via Instagram
Monday, February 29, 2016
Seen in Zamalek : A florist
via Instagram
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Cairo's black smoke
Why was there black smoke in sky of Cairo like that on Sunday !? It was too obvious even at night. Do not know the reason.
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Old Egypt : Contrat De Location
I believe that this has to do with the fact that Egypt's civil code issued in 1949 was based on the French civil code.
February 28, 2016 at 12:58AM via Instagram http://ift.tt/1WRuEXY
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Something else happened in Abu Simbel Temple other than solar alignment
Some considered it as sort of paranormal reaction on the claims of current minister of archeology El-Damati that the solar perpendicular in not less than 15 ancient Egyptian archeological sites in Egypt were just "mirage" and coincidence !!
While other considered it as a bad omen that the sun refused to show for the first time since thousands of years allegedly.
It has nothing to do with omens and actually it happened before, from a decade ago.
Anyhow personally, I believe there is other significant thing happened in Abu Simbel but the mainstream media does not want to cover it properly.
A group of Nubian Egyptians protested at Abu Simbel temple protested against a presidential decree that stands against their return to the land of Nubia they want to return to.
Part of the protest "Fatmah Sakory" |
Presidential decree No.444 issued on 29 November 2014 designates 16 Nubian villages out of 44 villages as restricted military border zones with Sudan.
Friday, February 26, 2016
From 1995 : Sharm El-Sheikh Holiday for LE 65 Only
An old newspaper ad in 1995. " Enjoy a nice holiday in Sharm el-Sheikh at Hotel Barracuda for LE 65 only 'B.B' and special prices for those who stay longer. Contact Nefr tourism company for more information"
Now in 2016 , Sharm El-Sheikh is a ghost town or rather ghost resort. There is still hope because it seems that British tourists will be back by May.
Hotel Barracuda does not exist anymore as I did quick search online. It could have changed its name to become another hotel.
via Instagram http://ift.tt/1TIMUVp
Sisi's 2030 speech : Be worried ... be very worried
Comic, memes and videos are published at a crazy rate on Facebook pages like Asa7be Sarcasm Society.
Being the first Egyptian president up for sale on eBay for several hours following his emotional plea in the speech that he would sell him to save the country made more headlines in Mashable, BBC and Foreign policy than the original speech with its important details. "There is similar page for him on Facebook"
But speaking seriously, there is nothing funny about the speech when you listen to it carefully.
Sisi speaking in the speech "screen capture from presidency twitter account" |
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was extremely nervous more than any other speech I could remember.
He was nervous and angry in that improvised speech.
He slammed the government's critics including his own supporters. Ironically, it has been an old 23 July state legacy to make the cabinet as the punching bag when the president has got all powers. Now Sisi defends Ismail's cabinet and says he meets with the ministers and knows what we do not know. I do not know what his supporters will say after claiming that the cabinet is working against his instructions.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
February 25, 2016 at 05:31PM
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
So is it toddler or the teenager or the grown-up man who is sentenced to life in prison !?
Adorable Ahmed Mansour "Dream TV" |
Last week, a Cairo military court sentenced 4-years old Ahmed Mansour with 116 other defendants, to life in prison on nine charges that included killing four people in Fayoum governorate and attempting to kill six others in January 2014.
Little Mansour was only two years old when those clashes happened between security forces and Pro-Morsi supporters.
According to the Child's family, the boy's father was arrested for 4 months instead of him when the police came and found a toddler instead of their wanted criminal.
Do not ask me why the father was officially arrested for 4 months before he would be released by a court order without a bail officially.
On Saturday, the official spokesperson Police General Abu Bakr Abdel Karim made a phone call to Dream TV 2's 10 PM TV show when it was hosting Ahmed Mansour and his father to explain the matter.
According to Abdel Karim, there was a mistake in the name of the defendant and that's they were searching for Ahmed's uncle, a 16-years old teenager instead.
Ahmed's father corrected the police general telling him that his brother, Ahmed's uncle is actually 52 years old.
Monday, February 22, 2016
From 21 years ago : MB fought Military trials and Fifi Abdou referred to Criminal court
The MB members are still referred to military court and Fifi is out of legal trouble but is still making headlines thanks to the social media.
