Thursday Rants and Rave: #S02EP03 Amira Amir’s Oedipus

Hello, and welcome back to a special episode of the Thursday Rants and Rave Podcast. This episode was recorded and edited before the war in Gaza in September 2023. 

I had to upload it now as I found that some people are still sharing the claims about the late Egyptian actor Amira Amir. 

Tonight, this is what I ranted about in Arabic.

This episode is dedicated to old Egyptian cinema fans and lovers. 

Oedipus: An Egyptian Take

According to YouTube and TikTok videos, Saadia Abdel Rahman Abu Al-Ala was born on 17 January 1920 in a Sharqia Governorate village to a butcher father.

Amira Amir on the cover of 
"Monday" Magazine in 1949

One day, a health inspector came to inspect his butchery, only to find he was violating the legal selling prices. A fight broke out between them, and it ended when the butcher killed the inspector with his cleaver.

The girl’s father was sentenced to life in prison and died during his sentence. 

At 16 years old, Saadia was forced to work as a seamstress to support herself and her family. She was gorgeous, and the village mayor proposed to her, even though he was older than her. She married him and gave birth to her eldest son, Khalid. 

However, after years of marriage, she decided to leave her husband and son and flee to Cairo, due to her husband's alcoholism.

After Saadia escaped to Cairo, her husband fell into a deep depression that drove him to suicide. As a result, his sister took in the child Khalid to raise him after his mother's escape. 

In Cairo, Saadia Abdel Rahman began looking for work. She saw an ad in the newspaper for a new film called "My Daughter" seeking new faces. She immediately went to audition for the role, and her striking beauty was enough to convince the director to give her the lead role. 

Amira Amir on the cover of
"Studio" Magazine "April 1950"

Aziza Amir, a famous actress, was also impressed with Saadia and agreed to give her the role. 

She gave Saadia the stage name "Amira Amir." From that moment on, she became famous and was the talk of the town.

Amira Amir's career took off. She met the director Kamal Selim, and they fell in love and got married. After several years, Kamal Selim passed away. 

Amira Amir continued her career in cinema, and then she married Mohamed Abdel Jawad, the assistant of her late husband. 

However, the marriage was short-lived and ended in divorce. Later, she married the Palestinian-Jordanian singer Gharam Shima.

Amir had a daughter from her Palestinian-Jordanian husband. However, after a while, they divorced, and she left her daughter with him. 

She then married an Armenian man who lived in Egypt, but they divorced as well because he wanted to move to America, and she refused to go with him.

Amira's fourth marriage was to an Egyptian army officer named Ibrahim Fayez Sabry. They had two children but divorced after six years of marriage. The famous actress then immigrated to America to start a new chapter in her life.

Tal al-Mallohi is free in Syria’s Homs

Here are the first photos of Syrian blogger Tal al-Mallohi free, healthy and alive in Syria’s Homs.

Tal al-Mallohi in Homs on Monday

Those photos were taken on Monday in her hometown.

Tal al-Mallohi was among the first batch of female detainees freed from the notorious Adra prison on the outskirts of North Damascus on Saturday hours before declaring Bashar Al-Assad and his direct family fled the country to Moscow.

Her relatives in Homs took her back home. 

Tal al-Mallohi was only 19 years old, a young blogger, when she was detained in December 2009 by security personnel at the Syrian embassy in Cairo. Her family had moved to Cairo at the time for her safety.

Tal al-Mallohi became a celebrity and icon in Syria already

People think that al-Mallohi was detained for the first time when she was 19 years old but actually, her ordeal began when she was 16 years.

During this, the Syrian state security interrogated her Syria for something she wrote about Syria on one of her bloggers. Tal did not usually speak about Syria or criticise Bashar Al-Assad. Her blogs in Arabic were all about Palestine and Jerusalem.

After being enlisted on the security watch list she was not able to join high school, thus her family had to move to Cairo so she could study in high school. 

But in December 2009 Tal was detained at the Syrian embassy and was sent back home for outrageous charges involving espionage for the United States.

During the opposition activists revealed had to do how she rejected the sexual advances of a Syrian prominent security officer at the embassy in Cairo.

Tal was the youngest Prisoner of conscience to be arrested in the Arab world. The young blogger was sentenced on February 15, 2011, to five years in prison.

Being the granddaughter of a former state minister for parliamentary affairs Mohamed Diaa al-Mallohi during Hafez Al-Assad’s administration did not help her.

Tal's mother Ahed al-Mallohi wrote a letter that appealed to the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad himself, asking him to intervene and order the release of her daughter but that letter did not help her daughter either.

Back in Egypt, upon learning about her arrest months later, the Egyptian blogging and journalism community demanded her release and protested against her detention, both in person and online.

Tal was to be released in 2014, but she did not, and we all know why. It was during the peak of the war between the rebels and El-Assad. More people were arrested than released during then.

Tal spent an extra ten years, a whole decade in prison.

That photo was taken by a mobile phone secretly and
was smuggled to her family during her time in prison 

Before 8 December 2024, I had the unfortunate feeling that she was not alive, but God’s mercy is above all.

Tal entered Al-Assad's prison when she was only 19 years old and left it at 33 years old. I can’t image what she has been through but I know that nightmare is over.

