak's presidential staff, is demanding legal action against al-Masry al-Youm newspaper for depicting members of parliament as cats and dogs.
Azmy, who is himself a member of parliament, says it's defamatory and insists… Read more
11th December 2010
What on earth has got into the head of Marc Franco, the EU's ambassador to Egypt? Writing for al-Ahram Weekly, in an article to mark Human Rights Day (December 10), he says:
Looking back over the last few years, it is only fair to say that Egypt has made courageous steps towards promoting a… Read more
10th December 2010
There is still no sign of the 250 African migrants who are reportedlyheld hostage by human traffickers in the Sinai desert of Egypt. The Egyptian authorities have expressed scepticism about the reports, though on Wednesday they did find 83 migrants who were trying to cross into Israel – and duly… Read more
8th December 2010
A brief update on the shocking case of the African migrants held hostage in Egypt by traffickers who are demanding more money from them. Several reports now put the number at "up to 250", and it's good to see the UNHCR making representations on their behalf.
UNHCR officials say (here and here) that… Read more
7th December 2010
Delivering his weekly blessing in Rome on Sunday, Pope Benedict referred to "the ordeal of the hostages from Eritrea and other nations" who are trapped in Egypt's Sinai desert as "victims of traffickers and criminals".
He was highlighting a little-reported aspect of the migrant trade, where people… Read more
2nd December 2010
With attention in Egypt focused mainly on the rigged election, the jailing of a 30-year-old man for posting "defence secrets" on Facebook has passed without much notice.
Ahmed Hassan Bassyouni, whose case I highlighted here last week, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined LE500 ($85)… Read more
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
