On Tuesday from 11 years ago , a small group of Egyptian protesters did the impossible. They gathered at the country’s most famous square in the capital answering a call for a protest made by a Facebook page only months old.
Then that small group did what millions of Egyptians thought that it was impossible and proved it was possible : They were actually the beginning of the end of Hosni Mubarak’s long rule. The rest is history indeed.
Yet for the sake of history, here are very rare photos I share online for that protest that rocked the nation at Tahrir square from 11 years ago by late Pierre Sioufi from afternoon till mid-night.
The first group of protesters at Tahrir square afternoon as the security attempted to disperse them by Pierre Sioufi
Those photos after the break were taken for the protest before its start by late Sioufi from his apartment.
He uploaded those photos to his Facebook account live blogging on his account that day as much as he could and they are still there. You can see them after the break.
On Monday, hundreds of Egyptians in Nile Delta town walked in the funeral of a 13-years-old girl who captured many hearts and minds in Egypt with her smiling picture online as attempts of finding her body was underway for whole 8 cold days in the River Nile in yet another Egyptian tragedy.
Sometimes the Egyptian tragedies have this dark humor side because on the same Monday and probably at the same moment the funeral was walking in the streets of a small village in Monufia governorate, Egypt’s Senate approved articles related to child labor in the new labor draft law in Cairo without serious social dialogue officially.
Late Shorouk Yasser
It is like some sort of very dark humor that I do not understand how it is happening or how it was allowed to happen, but this is classical Egypt.
When the Nile gathered the young egg gatherers
According to the official accounts, late Monday 10 January a half truck carrying 24 daily workers got on an unlicensed ferry to the Nile River when the truck diver lost control of his truck and drove it in to the river near Monshaet El-Kanater village in Giza governorate.
10 people drowned while 14 others survived.
Now those 24 workers were on their way home in Monufia governorate from a farm in Giza governorate late night in the cold winter. They were working as egg gatherers in a poultry farm for a fee that ranged from LE 25 to 50 per day according to their families
Their ages ranged between 13 to 20 years old as reported by the official Public Prosecutor’s statement on the accident.
The youngest and the last one to reappear from the Nile was Shorouk Yasser.
And here is the second part of our a little Kodak Agfa’s tour in the “The Classical European art pieces in Egyptian Museums” exhibit.
Held in Cairo last November , the exhibit celebrated some of Egypt’s official collection of classical European art pieces in Egyptian Museums like Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum from paintings and sculptures.
Yes, Rodin who is regarded to be the founder of modern sculpture in the West Egypt officially owns some of his work thanks to late Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil, his wife and their great taste.
We got here original miniature statues made by Rodin of his famous works with his signature on them.
Saturday was really a good day for political activists Ramy Shaath and Ramy Kamel as well as Princess Basma bint Saud they were released from detention following their arrest from more than 2 years ago in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Ramy Shaath "AFP" and Ramy Kamel
First , political activist Ramy Shaath arrived Paris after spending 900 days in pre-trial detention in Egypt. Shaath was released on 6 January and was deported to Amman before heading to Paris.
Again it is time for one of those monthly Covid-19 posts in Egyptian Chronicles and I hope that I will not have to do this inshallah soon as the pandemic ends worldwide.
This time it is a quick look into official Covid-19 numbers in Egypt after 23 months since its arrival to the country in February 2020.
The usual disclaimer: According to Minister of Health Hala Zayed in January 2021, the official numbers of cases represent between 10%-15% of the real number of cases worldwide Egypt included.
A team sensitizing a mosque in Egypt "EPA"
Those official numbers represent the patients who enter the ICUs in designated coronavirus isolation public hospitals in the country in critical condition according to official statements, not the mild cases of coronavirus or those who receive treatment at home.
Merry Christmas again from Egyptian Chronicles to all those celebrating Christmas tonight per the Orthodox Church above them the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt.
The nativity scene as sold at the San Ibram store in Shubra
This time the Christmas is according to the Julian Calendar. And the majority of Christians in Shubra have been waiting for this day to celebrate it since December.
Christmas lights and decoration in the old streets of Shubra
Interestingly many people knew about the Christmas decorations in Shubra when the Egyptian press began to pay attention to the Christmas Decorations market.
Again all the attention goes to the upscale decorations in areas like Sheikh Zayed and New Cairo to the level that there is a joke that went viral in the social media that the Vatican did not spend on Christmas decoration all this money Sheikh Zayed and New Cairo spent.”
Shubra's main streets celebrated Christmas on both sides
It is worth mentioning that the state or the government or the district is behind. It is more of a public initiative whether in Sheikh Zayed or New Cairo or even Shubra. You got companies, malls, compounds and in the case, in Shubra you got shops, merchants and MPs behind those decorations.
For instance, the gigantic Christmas tree in Shubra at Tarea Al-Bolaqia street is a gift from MP Ehab El-Tahawy of the Mostaqbal Watan Party to his Shubra Constituency.
Shubra's biggest Christmas tree was a gift by MP Ehab El-Tahawy
El-Tahawy is the Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives.
This tree and others in the street are designed and made by Amir Ghattas, the owner of the San Ibram store which is the biggest store for Christmas decoration stuff in Shubra.
The other big Christmas trees designed by Ghattas in the street
Both Ghattas and Al-Tahawy are members of the Mostaqbal Watan party in East Cairo’s Shubra constituency.
Nevertheless, I do not think that people pay attention to this political affiliation or publicity not to mention Ghattas has been in this business for decades.
The second San Ibram store at El-Tarea El-Bolaqia in Shubra
People want to be happy even for a few moments and merchants want to gain money in hard economic times.
Snapping a photo with Santa in Shubra
I read statements for Ghattas that there were problems in the imported Christmas goods’ shipment from China due to the latest global shipments problems but they were solved eventually.
Christmas merchandise for sale in Shubra
The Christmas ornaments, some dolls and figures, some Christmas trees “expensive ones” and reindeers are imported.
The imported golden reindeer
Surprisingly, I knew for the first time that there are Egyptian handmade Christmas trees and decorations sold in the market.
Egyptian handmade Christmas trees and garlands
They are different shapes, styles, colours and sizes of those trees.
Egyptian Christmas trees
The Christmas garlands are also made in Egypt.
Christmas merchandise and decorations from every kind in Shubra
According to one of the sellers I spoke with the Egyptian made Christmas decoration products are made in workshops that work starting from January right after the end of the Orthodox Christmas till October.
So we have another hidden industry working silently for years.
Egyptian made Christmas garland and the new year decorations
It is indeed a whole industry like Ramadan lanterns and decorations.
Some may think as marginal but actually, it opens a lot of houses from workshops to sellers to shops to seasonal street vendors.
A very little shopkeeper at San Ibram store
I know I may sound like some orientalist but this is the first time I go to this area in Shubra in this time. “I have not gone to Shubra for years”
I was surprised to see this scene and actually, it was a warm joyful scene.
Crowded buzzing Shubra
A real Cairene Christmas where East meets West naturally and normally in normal coexistence.
Plushy Santa , Christmas wreath and 2022 decorations
This is Shubra indeed, a working-class area that listens to Shaabi and Maharagants more than Western Christmas music
Selling Christmas decorations and smiling at the camera from afar