Now I have a side question as I read more and more about the Adra prison: What kind of a sick mind names a prison that is more of a concertation camp Adra which means in slang Levantine and Egyptian Arabic virgin aka the Virgin Mary.”

It Happened: Syria is Al-Assad-Free—Bashar Flees Damascus

I have been glued in front of Al-Jazeera and social media in the past 48 hours to see the unbelievable accelerating end of Al-Assad Baath regime

Al-Assad dynasty rule ended in Damascus, Syria after 54 years. I can’t believe that I am blogging about it at last.

Damascus without Bashar Al-Assad 
The headline of Syria TV 

I can’t believe it, I still can’t.

Al-Assad has escaped along with his family to Dubai or God knows where.

I am just realizing that Al-Assad has become the last Arab Spring despot to lose his chair, I read that amazing news that I could not believe that it was happening.

Watch This: War Crimes are Instagrammed and Tiktoked in Gaza

Please watch this very important documentary “Investigating War Crimes in Gaza” produced by Al-Jazeera International about Israeli soldiers and officers in Gaza who share on social media their war crimes and misconduct openly to the world.

This documentary is more evidence of why the International Criminal Court “ICC” had to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant for war crimes in Gaza.

The film explores a trove of over 2,500 social media accounts of Israeli soldiers. It also exposes the complicity of Western governments specifically the British Government – in particular, the use of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus as a base for British surveillance flights over Gaza.

Netanyahu and Gallant to The Hague: A Small, Belated Step Toward Justice

And the International Criminal Court has done it.

It issued arrest warrants for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024 in Palestine’s Gaza.

The Irish Times' Front page was the best

The ICC also issued a similar arrest warrant for Mohamed El-Deif, the commander of Al-Kassam, the military arm of Hamas in Gaza.

It is a historical move by all measures.

This is the first time the ICC has targeted high-ranking Israeli officials, including a sitting Prime Minister.

Kodak Agfa Presents : Egypt’s Spring Flowers Show 2024 “91st edition”

Another belated post. How can you post a post about flowers show when there are ongoing genocides whether in Gaza or Sudan, especially Gaza.

Again, I was waiting for a truce, so I can’t post this, but it seems there is no hope.

A truck full of flowers and plants of every type you can imagine 

Also, I went to the Autumn Flowers Show 2024. “Yeah, it turned out that Egypt got one,” and I must share the Spring flowers before I go for the Autumn flowers.

The Spring Flowers Show 2024 was delayed nearly four times as I have read.

It was not inaugurated by the Minister of Agriculture as the custom for unknown reasons.

Into one of the partitions in the show

It was not held at its original time on 21 March because it was during Ramadan at that time.

I can’t find a reason why because actually it was used to be held in Ramadan and even with activities after the Iftar.

The show kicked off on 19 May till the last day of Eid Al-Adha which was on 19 June.

Kodak Agfa presents: El-Mawlid bazaar 2024 at Cairo’s El-Sayeda Zeinab in photos and videos

I should have posted weeks ago, but I could not with the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the war on Lebanon by Israel.

It is never too late though. Tonight is actually the Mawlid of Imam El-Hussein so it is a suitable night to share those photos.

God knows when I took the camera and went to El-Sayeda Zeinab to see how the Mawlid El-Nabawi annual bazaar. 

It was an attempt to break the cycle of depressing news.

Yes, it is the same street that I go to every year.

It helped a bit.

It was a good temporary escape so here are the photos and videos from one of Cairo’s biggest Mawlid Al-Nabawi sweets bazaar.

Mawlid Al-Nabawi is the anniversary of Prophet Mohamed's “PBUH” birthday.

It is observed on the 12th day of the third month of the Islamic calendar, Rabi'i Al-Awal. 

Killing Sinwar : Bodies fall, but ideas endure " and War will go on"

And Hamas announced the news eventually on Friday. 

The head of its political bureau aka its leader, Yahia Sinwar was killed in a combat in Gaza's Tal Sultan while fighting the Israeli army.

Hamas announced that he is its latest leading figure to be a martyr. It added that his killing wouldn’t impact it, and it insisted on its demand: The exchange of all hostages and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza.

Hamas is correct. It is a blow, but it won’t be the end for the movement that technically had all its senior and leading members including the founder themselves assassinated.

Now let’s take two steps back.

The Israeli army killed Yahia Sinwar, the current leader of Hamas in Rafah. Even Israel did not believe the news at first. His DNA and dental records had to be tested. Yahia Sinwar was not hiding underground in the tunnels with the Israel hostages, nor he was hiding among the civilians.

He fought till the end and was killed along with two of his companions "including one whom the Israeli army claimed to kill from several months ago" in combat on Wednesday. In fact, according to the Israeli media, he and his companions were the ones who opened their fire.

The Israeli army knew about his identity only on Thursday.

On the same night, the Israeli army released a video recording of the last moments of Sinwar while fighting till the end.

He lost part of his arm throwing a stick to the drone hovering over his head in an epic ending that suits a military film. The video went viral in the Arab world and Egypt in no time

Israel successfully killed Yahia Sinwar physically but in the process, it created the legend of Yahia Sinwar, the fighter who fought till the last moment, last breath. 