February 22, 2016 at 01:22PM via Instagram http://ift.tt/1L5hfux
Now you realize that We do not live in a secular state ya Ibrahim!?
Sisi's religious state imprisons writer. Al-Makkal newspaper |
The "sexual flagrant article" is an actually a chapter of Naji's novel"The guide for using life" issued in 2014.
The editor-in-chief of Akhbar Al-Adab was fined LE 10,000.
That editor-in-chief claims now that he did not read the chapter and just agreed that it would be published without knowing its content !!!
In early January, the misdemeanor court already acquitted both Naji and Akhbar Al-Adab newspaper's editor-in-chief but the prosecution appealed and we all knew what happened.
Many people are against the court ruling for the sake of the freedom of expression mostly from the 25 January revolution supporters and it is not surprising for me.
Now I was surprised to see someone like Ibrahim Eissa slamming the court ruling as well El-Sisi's state describing it boldly as a "religious state" in his newspaper "Al-Makkal".
Eissa, who became a strong advocate for El-Sisi turning against the 25 January revolution and its activists suddenly realized that we are not living in a true civil secular state as it seems.
Yes, Eissa has been widely criticizing Al-Azhar and religious institutions in Egypt but not to that level.
Ironically since day one, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi did not promise anyone with that civil secular state.
Thanks to dear Ahmed Abu Hussein, he reminded us with El-Sisi's statements and views on the religious state and the role of religion during his presidential campaign.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
February 21, 2016 at 04:17PM
This is why El-Nadeem Center is being picked on
The famous and important NGO issued a statement on the same day explaining what happened.
Posted by El Nadeem on Thursday, February 18, 2016
It states that the closure decision was based on law No.453 for 1954 which does not involve clinics but rather restaurants and shops, yes restaurants and shops
Personally, I believe what is going on is part of the crackdown against political activists and NGOs recently in Egypt and the turn is on the famous anti-torture NGO now.
Same news, old times
The families of the deceased are not allowed to bury their relatives before Giza governor finishes his electoral campaign for parliament"
Up till now, boats sink off Al-Waraq, Giza !!
February 20, 2016 at 11:10PM via Instagram http://ift.tt/1mP8F7q
Saturday, February 20, 2016
And the Protest law is broken once again
For the second day in a row, protests continue at the Popular areas of Darb El-Ahamr and Bab El-Khalak in Cairo over the murder of a small van driver by a low-ranking policeman on Thursday.
First of all, Egypt's ministry of interior announced late Thursday that it did arrest that low-ranking policeman.
Right after the Friday prayers, hundreds if not thousands of angry people mourned late Mohamed Ali Ismail, the truck drive and walked from Siada Nafissa to the cemeteries of old Cairo to bury him. Photos and video show really angry people who were chanting against the ministry of interior and policemen.
The funeral heading to the cemetery "Fadel Ibrahim" |
Hundreds if not thousands of mourners at the funeral of the 24-years van driver " Hazem Abdel Hamed" |
Friday, February 19, 2016
Do we need an "Egyptian Lives matter" campaign again !?
Thursday evening, news spread online that a low-ranking policeman shot down a truck-driver after a fight in Darb Al-Ahamr area and that the people in the area allegedly killed the policeman in retaliation.
Indeed, a low-ranking policeman shot a truck-driver, 24-years old Mohamed Ali Ismail in a fight over the fare but he fled the scene according to Cairo security directorate which is few blocks away from the crime scene.
Late Mohamed Ismail, a small truck driver was killed on Thursday |
He accompanied another man allegedly his relative who was also beaten till near death but was transferred to hospital.
Things escalated so fast and the murder sparked protests in Darb Al-Ahamr.
Darb Al-Ahamr is a very populated popular class area where people actually suffer from the violations and harassments of the low-ranking policemen.Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of Cairo security directorate chanting against the ministry of interior angrily "You dirty government, you sons of bitches", " The ministry of interior are thugs"
At Cairo security directorate by journalist Omar El-Hady |
Angry protesters by photographer Roger Anis |
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Seen in Cairo : Old font scrapped
Old font scrapped on a shop seen in Egypt's Downtown Cairo, at famous Boulaq quarter.
