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Bassem Raafat Muhammad Youssef the 39 year old Egyptian cardiac surgeon, satirist, and TV host of El Bernameg a satirical news program broadcasted by Egyptian television was summoned and interrogated by Egyptian authorities after being charged with insulting President Mohamed Morsi, denigrating Islam, and spreading false news. Abby Ohlheiser in an article published on Slate titled ‘"Egypt's Jon Stewart" Has It Tougher Than America's Version’ states “… out on bail now, but activists and critics are watching this one closely for the precedent it sets on the new government's stance towards freedom of expression. …He's commonly called the Egyptian version of Jon Stewart, and for good reason: Youssef modeled his widely-watched show after his comedic idol's Daily Show. …Youssef is also a heart surgeon who treated the wounded after a notoriously brutal attempt by the Mubarak regime to drive protesters from Tahrir square. … Youssef turns his satirical eye toward those in power, whether that means mocking the military, or its elected successors, the current government who took office in June. Now, it looks like Youssef could become the most prominent test case for the new Muslim Brotherhood-led government's commitment to the democratic process that put it into power. Egyptian journalists, as the BBC explains, have already argued that the new Islamist-influenced constitution doesn't do nearly enough to protect freedom of the press, expression, or religious minorities in the country. …Youssef, who is Muslim, [states] "We are not the ones who insult religion, all we do is expose the channels that have misused religion and harmed it more than anyone else. If there is anyone who has insulted religion it is those who use Islam as a weapon for political reasons." … Youssef posted a tweet in English to his one million-plus followers saying he was "touched by people's support and media attention, however, there are many more activists being prosecuted that deserve to get that support."  Inspired by Abby Ohlheiser, Slate ow.ly/k6BVR Image source TheWorld ow.ly/k6BR3 We are not the ones who insult religion (May 7 2013)

Bassem Raafat Muhammad Youssef the 39 year old Egyptian cardiac surgeon, satirist, and TV host of El Bernameg a satirical news program broadcasted by Egyptian television was summoned and interrogated by Egyptian authorities after being charged with insulting President Mohamed Morsi, denigrating Islam, and spreading false news. Abby Ohlheiser in an article published on Slate titled ‘”Egypt’s Jon Stewart” Has It Tougher Than America’s Version’ states “… out on bail now, but activists and critics are watching this one closely for the precedent it sets on the new government’s stance towards freedom of expression. …He’s commonly called the Egyptian version of Jon Stewart, and for good reason: Youssef modeled his widely-watched show after his comedic idol’s Daily Show. …Youssef is also a heart surgeon who treated the wounded after a notoriously brutal attempt by the Mubarak regime to drive protesters from Tahrir square. … Youssef turns his satirical eye toward those in power, whether that means mocking the military, or its elected successors, the current government who took office in June. Now, it looks like Youssef could become the most prominent test case for the new Muslim Brotherhood-led government’s commitment to the democratic process that put it into power. Egyptian journalists, as the BBC explains, have already argued that the new Islamist-influenced constitution doesn’t do nearly enough to protect freedom of the press, expression, or religious minorities in the country. …Youssef, who is Muslim, [states] “We are not the ones who insult religion, all we do is expose the channels that have misused religion and harmed it more than anyone else. If there is anyone who has insulted religion it is those who use Islam as a weapon for political reasons.” … Youssef posted a tweet in English to his one million-plus followers saying he was “touched by people’s support and media attention, however, there are many more activists being prosecuted that deserve to get that support.”

 

Inspired by Abby Ohlheiser, Slate ow.ly/k6BVR Image source TheWorld ow.ly/k6BR3

Larbi Sadiki the Tunisian writer, political scientist and senior lecturer recalls his meeting with Egyptian Aboul Fotouh in 1992 while a fresh doctoral candidate at the Australian National University. The subject of Sadiki’s investigation at the time was notions of democracy in the discourse of four Islamist movements. The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood (EMB), Tunisia’s Nahda Party (NP), Jordan Islamic Action Front (IAF), and Sudan’s Islamic Front led then by Hassan Al-Turabi. Sadiki states “Of all of the Islamists I met and engaged with in discussion over democracy during that period, coming soon after the Algerian debacle, Aboul Fotouh was amongst the limited number of interlocutors who felt at ease with that concept and the whole notion of good government. Then, the concept was not as yet popular with most Islamists. Not even the creative Rashid Ghannouchi, whom I sat with and interviewed many times for the purpose of my PhD and beyond, had at the time acquired a firm grip on the term. It was largely considered for being a specifically Western concept underpinned by Western values. At the time, ‘democracy’ in Islamist parlance, lacked the scruples and rigour of shura, Islam’s consultative ethos, even though the likes of the innovative Hassan Al-Turabi in Sudan sought a move towards defining a shura-democracy synthesis.”