#6OctWar: The Memorial of Unknown Soldier in Cairo and the Memorial of Unknown Soldier in Gaza

It is always seen in Cairo, becoming one of its true modern landmarks in Nasr City.

It commemorates the fallen heroes of Egyptian soldiers and officers in the October 1973/Yom Kippur War.

The Memorial of the Unknown Soldier in Nasr City, Cairo 
Photographed by iPhone 

It is our fourth Pyramid, the Unknown Soldier Memorial in Nasr City.

It witnessed the assassination of President Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat on the 6 October 1981, eight years after the war and six years after the inauguration of the Memorial in 1975.

Although he wished to be buried at Wadi Al-Raha near Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa), Sadat was buried at Cairo’s Unknown Soldier Memorial, which he ordered to be built in 1974.

El-Sadat's funeral in October 1981 at the Uknonwn Solider Memorial

Egyptian artist and professor Sami Rafi designed the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier as a modern pyramid with the first names of Egyptian men engraved on its sides.

Speaking about the memorial is the only thing I think about writing on the anniversary of the 6 October 1973 War in Egypt as usual not in a celebratory way.

I uploaded a YouTube Short dedicated to the Egyptian soldiers but could not share it publicly or widely with that ongoing genocide happening in Gaz and extending to Lebanon.

The Memorial of Unknown Soldier in Cairo made me think about the Memorial of Unknown Soldier in Gaza.

Bibi, the Maps man: It is a new Middle East indeed

“I was working on this post before Israel launched Operation 'New Order,' which killed over 500 people in 48 hours, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. However, let’s say that this post serves as an important introduction to what is happening or will happen in the Middle East.”

A year ago, Benjamin Netanyahu stood at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) with a small map of the "New Middle East."

It was both an intriguing and alarming map, as it depicted no Palestinian state whatsoever.

The map clearly illustrated what he and his government had sought from day one: the annexation of Gaza and the West Bank, while maintaining relations with Arab countries—especially the recent signatories of the Abraham Accords (Sudan, UAE, and Bahrain)—and, most significantly, the holy grail for any Israeli government: Saudi Arabia.

Bibi at the 78th session of the UNGA in 2023

Ironically, Netanyahu's map of the "New Middle East" excluded Morocco, perhaps because he considered it too distant as a North African country.

At the time, Egypt and Jordan regularly issued statements in response to Israeli provocations in the West Bank, warning that they could lead to escalations.

Meanwhile, the U.S., or rather the Biden administration, seemed solely focused on racing against time to finalize a Saudi-Israeli normalization deal before Donald Trump could return and derail it.

Exactly one month later, everything changed, and it seems that everyone forgot about Netanyahu’s map—except Netanyahu and his government.

Since October 8, 2023, Netanyahu has shown little concern for rescuing Israeli hostages. Instead of focusing on their safety, he appears more concerned with saving himself and his government from accountability amid a political crisis, while pursuing his agenda of making that map a reality.

Happy Egyptian New Year 6266, Happy Coptic New Year 1741

Happy Egyptian New Year 6266!

Today, 11 September, marks "1 Tut", the first day of the Ancient Egyptian Year 6266, according to the ancient Egyptian calendar. 

On this occasion, I am sharing this small golden amulet — the Djed pillar amulet, found in King Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62) in the Valley of the Kings in 1922, among the wrappings around his mummy. 

King Tut's Djed pillar amulet 

Associated with the ancient Egyptian deities Ptah, the god of creation, and Osiris, the god of agriculture and resurrection, the Djed pillar represents stability and eternity in Egyptian mythology.

May all your days in the year 6266 be stable forever. May this year bring peace and justice to the people of Gaza, or Gazzatu, as it was called in ancient Egypt inshallah.

#Egypt at #Paris #Paralympics2024: Nadia Fekry ends the Paralympics with a bronze medal and a celebration to remember.

As is often the case, the Paris 2024 Paralympics concluded quietly on Sunday, but our Egyptian Paralympic champions made sure to keep us proud and happy until the very end.

Egyptian para powerlifting champion Nadia Fekry secured a bronze medal in the women’s 86kg category, marking a memorable finale for Team Egypt.

Fekry claimed her medal on her second attempt, successfully lifting 145 kilograms, although she was unable to lift 154 kilograms in her final attempt.

Her celebration after winning the bronze medal was one for the books—an iconic moment that stood out in this year’s games.

زغروطة التتويج

لحظة تتويج البطلة البارالمبية نادية فكري بالميدالية البرونزية في رفع الأثقال البارالمبي️‍♀️#Paris2024 | #Paralympics2024 | #الألعاب_البارالمبية pic.twitter.com/TYjWpqhH7g

— الرياضة مش كورة وبس (@EgyptAllSports) September 8, 2024

It’s hard to recall any other Arab athlete celebrating so passionately in this edition of the Summer Games, be it the Olympics or the Paralympics.

This is the fourth Paralympic medal in Fekry’s career, which began in 1995. She won her first bronze in the 67.5kg weightlifting category at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics.