The old men' clothes shop will get a modern shop sign with a facelift inside.
That shop has been in that place since 1959.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Farewell Mohamed Hassanein Heikal "1923-2016"
The 92-ears old veteran writer and former minister of information passed away after a very long life and legacy whether in journalism or politics in Egypt and the Arab world.
Now one must wonder how he or she can write true balanced obituary or profile for such man who played a significant role in Egypt's politics and media in the past 60 years.
Mohamed Hassanein Heikal |
The veteran journalist already did not stop or really quit the political or media arena as he said several times before.
Heikal has left a huge big political legacy that won't stop creating debates or controversy at any time soon.
Just from few months, he created another controversy when he slammed the Saudi decision to intervene militarily in Yemen describing it as "Political crap".
You can imagine how that statement was covered in the Gulf media.
Already the gulf media was not that fond of Heikal because after all he was Nasser's confidant in the 1960s and did not consider Iran as the grand Satan of the Middle East not to mention his position from Syrian revolution.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
RIP Boutros Boutros Ghali "1922-2016"
The first Egyptian/African/Arab UN secretary-general passed away in a Giza hospital Tuesday afternoon at the age of 94.
The former Egyptian minister of state of foreign affairs was hospitalized from 5 days ago with a broken leg.
Ghali's funeral will be held on Thursday at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral.
As a recipient of Egypt's Order of the Nile, Boutros Boutros Ghali is given a military funeral.
Boutros Boutros Ghali swearing in as SG at the UN headquarter in New York in 1991 |
His memories and books about the peace process in the Middle East are very important.
I have just remembered how Hassan el-Tohamy , the late deputy PM and Sadat's eccentric envoy to meet the Israelis secretly in Morocco used to call Boutros Ghali as "Peter" for some reason.
Of course , his true turning point internationally was when he was elected in 1991 as the UN secretary-general (UN SG). Now, many people attack him him because what they consider as his failure in Yugoslav wars in his term, the Rwandan genocide and Angolan civil war.
The Question here : Since when the UN SG was able to save the world or able to stop wars or genocides !? Let's admit that on the military and political levels, the UN has been the biggest failure of all times.
The UN is good when it comes to culture and social as well economic development in some countries but when we speak about politics, it is a big failure.
People also remember how he was not re-elected as US-SG because Washington did not want so after his report on Qana Massacre that convicted Israel in a rare incident.
For God's sake now in Egypt we mock Ban Ki-Moon for being concerned all the time when the whole world is on fire.
Whether you like Boutros Boutros Ghali or not you have to agree that the man was that last generation that knew the true meaning of diplomacy and politics.
And the Egyptian Interior ministry says it did not arrest Giulio
Guilio and his family in his sister's graduation |
From three days ago , New York Times issued published a report about Regini's murder where it claimed that he was taken into custody by the Egyptian authority quoting anonymous witnesses as well unnamed three officers allegedly with knowledge about his case.
Those unnamed sources claimed that late Regini was arrested by plainclothes officers because "he was rude" and that he was believed to be a "spy ".
The NY Times came at the same time Reuters published a report with more alleged shocking details from Giulio Regini's autopsy in Cairo.
Now on Monday, the MOI issued that statement in Arabic and English.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
From Syria : Palmyra temple Tapestry
A beautiful piece of art made in Syria showing Palmyra temple. That tapestry was given today to my aunt as a present.
Celebrating the Valentine's in time of detention !!
Aya and Mohamed "by Mona Nader" |
Mohamed Hassanein, Aya's husband brought her flowers bouquet before the hearing of their trial would star on Saturday.
Hassanein was given the bouquet by one of his friends while he was entering the court.
Aya and Hassanein as well the rest of the defendants in their trial have been detained for 650 days pending trial on charges of "human trafficking" and "sexual exploitation of street children to collect donations in conferences" !!!
According to the official autopsy report which was published earlier by Shorouk newspaper, the kids involved in the case were not sexually abused during their stay in the NGO.
