Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

[Editor: This article is the follow-on article from Youssef Sidhom’s article on the same topic the previous week - see RNSAW Week 05A (2000), Edition January 27 - February 2, 2000, article 12]



The author looks at why the State insists on maintaining certain policies, and overlooks certain mistakes occurring within the political, media and security sectors. These mistakes have proved to have a disastrous effect on Egypt, especially in areas that suffer from deterioration of economic and social levels, and where fanatic groups flourish.



The State has a policy of denial, refusing to acknowledge that there is a religious problem in the country. This negligence creates two kinds of people: criminals who get away with their crimes and victims who are humiliated. Concepts of citizenship and equality are hard to accept for these victims.



It is a deep-rooted belief amongst many in this country that Egypt is a racial sectarian country that considers anyone who does not follow the religion of the majority, a citizen with suspected loyalty.



We see the removal of Copts from political power, as the ruling party will not nominate them on account of their religious identity.



Political shallowness has triumphed over democracy and citizenship is dead. Whilst the State looks for reasons for the bad atmosphere bloodshed occurs in Al-Khanka, Al-Zawya Al-Hamraa, Imbaba, Ein Shams, Fayyoum, Dayrout, etcetera, etcetera, and Al-Kosheh!



On the media level, we can simply ask why they don’t grant Christian services the same rights as Muslim ones? How can we explain the broadcasting of fataawa that humiliate Christianity and treat it with disrespect.



On the security level, we see the defect in the performance of the security personnel. They lack the awareness and training to face problems and deal with them. We need our security services to be characterized by justice.



These are the spots of defect in our reality.