Egypt at #Paris #Paralympics2024: 2 silvers and 2 bronze in 48 hours thanks to Mohamed Sobhy, Fatma Elyan, Safaa Hassan and sitting volleyball team

Once again, Egypt's Paralympic champions continue to bring home medals from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. In just 48 hours, Egypt clinched three medals in para powerlifting, including two in women's events ("two silvers and one bronze") and one bronze in sitting volleyball.

On Friday, Egypt’s sitting volleyball team secured the bronze medal in Paris 2024 after defeating Germany 3-2.

This marks Egypt's third bronze medal for its sitting volleyball team, following its successes at the Athens 2004 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympic Games.

Egypt at #Paris #Paralympics2024: 2 Golds on one day thanks to Mohamed El-Minyawi and Rehab Radwan

At last, Egypt has secured medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, achieving a remarkable feat by winning two gold medals in weightlifting on the same day.

Our Paralympians Mohamed El-Minyawi and Rehab Radwan

Egyptian weightlifting champion Mohamed El-Minyawi claimed gold in the men’s 59kg weightlifting category. 

El-Minyawi after knowing that he did it 

This is the 25-year-old's first-ever Paralympic appearance.

El-Minyawi with Egypt's flag

El-Minyawi lifted 194kg on his first attempt, 198kg on his second, and 201 kg on his final lift to seal his victory.

Thursday Rants and Rave: #S02EP02 What we really know about Reem Hamed “Special episode”

Hello and welcome back to a special episode of the Thursday Rants and Rave Podcast.

It's been a year since I last posted an episode.

I wasn’t able to publish any since then because, just a month after that solitary episode, we witnessed a genocide unfolding before our eyes—a genocide that still hasn’t ended. I found it impossible to write or search for episodes while the war on Gaza was ongoing.

I tried to shift my focus to Gaza-related content for the podcast, but I'll be honest—I couldn’t complete it. It wasn't due to procrastination, but rather burnout. I feel a sense of shame admitting this, especially knowing that I’m safe in Egypt, unlike the Palestinians in Gaza.

Nevertheless, I'm back to podcasting because I feel it's necessary to release this specific episode. Something happened last week that compelled me to return to podcasting in Arabic, in an attempt to clarify certain issues and prevent another wave of misinformation. “Shout out to dear fellow blogger and podcaster Israa El-Sakaa who you should follow her podcast if you understand Arabic”

Tonight's episode is not a rant but rather a factual discussion. I believe it’s crucial to clarify some points about an incident that took place in Paris two weeks ago.

Here is what I said in Arabic, it is not a rant.

A young Egyptian PhD student named Reem Hamed passed away in Paris on August 22nd, and now many Egyptians and Arabs believe she was killed.

Here’s what we really know about the late Reem Hamed—may Allah bless her soul and bring patience to her family, especially her mother.

Reem Hamed in a photo from February 2021 "Hamed's FB account"

Reem passed away on the evening of Thursday, August 22, 2024, in Paris circumstances that remain unclear, according to her family and the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates stated that it is closely monitoring the ongoing investigations into the death of the Egyptian researcher, Reem Hamed.

The ministry noted that, upon being notified of Hamed's death, the Egyptian Consulate General in Paris immediately contacted French authorities to seek information about the investigation.

The assassinations of The Two Ismails : Ismail Al-Ghoul’s (Al-Rifi and Al-Shawa too) assassination

Three weeks ago, I got the news in Cairo on my mobile phone before it was aired on Al-Jazeera.

A notification popped up on my iPhone screen, making me rush to tune back into the Al-Jazeera TV channel after having turned it off.

The TV had been on since early morning, as the whole family was following the news of Ismail Haniyah’s assassination in Tehran. No one expected anything significant to happen on the same day.

"Al-Jazeera correspondent in North Gaza Ismail Al-Ghoul is killed in an Israeli airstrike," read the notification, which had come directly from one of the on-ground Gaza Telegram groups.

I quickly turned on Al-Jazeera's Arabic channel and found the presenter, Rola Ibrahim, speaking live with guests from Tehran and the West Bank about the impact of Haniyah’s assassination on the war in Gaza.

Ismail Al-Ghoul and Ramy El-Rifi 

Meanwhile, the news spread rapidly on social media, with reporters and photographers sharing updates online. Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sherif confirmed the news on Twitter.

#عاجل | استشهاد أخي وحبيبي مراسل #الجزيرة إسماعيل الغول والمصور رامي الريفي بقصف إسرائيلي استهدفهما في مدينة غزة pic.twitter.com/1ImGMLAOhn

— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) July 31, 2024

“**Breaking News**: My brother and beloved Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail Al-Ghoul, along with photographer Rami Al-Rifi, were martyred in an Israeli airstrike that targeted them in Gaza City,” 

Kodak Agfa Presents: August’s Super blue Moon

Kodak Agfa is back with a supermoon photo.

It is super blue moon but I could not make it blue because it is blue per se

It is August’s Super Blue Moon that the world witnessed on Monday.

What is the Super Blue Moon? “Chat-GPT answer”

A superblue moon is a rare astronomical event that occurs when two unusual lunar phenomena align: a supermoon and a blue moon.