The trial on Saturday was adjourned to next Wednesday in order to hear witnesses and see the evidence in the case.
FYI , Aya Hegazy is a U.S. Citizen but she rejected the help of the U.S. embassy insisting to face the charges as an Egyptian citizen.
Anyhow Happy Valentine's and be grateful that you are free to celebrate it.
Saturday, February 13, 2016
When Egypt's Doctors broke the protest law in the heart of Cairo
Thousands of Egyptians doctors flocked to Dar El-Hekima aka Egypt's Doctors syndicate in downtown Cairo to attend the urgent meeting of the syndicate's General assembly to take action and to protest the constant attacks against doctors in hospitals by police personnel in particular following the assault on doctors at Mataria educational hospital.
Outside the syndicate early Friday, doctors and activists also protested in solidarity for detained doctors. "By Sabry Khaled" |
Friday, February 12, 2016
Talk to me about corruption in Egypt in time of Mubarak
On 28 January 2016, we found news spreading throughout the news websites that the state restored back LE 178 Million in the ministry of interior corruption scandal that goes back to 2011.
The news goes like that: The public fund prosecution lifted 80 names of state officials from the travel ban list after returning back LE 178 Million back to the state. The state officials in that list are mostly from the ministry of interior in Mubarak's time.
In statements to Al-Masry Al-Youm that to be denied later, the investigative judge assigned to the case stated that those 80 officials returned back the LE 178 million after proving that they got it legally as "Rewards and bonuses" and that there was no criminal evidence against them.
Okay if they were legal "rewards and bounces", why would they return back !?
You must know that in the original case that is resurfacing in a very unexpected time speaks about state officials working in the ministries of finance, transportation, interior and the Accountability State Authority "ASA" who are accused of their influence to acquire gains amounting to LE 1 billion illegally during the time of Mubarak.
Anyhow from those former state officials, there are 73 officials from the ministry of interior alone. 17 names stand out above them the former minister of interior Habib El-Adly.
Among other names we got the following:
- Former high state security police general Mohsen El-Faham returned to the state LE 37,540,313. El-Faham who is related to late Omar Suleiman is currently the leader of a new Pro-regime /Pro-Military party called "The Homeland's Guardian" which got 17 seats in the House of Representatives. An anti-25 January revolution advocate, El-Faham claims that he got all that money as bounces !!
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Seen at the Egyptian Museum of Cairo : Its main hall
Seen at The Egyptian Museum of Cairo: Its main hall on the first floor.
Monday, February 8, 2016
Remembering the Zamalek UWK Massacre and the quest for justice
UWK's commemoration to the Air Defense stadium tonight at Fustat Park "Mohamed El-Ra3y" |
Just like UA07, UWK07 matured politically and knowing that it could not stand against Mortada Mansour or the ministry of interior, it decided to play by the law.
The group would not take any chances especially the current head of Human Rights committee in Egypt's House of Representatives aka Mortada Mansour warned of coming near to Zamalek Club as the Club's guards would use their "live ammunition" weapons against them !!
I believe Mansour went mad after finding out that on 6 February the UWK hung on the gates of Zamalek club that banner saying "Mortada is a murderer, we want him".
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Paying Respect to Giulio Regeni
Italy will have its own autopsy. The Egyptian National Forensics authority declared that it would finish Regeni's autopsy by the end of February !!!!!
I do not need to guess that the Italian government will finish Regini's autopsy in a week or something !!
His hometown "Fiumicello", a small village in north-eastern Italy." declared a national mourning.
The Egyptian ministry of interior is denying that it declared officially that the 28-years old researcher was killed in hit and run despite the fact that the head of Giza security directorate was the one who told Pro-regime Youm 7 news website that Thursday morning.
Earlier Saturday afternoon, dozens of Egyptians as well Italians in Egypt paid respect to Giulio Regeni at the Italian embassy in Cairo as his body departed Egypt to make on final trip back home to Italy.
Flowers and candles at the Italian embassy in Cairo "The Januarians" |
The Italian embassy in Cairo Saturday afternoon |
Saturday, February 6, 2016
The night I have seen Orion's belt in the Sky
I think I was a very lucky girl when I recieved that notification from Star Walk app that I should not miss that rare visible 5 planets line-up in the sky. I went to the balcony in that cold weather to see those planets and to my surprise I saw a very starry sky in the middle of Giza city with all the street lights on.
