We can talk as much as we want about constitutional change, democracy, freedom of speech and so on, but question is, will the lives of the people really in the most urgent need for change, be the ones who benefit, or will their lives basically remain unchanged? In the words of the Rolling Stones, the Salt of the Earth. If not, everything else is of no meaning.
Video taken by Marwa Yassin and Bassam Mortada of al Masry al Youm.
Perhaps the most important refugee ever to have entered Egypt, seeking shelter from Roman oppression was the child Jesus and his family. The four-year old little girl who died in the early hours on December 30th 2005 at the Mustafa Mahmoud Square in front of the UN headquarters was not as lucky, she was among 20 people killed in a stampede when state security tried to storm the camp that was set up by Sudanese migrants staging a sit-in three months earlier protesting UNCHR policy. If the infant Jesus and his parents would have seeked shelter today,chances are that he wouldn´t have been allowed to enter Egypt.
There are about 42 000 refugees living in Egypt, whom are registered with UNHCR(2008)in Cairo, the majority being from Sudan (54 per cent), a quarter from Iraq (24 per cent), 13 per cent from Somalia, refugees from Eritrea and Ethiopia also form significant numbers, which are growning. The number of people living in Egypt, but not registered with the UNCHR are believied to be much higher, for example the Iraqis living in Egypt currently are estimated to be at least 17 000. Egypt was one of the major destinations for Iraqis at the hight of the sectarian violence in Iraq 2004-05, and according to Egyptian entry data there would be somewhere between 100 000 and 150 000. Much tougher visa restrictions put in place in late 2006 have minimized the number of Iraqis opting for Egypt. Some may have moved on, trying to secure entry to the EU, some have returned, but most likely, a large number of those entering Egypt in 2004-05 are still residing in Egypt, without official refugee status. That is most likely the case with the other refugee groups as well.
Dalia Malek points out the protection gap facing those entering Egypt illegally, obstructing or denying them access to UNCHR, among other things. Showing another side of the plentiful problems that refugees can face in Egypt.
One of the things that has bothered me the most in the last couple of years is how reckless our border guards are with their guns, with a policy that seems to be shoot first, and ask later, especially when it comes to migrants/refugees trying to cross the border to Israel. I´m not going to dwell on the subject much further at this point, but to stress the urgency of this pattern, the latest chapter in this tragic saga being the two killed last Sunday.
For those who wants further reading on this, the Human Rights watch report from November 2008, Sinai Perils provides a good start.
For those keen on knowing more about the situation for Iraqi refugees living in Egypt, a topic also raised in the Al Jazeera-English clip above, could start at the Iraqis in Egypt site.
In June 2009, the first Cairo Refugee film festival was held, you can find the website here.
So Egypt has finally got it´s very own contemporary political suphero, Kal-ElBaradei.
I have a great deal to say, but at this point i will be more than happy to give the floor to the one and only, Baheyya, with her unique voice, in her latest blog post, called the wildcard. I´m hoping that this latest development can persuade her to blog more frequently , once again.
Five years ago this month, when Hosni Mubarak made his big announcement about direct, multicandidate presidential elections, he couldn’t have dreamed that five years down the line, he’d face a most unexpected challenger. Someone who is everything that Mubarak and his son aren’t: internationally respected, intellectually nimble, and domestically popular.
Who knows whether ElBaradei has a real chance at the presidency? What’s clear is that his return to Egypt has completely flummoxed Mubarak and his retinue. Up to now, they’ve dealt handily with all the domestic politicians and pressure groups who’ve opposed their rule, ridiculing some, imprisoning others, co-opting still others, and simply exhausting whoever’s left. Along comes ElBaradei, with an energetic mien and an organized plan. His international standing ensure that he can’t be repressed or ridiculed. He’s made it crystal clear that he won’t be co-opted. And the incredible surge of popular enthusiasm that’s enveloped him makes it unlikely that he’ll get tired and retreat.
Trying to find the right mood for the semifinal match in the African Cup of Nations by listening to the ultimate Algerian-Egyptian music i know, Warda!
Ever since the back to back matches in November deciding whom of the two North African giants who could book their tickets to the South African party of parties next summer, i´ve had a very hard time to enjoy one of my life long passions, football. What was played out, outside of the pitch made me totally sick and tired of the game i have loved since the age of nine.
Of course i have followed the results, but not really being that commited, i will watch the game, beginning within minutes, rather reluctantly, but hopefully it will be a good game, regardless of outcome. Where the spirit of sportmanship, that i once learned on the pitch can be one that prevails.
The two countries have so much in common, the best being Warda, and she is worth listing too.
The Egyptan blogger Wael Abbas was interviewed by Zeinab Badawi on BBC´s flagship show Hardtalk , for those who wants to see the full 23 minutes interview, it can be found here.
Blogger Kareem Amer´s final appeal rejected by court
Today, another chapter has been added to the never ending story about the blogger Abd al Karim Nabil Soliman, or Kareem Amer as he´s better known, a story that reminds us of how Kafkaesque the Egyptian court and prison system can be at times.
Kareem´s final appeal was rejected by the Cairo misdemeanor cassation court earlier today. The blogger was sentenced to four years imprisonment for insulting Islam (three years) and insulting the President of the republic(one year)on February 22nd 2007, but his ordeal began much earlier on October 26th 2005.
There will be a seminar/festival held by the Cairo Institute for Human Right Studies and al Takaieba artistic & Cultural Development Center from 7 P.M, it´s free of charge and the address can be found here.
I will update this post during the night, but i will give you the excellent study by al Nadeem Center for the rehabilitation of victims of violence and torture, their work and contribution is invaluable. The study is called: Once again.. Women speak out, it´s a PDF.