A supermoon happens when the full moon coincides with its closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, making the moon appear larger and brighter in the night sky.

A blue moon refers to the second full moon in a single calendar month, an occurrence that is infrequent due to the lunar cycle being about 29.5 days long.

When these two events occur together, it's called a super blue moon—a striking sight that captures the imagination, as it combines the rarity of a blue moon with the enhanced visual impact of a supermoon.

At the same time the Super Blue Moon was covering the skies and photographers around the globe, the ongoing genocide in Gaza did stop at night. More children and civilians were killed.

The Palestinians in Gaza did not have the time to enjoy looking to the moon despite most of them being technically without a proper roof.

The ceasefire agreement seemed to be like a “blue moon” as we are hearing reports that Donald Trump asking Netanyahu to reject and sabotage technically any ceasefire deal or any deal by Biden/Harris administration, so the Democrats won’t achieve a bonus.

But at the same time here we are having a blue moon, there is still a hope.

Paris 2024 Olympics: Egypt got silver and gold medals at the last moment thanks to Sarah Samir and Ahmed El-Gendy "Updated"

Saturday began with a horrific massacre by the Israeli army, which killed nearly 100 civilians in a school that had been turned into a refuge, all under the pretext of targeting a Hamas base. The Israeli army released a list of the victims' names, claiming they were Hamas members.

However, it was later revealed that these individuals were civilians, some of whom worked in Gaza's government bodies, while others had family members affiliated with Hamas and Fatah.

Videos and photos of human remains gathered in plastic bags serve as a stark reminder to millions of Arabs, including Egyptians, of their perceived vulnerability despite their numbers and strength. It is disheartening to note that out of 13 OPEC members, 8 are Muslim-majority countries including 7 Arab countries.

This tragedy has been dubbed "The Dawn Massacre" in Arabic social media or “Al-Tabaeen school attack” in international media.

It is dubbed “Dawn Massacre” in Arabic because many of the victims, mostly men and boys, were preparing for the Dawn prayer early in the morning. The scenes were deeply distressing, and the massacre will haunt us forever.

Yet, as the day drew to a close, a small glimmer of hope emerged for millions of Egyptians.

Despite the backdrop of such dire events, Egypt secured two medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics—one gold and one silver. We got the three medals: bronze, silver and gold. 

Though it might seem trivial to mention Olympic medals in the context of a massacre and ongoing conflict, this post serves as a brief mental escape from the flood of bad news.

It began with Sarah Samir, the Egyptian woman weightlifter who revived the country’s old legacy in the Olympics.

Sarah Samir in her weightlifting attempt at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Samir got a silver medal in the women's 81kg event. 

The assassination of the two Ismails: Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran ‘Part-1’

“What a day !!”

Renowned Egyptian TV host Mahmoud Saad said it late Wednesday when he opened a live-streaming discussion about yet another long bloody day in the Gaza war that has taken a very heavy toll on all of us as Arab people.

In a livestream watched by hundreds of thousands, Saad discussed the two major events that defined the day and made it a particularly heavy one.

The major event was the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau in the heart of Iran’s Tehran in the early hours of Wednesday.

Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Iranian President on Tuesday.

Haniyeh's last photo at an exhibition in Tehran dedicated to Al-Quds and
and the Dome of the Rock on Tuesday. 

What happened was like a practical Israeli declaration of war against Israel killing any chance of a ceasefire.

Ismail Haniyeh is not part of Al-Kassam, the military branch of Hamas. Already many experts believe that Yahia Senwar and Mohamed El-Deif are more powerful than him and they are the ones who gave the orders currently to the Political office

Ismail Haniyeh was playing two roles, Hamas’ top negotiator as well as its top spokesperson. He was the top negotiator of Hamas and Palestinian factions in the current ceasefire talks mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US.

I won’t say anything more than what the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said on Wednesday Mohamed Abdel Rahman Al-Thani.

Paris 2024 Olympics: Egypt Wins First Bronze Medal in Epee, Bringing Hope in a Crucial Time

Egypt Scored its First Medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics

Fencer Mohamed El-Sayed won Egypt's first medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics, securing the bronze in the Men's Épée Individual event with a hard-fought 8-7 victory over Tibor Andrasfi of Hungary.

Mohamed El-Sayed as he knew that he won the Bronze medal 

Photos of the 21-year-old celebrating Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous "Siu" celebration at the Grand Palais in Paris went viral, bringing a breath of fresh air to many Egyptians.

Back to Moulid on Ashura: Yet another old visit to Al-Moulid Market at El-Sayeda Zeinab

It is Ashura, a holy day for not only Muslim Shia but for all Muslims as well as all the believers if you think about it.

According to the popular Islamic Sunni tradition, Ashura marks the parting of the Red Sea by Prophet Moses, Prophet Joseph was released from prison, Prophet Noah disembarked from the Ark, God forgave the father of all prophets and all mankind Prophet Adam

Nevertheless, some Muslim religious scholars believe that the only thing that happened on that day was the parting of the Red by Prophet Moses as mentioned by Prophet Mohamed “PBUH” while the rest was not explicitly mentioned.

Some believe that rest was added to the day by the Umayyads to downplay what happened on that day and left a black mark that divided the Muslims into two sects: Sunni and Shia.