I took a couple of photos and to my luck for the first time , I saw the legendary Orion's belt visible and crystal clear in the sky.
Already it turned out that it is visiable in the Northern winter and Southern summer starting from January.
I did not see the 5 planets , already they are visible 80 minutes before sunrise and technically I will be sleeping in bed in that time but I am happy to see the Orion's belt and the sky full of stars like that in the big city.
Orion's belt in the Orion's constellation played a role in the Egyptian mythedology.
Needless to say , Orion's belt is famously connected to Egypt now thanks to the Orion Correlation theory promoted by ancient alien theorist Robert Bauval and History Channel's show "Ancient aliens".
Friday, February 5, 2016
When Ultras Ahlawy replied Sisi's call
It started on 30 January with a small announcement on the Ultras Ahlawy "UA07" twitter and Facebook accounts announcing that they were going to commemorate on 1 February the 72 victims from their members who were killed during the Port Said stadium clashes in 2012.
We will continue " Ibrahim Ezzat Hendy" |
Nobody paid at attention at that announcement except when the photos being to be shared on that day from El-Tetch stadium showing thousands of angry young men commemorating the anniversary of their young comrades while carrying anti-SCAF banners as well the photos of the 74 young men.
The Ultras boys at the El-Tetch stadium " Ultras Ahlawy Official FB" |
From Cairo Tower, the scene from an ariel view "Ultras Ahlawy official FB" |
Thursday, February 4, 2016
RIP Giulio Regeni
Last night, the Italian media announced that the body of the late 28 years old Cambridge University PhD student was found in the outskirts of Giza according to the Italian embassy in Cairo.
Giulio Regeni |
The Regenis are already in Cairo
Later, Reuters spread the news quoting the Italian foreign ministry itself. The Italians were waiting for the official confirmation of the Egyptian authorities.
More grim details began to emerge in the following hours unofficially.
Reuters reported that the body of Giulio was found with traces of torture.
The report added that he was found semi-naked in the Cairo-Alexandria desert road in the outskirts of Giza.
According to his friends, he was last seen on 25 January when he headed from his home in Dokki to take the Metro near Cairo University heading to Downtown Cairo near the old AUC Campus in Tahrir square !!
What brought him to the Cairo-Alexandria desert road !!?
Giulio Regeni who spoke Arabic fluently was a PhD student and his research was about the trade unions in Egypt and its role after the January revolution and the ouster of Mubarak.
Only at 10 AM, the Giza security directorate announced in the Egyptian media hat body of the late Cambridge student was found at the Cairo-Alexandria desert road and that it was transferred to Zanihom morgue in Cairo.
Then in early statements, we found out the head of Giza security directorate saying that there was no criminal intent in Giulio's death and that he died after a hit and run accident !!!!!!!!
Police General Khaled Shalaby also added that there were no traces of torture on the young man's body !!
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Where is Giulio !?
Giulio Regeni |
Giulio Regeni is a 28-years old Italian Cambridge University PhD student who came to Egypt as AUC visiting scholar.
He is based at POLIS, Cambridge University's Department of Politics and International Studies.
He suddenly disappeared in Cairo on2 25 January 2016. The last he was seen in Cair was at 8 PM when he was going from El-Behoos metro station in Dokki, Giza to Downtown Cairo specifically Bab-louk square which is few blocks away from Tahrir square. He speaks perfect Arabic by the way.
I am now thinking that the Metro station in Tahrir was closed on that day already and wondering where he would have gone.
His family and friends can not reach him.
The security authorities in Egypt now say that he was not arrested.
We have known publicly about Giulio's alarming disappearance from the Italian Ministry of foreign affairs' statement about him and how the Italian FM called his Egyptian counterpart raising the matter with him.
Giulio's friends in Italy, UK and Egypt have launched an online campaign to spread the word about his disappearance whether in Arabic or in English.
To be honest, I am so worried on Regeni. Let's pray he and others have gone missing will be found soon.