 

Inspired by Aljazeera ow.ly/bzInt image source Studiahumana ow.ly/bzI9P

Fayza Abul- Naga the Egyptian Justice minister is to form a fact finding committee to investigate NGO funding in Egypt. Abul- Naga stated “The committee will be responsible for compiling a detailed report over the amount of aid given to Egyptian civil society and the funding of unlicensed international organisations working in Egypt… The cabinet’s decision to form this committee comes to meet the requests of the Egyptian public who refuse such foreign funding, as it is considered an intervention in our internal affairs… The Egyptian government fully supports any measures which reinforce the role and activities of civil society as long as they comply with the regulations managing that process.” Abul- Naga’s committee will examine how much aid is given to Egyptian civil society organisations by foreign donors, perceived to be a fishing exercise to reveal any “foreign hands” they may be blamed for the street protests, and enable her to politically tap into anti-American sentiment. Abul- Naga’s committee will provide recommendations within three weeks as she jockeys for position in the lead up to the general election only months away.

 

Inspired by David D. Kirkpatrick http://ow.ly/9ePXu image source Thinktanking http://ow.ly/9ePAK

Adel Al-Gazzar the 56 year old Egyptian formerly held for eight years by the US in the Cuban Guantanamo Bay detainment camp, and imprisoned in Egypt on his return, has Katie Taylor a project officer with Reprieve, calling for Ad-Gazzar’s amnesty. Al-Gazzar had a leg amputated as a result of a US bombing raid in Afghanistan on what he claims was a humanitarian visit to provide aid for the Saudi Red Crescent, he managed to return to Pakistan for treatment until sold to US security agents for a bounty. He was subsequently moved to Guantanamo Bay and been imprisoned for the past decade. Al-Gazzar is currently held by the Egyptians for “attempting to overthrow former President Hosni Mubarak’s regime … widely condemned as an attempt by Mubarak to suppress his Islamist opponents.” Taylor states that “Adel has already suffered far too much in one lifetime. He has been unjustly detained for nearly a decade, and as a result, has suffered permanent injury and chronic health problems and his family now stands on the edge of poverty.”

 

Inspired by Katie Taylor http://ow.ly/7VoPa image source eurasiareview http://ow.ly/7VoVy

Mazhar Shahin the Egyptian cleric who has become the distinguished face of the Tahrir Square protestors now facing off with the Egyptian army, has called for the army leadership to immediately transfer power to a government of eminent civilians. During a Friday prayer, Shahin stated to the loud support of thousands in attendance, “The revolution is the one that thinks, the revolution is the one that decides, it is the one that judges … Our revolution was a body without a head. Today, the revolution will have a head … Few of the revolution’s demands have been met … The people insist on completing their revolution. Either we live in dignity, or we die here in Tahrir.” The civilian government Shahin proposed includes Mohamad ElBaradei the head of the UN nuclear watchdog.

 

Inspired by france24 http://ow.ly/7G7Lk image source youm7 http://ow.ly/7G7KX

Moataz Nasr the 50 year old Egyptian cultural artist activist has been prevented from including a key element to his London’s Hanover Square maze by the Westminster City Council. After gaining approval to exhibit his maze installation that has inscribed the words “The People Want The Fall Of The Regime”, he is now prevented from including the inscription on the basis that it was not “suitable at this time”. Nasr has been an activist since he was shot while demonstrating against the government at age 16, actively protested in Tahrir Square during the downfall of the Mubarak regime over its corruption and repression. Nasr responded “I was always looking up to England and Europe as places where I could express myself and live freely without anything to control me, so I am bitterly disappointed”.

 

Inspired by Coline Milliard http://ow.ly/6TvTz image source thenational http://ow.ly/6Tweg

Saif al-Adel also known as Muhamad Ibrahim Makkawi, the 50 year old Egyptian explosives expert and former Egyptian Special Forces officer is reported to have been chosen as the interim leader of al-Qaeda after the death of Osama bin Laden in a dramatic US Navy Seals commando raid in Pakistan. Al-Adel is considered a leading strategist and military leader, is currently under indictment in the US for bombings of embassies in Africa. He has been credited with masterminding the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Al Sadat, the repelling of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and training Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Bin Laden's long-time deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri had been considered the likely successor, although not popular within the organization. Al-Adel’s interim appointment may well be to gauge reaction for someone outside the Muslim holy region of the Arabian Peninsula. Inspired by Max Read ow.ly/50B4y image source france24 ow.ly/50BpG We’re all one happy family you know (May 28 2011)

Saif al-Adel also known as Muhamad Ibrahim Makkawi, the 50 year old Egyptian explosives expert and former Egyptian Special Forces officer is reported to have been chosen as the interim leader of al-Qaeda after the death of Osama bin Laden in a dramatic US Navy Seals commando raid in Pakistan. Al-Adel is considered a leading strategist and military leader, is currently under indictment in the US for bombings of embassies in Africa. He has been credited with masterminding the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Al Sadat, the repelling of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and training Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Bin Laden’s long-time deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri had been considered the likely successor, although not popular within the organization. Al-Adel’s interim appointment may well be to gauge reaction for someone outside the Muslim holy region of the Arabian Peninsula.

 

Inspired by Max Read ow.ly/50B4y image source france24 ow.ly/50BpG

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