On that day, the battle of Karbala occurred where the big Umayyad army led by Yazid stood against the army of the few led by no other Imam Al-Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohamed “PBUH”

On that day, Al-Hussein was martyred defending what can be described now as the right to elect the ruler aka election of a new caliph through shura (consultation) instead of the hereditary rule.

Happy New Hijri Year 1446: Let’s remember how early Muslims became refugees

Happy and blessed New Hijri Year 1446 to all Muslims in the world, especially to the Muslim refugees

I am seizing this opportunity to remind some people “especially in Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey and Ethiopia” that we are celebrating how Prophet Mohamed “PBUH” and his companions, the early Muslims had become refugees seeking safety in Yathrib as well as Ethiopia from 14 centuries ago technically speaking.

Two little Sudanese refugees making it to Chad across the desert
"AFP

The Muslim World has the biggest and oldest refugee crisis in the world with refugees from Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Yemen Afghanistan and Myanmar. Already some Muslim countries and governments caused this refugee crisis.

The Muslim World also has countries with political and financial capabilities to solve this crisis but unfortunately despite being about nearly 2 billion-people nation, we are as Prophet Mohamed “PBUH” said “numerous but weak”.

Regarding what happened in the Hajj 2024 Season : It is not the responsibility of the Egyptian unauthorized pilgrims alone

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia announced officially that at least 1,301 people died during the Hajj 2024 season.

According to statements from Saudi officials, most of those who died were from the unauthorized pilgrims who went to Hajj without a permit.

No Hajj without a permit sign in Saudi Arabia "AFP"

This is the first time Saudi officials have admitted that such a large number of pilgrims have passed away this Hajj season, following a week of public denial online.

Saudi Arabia officially hosted about 1.8 million pilgrims this season; a number lower than in years before the coronavirus pandemic.

Unofficial reports indicate that the majority of those who died were Egyptians who went on pilgrimage without a permit.

According to the Wall Street Journal last Friday, over 680 Egyptians died due to the scorching heatwave during the pilgrimage, almost all of whom participated without permits. An additional 700 Egyptians are still missing, the report added.

On Saturday, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly ordered the immediate revocation of licenses for 16 tourism companies involved in organizing unauthorized pilgrimage arrangements over the death of the unauthorized Egyptian pilgrims during the Hajj 2024 season.

The officials responsible for these companies are referred to public prosecution on charges of fraud, the statement of the Egyptian government said.

Blessed and Happy Eid Adha 2024

Blessed and Happy Eid Adha 2024 regardless of all the sadness worldwide, especially in the Middle East and Africa.

Here is a special “Last Meal” of Eid’s sheep by Egypt’s legendary painter and illustrator, the underrated Hussein Bicar.

The Last Meal by Bicar 

Published in 1954, it is watercolours on paper. After seeing it on Bicar's official Facebook page, I admit that I enhanced the painting a bit.

Gaza War 2023 : This is what the graffiti of Gaza says ( Vol.1)

As a loyal 25 January supporter, I feel weak whenever I see political graffiti. Political graffiti has always played a role in Egypt and the Arab world.

From its rise in 2011 to its decline in 2015, the graffiti of the Egyptian Revolution provided a platform for the public to express their opinions to the world.

That’s why when I see pictures of graffiti in Gaza from the past 8 months on social media, I feel deeply touched.

Here is some graffiti from Gaza.

Unlike other graffiti, most of it is drawn and written on the rubble and crumbling walls of houses.

According to data collected by the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) on May 3 and published on May 31, more than half of all buildings in Gaza have been destroyed.

At least 137,297 buildings have been damaged, according to satellite imagery-based assessments by the UNOSAT.

In the past 8 months, the most common type of graffiti seen in Gaza, at least from photos, consists of notifications written on walls indicating that someone was killed under the rubble.

Usually, family members who survived but lost their homes in the Israeli shelling leave these messages for others as they embark on an unknown journey of displacement.

On the occasion of Eid Adha, photographer Haneen Salem found a young man in Gaza City who had written "Eid Mubarak to all of you" on the walls of his destroyed house.

"Happy Eid to all of you" from Gaza to the World 

He told Salem that his family was still under the rubble of the house, and this was the first Eid without them.

"I wanted to write next to their spirits and tell them that their Eid in paradise is more beautiful," he told her.

These pieces of graffiti have become like tombstones.

All Eyes on Sudan : Wad Al-Noura Massacre is just one of too many Massacres

I told you before that 5 June 2024 was a bitter one as it was not only the anniversary of the Six Day War Defeat in the Gaza war and the flags parade in East Jerusalem, but it also came at the time another Arab country witnessed a horrifying genocide and the world is still watching.

A photo from a screenshot showing the first mass funeral held for the victims
on the Wednesday at Wad Al-Noura 

In Sudan, we found out Wednesday night that more than 100 men were killed by the Rapid Support Forces “RSF” in one day in one single village in Al Jazira state.

According to the latest numbers we have got, there are at least 180 men who were killed by the RSF in this massacre that officially carries the name of the village it had been committed at “Wad El Noura”.

