[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Egypt and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Egypt Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to egypt@jadaliyya.com by Sunday night of every week.]
Regional and International Relations
In Rafah, A Tale of Two Cities
Mohammed Omer writes, “Egypt’s decision to raze Rafah city in Sinai, in order to establish a buffer zone with the besieged Gaza Strip, will tear families apart.”
Egypt Does Not See Oil Price Drop Hitting Investments from Gulf
Egypt’s Minister of Investment Ashraf Salman does not expect the Arab Gulf State’s investment in Egypt will be affected by the fall of oil prices.
Qatar`s Emir to Invite Sisi to Handball Championship Final in Doha: Media Reports
Ahram Online reports, “Head of the International Handball Federation says that Sheikh Tamim told him personally that he would invite al-Sisi to attend the men`s world championship final.”
Report: Qatar’s Emir to Attend March Economic Summit in Egypt
Qatar has accepted a formal invite to the Economic Development Conference to be held in Sharm al-Shaikh in March. Click here to read the report in Arabic.
Egyptian Officials Meet with Libyan Tribe
The meeting aims to discuss the security situation, especially in the southern part of Libya.
Security
North Sinai Curfew Extended by Three Months
Mada Masr reports.
Tunnel Containing Weapons, Explosives Discovered in Rafah
Menna Zaki writes, “Tunnel was 1,200 meters long and extended beyond current buffer zone: Armed Forces.”
Human Rights and Legal Institutions
Egypt’s Two-Faced Policy on Human Rights
Sherif Mansour reflects on the contradictory approach to al-Sisi’s human rights laws internationally and domestically.
Egypt: Rash of Deaths in Custody
Human Rights Watch releases a report on prison conditions in Egypt.
Fourteen-Year-Old Arrested Again after Testifying to Torture at CSF Camp
Mada Masr reports.
Egyptian-American Activist ‘Dying’ in Prison
Journalist and activist Mohamed Soltan’s health condition is critical a year after he initiated a hunger strike in protest of his unjust imprisonment.
Egypt`s Sisi Says Protests Not Priority Under Current Circumstances
Ahram Online reports, “Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi talks about human rights and terrorism at Police Day celebration.” Click links one and two to read further on al-Sisi’s speech on Police Day.
Economy
Oil Diminishes Interest Rates
Ahmed al-Wahsh writes interest rates have been cut to 8.75% due to “the current volatility of the crude oil prices per barrel.”
Egypt to Investors: Autocratic Government Means We Are Safe for Business
Elias Groll reflects on the government’s effort to establish a proper investment environment for investors.
Egyptian Cotton Hangs by Thread after State Subsidy Axed
Partick Kingsley writes, “Low global price exacerbates decline of country’s most famous product, with many farmers moving to different crops.”
Emirates to Carry Out Projects at Ten Billion Dollars in Egypt: Newspaper
Reports indicates the United Arab Emirates plans to conduct development projects in energy, tourism, agriculture, housing, mining, and textile sectors in Egypt.
Nestle Plans to Invest 138 Million Dollars in Egypt in Next Few Years
Michael Georgy argue that despite the political and economic instability in Egypt the Swiss-based food giant Nestle plans to invest one billion Egyptian pounds in the next few years.
Court Lifts Ban on Brotherhood-Affiliated Supermarket Chain
Aswat Masriya reports that court has lifted ban of Seoudi chain of supermarkets, claimed to be owned by a Muslim Brotherhood businessman, Abdelrahman Seoudi.
Parliamentary Elections
Fourth-Three NGOs Registered to Monitor Election, as Deadline Approaches
Daily News Egypt reports.
Special - January 25 Revolution:
Co-opting January 25
Basil El-Dabh writes, “If the Egyptian government wants to avoid another January 25, co-opting it and employing repressive tactics is unsustainable. It needs to examine the country’s conditions leading up to 2011 and the root causes behind popular frustration.”
Anniversary of Egypt’s January 25 Revolution Overshadowed by War on Terror
Khaled Dawoud examines the factors that led revolutionaries to remain off the streets on the fourth anniversary of the January 25 Revolution.
Fifteen Dead, Thirty-Five Injured on 25 January Anniversary
Minister of Interior announces a total of fifteen deaths in protests broke out on the fourth anniversary of the January 25 Revolution.