The latest numbers confirmed that there are 35 children among the victims. There are 220 people seriously injured by the villagers.

“Wad El Noura” village which was unknown outside Sudan has become world famous for the most wrong reasons ever.

Watch this : The setback defeat Continues from 1967 to 2024 “Updated”

The anniversary of the Six Days War aka 1967 War passes this year in a very bitter way in the Arab world, especially in Egypt. With all that is happening in Palestine whether in Gaza especially in Rafah or in the West Bank, especially in East Jerusalem, it is a very bitter anniversary.

The Israeli ultranationalist flag parade entering the Al-Aqsa complex on Wednesday
5 June 2024 in Occupied East Jerusalem by Activestills.org 

I do not know if I posted this here before or not, but I remember speaking about it earlier.

In cooperation with the Al-Mawkef Al-Masry political news Facebook page, renowned Egyptian historian Dr. Khaled Fahmy presented a series of episodes about the Six Days War in 2022.

It is a must-watch series.

Unfortunately, it is in Arabic. I wish it were translated into English one day.

Until now, the official documents of the Six Days War in Egypt have not been released.

Fahmy depends on foreign sources as well as the transcripts of Nasser’s cabinet meetings that were released by his family, in addition to the memoirs of Egyptian officials.

Songs of Fire and struggle: Dear Internet Sherine’s Kalam Eineh is not about Palestine, but those songs are

This is a quick post as I have a million things to do right now. Recently, I found out that many pro-Palestinian content creators on TikTok and Instagram use Egyptian pop star Sherine's hit song "Kalam Eineh" as background music for their videos about Gaza.

"If my voice is gone, your songs will remain"
said Naji Al-Ali in one of his poems and cartoons in 1980s

I don't know how or when this started, but the song, musically composed by Hassan El-Shafei, has become a global hit strangely.

People visit the original song on YouTube and comment that they came from TikTok and shout "Viva Palestine," which makes me happy.

Yet I have to say, this song “Kalam Eineh” has nothing to do with Palestine or Gaza at all. “Kalam Eineh” or “The Love Words of his eyes” is a romantic song.

Here is the translation of the lyrics in English.

That is the first part which is usually shared in the videos.

" The love words of his eyes are sweeter than songs
From a couple of words, from a greeting, I become someone else
When he sways, my heart sways with him
I may sacrifice my eyes and whole life for him, and it's too little
The love words of his eyes are sweeter than songs
From a couple of words, from a greeting, I become someone else
When he sways, my heart sways with him
I may sacrifice my eyes and whole life for him, and it's too little"

I know it may sound exotic, but it does not fit the hard times the Palestinians are living currently in Gaza.

Gaza War 2023: This is what the real humans of Gaza say/are saying/said "May Mother’s Day Edition"

I wanted to publish this post on the March Egyptian/Arab Mother’s Day, but I could not during then. Now it is the week of May Mother’s Day in the West and so it is time to hear what the real mothers of Gaza say/are saying and said.

I failed to post this on our Egyptian/Arab Mother’s Day because I was overwhelmed by the messages and videos I found for Palestinian mothers from Gaza, and I am still overwhelmed.

The Palestinian mothers in Gaza gave another reason why mothers are revered universally.

Mothers and babies in destroyed houses by Motaz Aaiza in Gaza

On the eve of May Mother’s Day, I saw this video of an old woman displaced along with her injured paralyzed son in North Gaza searching for safety.

Her son, suffering from injuries sustained during the Nabulsi roundabout massacre, required urgent blood transfusions at Kamal Adwan Hospital on Sunday.

However, they were forced to evacuate following leaflets dropped by occupation forces planes, urging everyone to leave Jabalia and surrounding areas. The mother, struggling with her son's partial paralysis and inadequate medical facilities in North Gaza, expresses a desperate wish for peace.

This great mother reminded me of the other mother who kept pulling her two toddler sons for nearly 14 kilometres in the first displacement from the North to Middle Gaza in November. 

Kodak Agfa presents : Cairo’s Al-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque and Shrine during Renovations

A very short break and escape from a war that will be our Karbala moment as a nation and on the eve of the re-inauguration of Al-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque and Shrine after a major renovation, I would like to share with you a couple of photos I took earlier this year to the Mosque while it was still being renovated.

On Sunday, it is expected that the Mosque will be re-inaugurated by the current Sultan of Bohras Mufaddal Saifuddin and Egyptian officials above them expectedly President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Al-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque's entrance from Al-Sadd Street in Cairo

The Indian spiritual leader of the Shia sect arrived in Cairo on Saturday and met with El-Sisi.

I think that he made a new record number of visits to Egypt in the past few years that no other Sultan of the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam had made in the past.

The Dawoodi Bohra Shiites are funding the whole renovation process of the mosques and shrines Ahl Al-Beit or Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) Family in Egypt especially in Cairo.

Al-Sayeda Zeinab or Lady Zeinab is Prophet Mohamed’s granddaughter. It is widely believed in Egypt that she came to Cairo in 61 Hijri (680 AD) and lived there till her death. Lady Zeinab was buried in a place that was once part of the Egyptian Gulf.