Hundreds Attend Alexandria Funeral of Killed Activist
Mada Mars and Mohamed Gamal write that hundreds attended Shaimaa al-Sabbagh’s funeral in Alexandria.
Show me the Money: The Many Trials of Mubarak`s Men
Nadia Ahmed compiles brief profiles on main figures in Mubarak’s government whose verdicts include money laundering, embezzlement, squandering public funds, in addition to several other charges.
The Anniversary of the Revolution Through the Headlines
Pesha Magid reflects on changes of media coverage of the January 25 Revolution four years later.
Revolution Dishonored
Amr Khalifa writes, “To understand today’s pungent pain you must absorb the degree of yesterday’s hope.”
Power, the January 25 Revolutionaries, and Responsibility
H.A. Hellyer reflects on the January 25 revolutionaries since the eighteen-day uprising in 2011 and offers insights on their future.
Revolution and Despair
Asef Bayat reflects on his observations of Egypt after his visit to the country, in which he found that revolutionaries have a sense of despair and disenchantment as a result of developments taking place since the January 25 Revolution. This article is published in Arabic.
Egyptian Police `Using Rape as a Weapon` against Activists
Louisa Loveluck writes, “Four years after its revolution, Egyptian activists warn that the number of deaths and rapes in police custody is rising fast.”
Small Anti-Regime Protest in Downtown Cairo
On January 22, “Islamist Ahrar movement claims responsibility for protest.”
Chomsky Predicts Another Revolution in Egypt
Egypt Independent reports, “A prominent US expert on the Middle East has predicted a new revolutionary outbreak in Egypt under the current government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi due to its inability to address the country’s problems.”
Is Egypt on the Verge of Another Uprising?
Thanassis Cambanis reflects on the political and economic measures al-Sisi had to take to undermine January 25 Revolution.
More Students Sentenced as 25 January Anniversary Approaches
Adham Youssef writes, “Thirty-three al-Azhar students receive one year imprisonment; six female students to spend fifteen days in detention pending investigations.
Reports and Opinions
Egypt’s Long Walk to Despotism
Amro Ali argues, “Egypt is currently witnessing an age-old political phenomenon of citizens’ “voluntary servitude” to a repressive order – specifically, despotism.”
The Coptic Church: Mixing Politics with Religion
Mina Fayek writes, “To mourn the unjustly massacred and raise your voice against oppressors is unwelcome in the Coptic Church, but to interrupt prayers and let politicians speak during a mass is welcome and appropriate.”
Former Deputy Prime Minister: Release of Mubarak’s Sons Cost the State One Billion Dollars
Former Deputy Prime Minister Hossam Issa said in an interview with journalist of al-Tahrir channel “that the release of Hosni Mubarak’s sons, Gamal and Alaa, cost the State Treasury one billion dollars that were frozen by Swiss central bank a few months ago but they can get back now that they have been released.”
In Egypt, Sowing the Seeds of Gender Equality
Elizabeth Stuart argues changes in gender equality in Egypt will require changes in gender norms in addition to implementing equal laws between genders.
Beyond al-Sisi`s Christmas Visit
Dina Ezzat writes, “Having rejoiced at the unprecedented presidential visit to the Coptic Christmas Mass, Egypt`s Christians are now hoping for an action-oriented approach by the state to establish equal citizenship.”
Religious Institutions: A pillar of Egypt’s New Security State?
Adham Youssef explores religious institutions that publically supported al-Sisi.
Suicide Rates Increase: Reflection of New Realities in Egypt
Sherif Tarek writes, “Less religiosity, mounting daily life pressures and lack of help cited among the reasons for what is believed to be a rise in suicidal tendencies in Egypt.”
Mahalla Textile Workers Waiting after Government Promise to Pay Late Bonuses
Aya Samir reports on developments related to Mahalla textile workers’ strike.
Why Cairo Recycles Better than New York City in Waste-Picking Tale
Salma al-Wardany writes on the process of waste picking in Cairo and its environmental impact.
Morsi Addresses Court for First Time, Claims He is Still Egypt`s President
Ahram Online reports, “Mohamed Morsi said he was innocent of espionage charges and described his ouster as a coup.” Click here to read further. Listen here to an audio recording of Morsi’s address to court (Arabic).
Ministry Estimate of 20,000 Street Children in Egypt ‘Far from Reality’: NGO
Mahmoud Mostafa writes that Ministry of Social Solidarity has announced that the number of street children in Egypt has reached 20, 000.
Leak Allegedly Reveals Government Using Media to Shape Public Opinion
Aya Nader writes, “A new leak allegedly reveals that government officials instructed leading media figures to appeal to people’s emotions and encourage them to support Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during his presidential campaign in 2014.”
Egyptian Government “Instructions” Have Led Media To Boost Anti-Gay Coverage, Editor Says
J. Lester Feder and Maged Atef argue that the government ordered media coverage of homosexuality and morality-related arrests to distract the public from more crucial political cases.
Arabic
خلافات مبكرة بين السيسي وسلمان؟
Islam Abu al-Ezz argues that some tensions between Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and President al-Sisi in light of the former’s intension to reconcile with the Muslim Brotherhood.
الألتراس والسلطة.. صراع الأضداد
Mohamed al-Jouhari analyzes state-Ultras relations.
هل زيادة سعر تذكرة مترو الأنفاق 2500 في المئة عادلة؟
Ahmed Fouad writes, “Egyptian news recently reported that the Transport Ministry will increase the price of a metro ticket by 2,500%, which activists consider extremely unfair.” This article is published in English.
يناير 2011.. قراءة هادئة في النجاحات الغابئة
Amr Hamzawy writes on the aspects the January 25 Revolution failed to achieved four years later.
معركة تاريخ الثورة المصرية.. من فعلها؟
Mohamed Abu al-Ghait divides the respective on the January 25 Revolution into four narratives, and offers his reflection on each one.
ماذا علمتني الثورة؟
Amal Hamada reflects on the lesson learned from the revolution.
تشييع جنازة شيماء الصباغ.. وبدء التحقيق مع المقبوض عليهم من وقفة "التحالف الشعبي
Mada Masr reports the “People’s Coalition” accuses Ministry of Interior of killing party member Shaimaa al-Sabbagh.
تدمير 13 نفقاً في سيناء وضبط 62 متسللاً بالسلوم
Security forces destroy thirteen tunnels in Sinai in three days.
صحيفة: مصر تقترح اقامة بطولة عربية باسم الملك عبد الله
Egypt’s Minister of Sports and Youth to suggest establishing of a football Arab league named after the late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.
January 25 Articles on Jadaliyya Egypt
الإخوان من الجماعة إلى الفرقة
Ibrahim el-Houdiaby analyzes the impact of political developments in Egypt on the Muslim Brotherhood.
تقييم حالة الإعلام الخاص فى مصر
Rania Makram analyzes private media outlets in Egypt.
Will the Counter-Revolution Continue?
Jadaliyya Egypt Editors argue that while the revolution has not achieved its goals, counter-revolutionary forces have not either.
The Revolutionary Practice of Endurance
Ian Alan Paul explores how the people of Cairo try to maintain the symbols of the revolution despite the military-backed regime’s countless attempts to remove any signs that a revolution has ever occurred.
Is Cairene Graffiti Losing Momentum?
Mona Abaza examines the state’s restriction of street art as a form of political expression in light of the regime’s crack down on rights activists, NGOs, and revolutionaries.
“Old People Are Not Revolutionaries!” Labor Struggles Between Precarity and Istiqrar in a Factory Occupation in Egypt
Dina Makram-Ebeid reflects on the impact of the revolution on the public sector and labor struggles.
Mubarakism on Steroids: Jadaliyya Co-Editor Hesham Sallam Interviewed on the Anniversary of the Revolution
Hesham Sallam gives an extensive interview about the rise of repression and authoritarianism in Egypt during al-Sisi’s period and what that means for the memory of the Egyptian revolution.
Third Eye: Photography
Medrar TV reports on “Third Eye” exhibition.
Live Stream Event -- Joel Beinin on Workers and Revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia (21 January 2015 at Stanford University)
Jadaliyya Reports Page announces Joel Beinin’s presentation entitled: “Workers and Revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia,” to be held at Stanford University.