Lady Zeinab is a holy symbol for Shias as well as the Sunnis, especially Egyptians “We are the Shiaa of the Sunni”.

One of the oldest photos taken in the 19th century of El-Sayeda Zeinab
Mosque in Cairo

Again, I won’t enter the debate about whether Lady Zeinab Peace Upon Her was buried in Cairo or in Damascus but the oldest mention of the mosque as a shrine for the Prophet Mohamed’s Granddaughter or “Mashhad al-Sayyida Zainab” was found in the 4^th century Hijri (10^th century) chronicles of Andalusian traveller “Al-Fassi” to Egypt during then.

Happy Orthodox Easter 2024 from Gaza regardless of war

Happy Orthodox Easter from Gaza, from one of the world’s oldest active yet ignored Church of Saint Porphyries.

Despite all the odds the Church and the very few remaining Greek Orthodox Christians celebrated Orthodox Easter holding all the masses and rituals.

Easter Orthodox held at St.Church of Saint Porphyries in Gaza on Sunday
by Hamza Qraiqea for Anadolu/AFP

The Palestinian Orthodox Christians held all the masses and rituals in a sombre mood after all that they had been facing since October.

People ignore the fact that this is the third oldest active church in the world named after Saint Porphyries of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Originally born in Thessaloniki, Bishop Porphyries was sent to Gaza in the 5th century by the Patriarch of Jerusalem when it was a city of Pagans. Historically Gaza was a pagan city and was not even a part of the short-lived-Jewish Kingdoms in what was known then Jerusalem and Judea.

Bishop Porphyries helped in the conversion of many Palestinians to Christianity. Porphyries’ tomb is in the North Eastern corner of the Church.

Now I do not understand why a Church like the Church of Saint Porphyries is not on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Unfortunately, the world seemed to discover it only when it was bombed by Israeli Air Forces on 25 October causing the collapse of one of the two halls it targeted.

Gaza War: A Portfolio of Israel’s Newborns Targets in Gaza "Updated"

In the days before the war, Yahia Barzaq became the first professional photographer in the Gaza Strip to specialize in photographing newborns and babies.

Barzaq started capturing images of newborns with the assistance of his wife in mid-July 2017, initially at their home, and it quickly gained immense popularity.

Shortly after securing local funding through an entrepreneurship business contest, he established his newborn photography studio in the upscale Remal district, known for its affluence in Central Gaza.

Just three days after the studio’s grand opening, the young photographer announced to expectant mothers that he would only be able to photograph babies under 14 days old and that his schedule was fully booked for the next month.

His wife Nahrawan took on the role of styling the babies for the photo sessions.

Within a few years, Barzaq’s studio became a sought-after destination for mothers seeking to capture the earliest moments of their newborns.

Les vaches qui condamnent : Cherchez the Red Heifers’ animal rights "Updated"

First, Chag Sameach

On Sunday, scores of right-wing religiously fanatic Jewish Israelis began to flock to East Jerusalem in preparation for the celebration of Passover bringing with them livestock mostly goats to sacrifice at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Yet this seems normal somehow and it will be not the main event on Monday in East Jerusalem this Passover with all that is happening from escalation in the West Bank as well as ongoing genocide in Gaza.

The red heifers by Night Cafe 

This Passover, the main event that will capture I believe the attention of many in the world is the red heifers and whether an Ulta-right Jewish Institute will sacrifice them at Mount Olive in East Jerusalem ushering the final stage in re-establishing the Third Temple in the same place of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s holiest site.

"Updated: They adjourned it"

If you are lost and don't know what I am talking about, here is a simple explanation.

Following the destruction of the Solomon Temple twice, there are factions of Jews who believe that the Third Temple will be rebuilt again on the Temple Mount after the birth and sacrifice of red heifers or cows on Mount Olive where they were burned to ashes like in ancient times.

Now there is one issue the Temple Mount officially is not empty because it hosts Islam’s third holiest place, Beit Al-Maqdas or Al-Harm Al-Sharif hosts Al-Aqsa Mosque “Third Holiest Mosque” and the Dome of the Rock thus there are right-wing religiously fanatic Jewish groups that want to demolish Al-Harm Al-Sharif.

Among those fanatic current Israeli ministers are Itamar Ben-Gvir, Amihai Eliyahu and Bezalel Smotrich who do not hide this wish and actually are working hard to make that happen eventually regardless of the price the world will pay.

Happy Eid despite all the hardships and war in Gaza and Sudan

Happy Eid El-Fitr to the dear readers of the Egyptian Chronicles around the globe especially those who are observing.

A very special Happy Eid El-Fitr to the people of Gaza, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Despite the death and destruction, Palestinians are endeavouring to celebrate Eid El-Fitr as best they can.

A Palestinian woman with her Eid Kahk aka cookies by 
Majdi Fathi in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip April 8, 2024

Women and children have gathered to make Eid cookies or Kahk, which differs from ours, despite being at the Internal Displacement Camps (IDC), using mud ovens like their ancestors did in 1948.

I read that in Palestinian Rafah, where a million and a half Palestinians have taken refuge, there are two hairdressers with queues of women and children since early Tuesday.

I see videos on Instagram of men having their hair cut in makeshift barbershops inside the tents.