DSC01811 [Flickr]
DSC01823 [Flickr]
Daisies at the Fair [Flickr]
Kodak Agfa posted a photo:
At Egypt's ِAnnual Spring Flowers Fair 2016
There are lots and lots of daisies
Egypt's Journalists syndicate [Flickr]
Kodak Agfa posted a photo:
May 04, 2016 at 12:04AM
Big Day at Egypt's Journalists syndicate
I am a journalist and not a terrorist "Yahia Qallash's official Facebook page" |
The Prosecution also escalated the crisis by directing possible charges to the head of Egyptian Journalists syndicate Yahia Qallash.
The syndicate is calling its members for the a General assembly meeting whereas the Security forces are still imposing a security siege around the syndicate and its streets allowing only the syndicate supporters of the regime or rather its thugs are allowed to protest there.
Here is quick live coverage for that important day.
Why was it an important day in Cairo on Wednesday !?
You got not less than 3000 journalists showing up in the morning to attend an urgent general assembly meeting.
Usually , the general assembly meeting during the elections of the board fails to attract that number and yet despite all the threats and odds journalists went.
They went despite that disgusting campaign in the Pro-regime TV channels against journalists and their syndicate.
Egyptian journalists outside the syndicate because there was no place inside "Ayman Hafez" |
The journalists went despite the thugs hurled bottles , gave them the finger and insulted them in the worst way ever.
The thugs giving the journalists the finger outside the syndicate "Abdel Rahman Ansary" |
They went to their syndicate after passing several security checkpoints to show their Syndicate memberships to the police officers.
From the photos I have seen and from the testimonies of my colleagues who are lucky enough to be members of the syndicate , most of those who came were the young generations.
It is not a surprise because after all the younger generations are actually the majority of the Egyptian people.
Older generations including very famous veteran journalists and authors did not show up.
Maybe, this is why the decisions or demands taken were much bolder than anyone could expect.
Already it was the journalists who insisted that the Egyptian Presidency should apologize to the syndicate and the journalists, not the board.
The members of the board who are being smeared on a daily basis wanted the cabinet to apologize instead but the journalists insisted on the presidency.
Then came the historical decision : To ban the mention of the minister of interior's name in the printed and online publication in Egypt and to publish his negative photo instead.
This is more than historical. It is not only that it is the first time in the history of modern Egypt that interior like that. It is also the first time in the Arab world and probably the Middle East.
The photo of the minister of interior in Egypt now who shall not be named |
For the first time as far as I could the Egyptian journalists agree to break the media gag order impose by the Prosecutor General in the case of Amr Badr and Mahmoud El-Sakka arrest aka the Storming of the Journalists syndicate.
I have not read something like that before.
Of course, part of me does not under how several Pro-regime newspapers and websites like Youm 7 are following the decisions of the syndicate board.
Some say it has to do with the ongoing fight between apparatuses. Still the majority of journalists who went on Wednesday are not concerned with that fight.
Already from what I understand and read later , Pro-regime editors-in-chiefs did not like some of the decisions.
Still, everyone knows that things are now complicated.
The road to a true civil society starts with small steps like that and actually this is not small at all. Already , this meeting comes after the Doctors' syndicate bold move.
There are still even bigger fights coming on the way. The head of Journalists syndicate, Yahia Qallash is facing over 700 legal complaints only for allegedly insulting Upper Egyptians because of a stupid remark he said while he was nervous on some TV show.
He apologized for the remarks but the former NDP lawyers in Upper Egypt found it as a perfect way to present their credentials to the current regime.
Qallash , who is a veteran unionist is having the true fight of his lifetime .
Aside from the current crisis or fight and the upcoming legal complaints presented to the Prosecutor General who can charge him with aiding fugitives , he and Egyptian journalists still got the fight of the upcoming Media and journalism law in the House of Representatives.
Head of journalists syndicate Yahia Qallash "His official FB page" |
Anyhow, I am happy that I witnessed that day the Egyptian journalists agreed to publish negative photos of the minister of interior in times of fear like that.
Breaking that barrier of fear is important.
Again, this is an important step in enforcing the civil society and paving the road for democracy. Unions and syndicates play a crucial role and ask Tunisia.
I am proud of being an Egyptian Journalist.
May 05, 2016 at 04:52PM
The Tiran and Sanafir Crackdown continues
Malek Adly and his baby Bahia |
Malek Adly, the prominent leftist Human rights lawyer and the member of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party was arrested and referred to the Prosecution which interrogated him at 3 AM till 7 AM according to lawyers.
According to lawyers , he and Zizo Abdu were beaten during their arrest.
He is detaining 15 days pending investigations for 6 charges including attempting to topple the regime, obstruct the constitution and spreading false news aka rumors aka Tiran and Sanafir are Egyptian territories.
Malek Adly and a group of other lawyers already were challenging the Egyptian government to stop the deal in front of the court using all the documents and evidence that the two isles are Egyptian.
Adly already stated once on Facebook that he would hand himself into the police after the court session of the case on 17 May.
I hope the week passes without more arrests among the lawyers !!!
An arrest warrant was already issued to arrest Adly during the crackdown against lawyers and activists before the 25 April protests.
Adly is from Egypt's top human rights lawyers and defenders. His work does not focus on political freedoms and human rights only.
His work also included social right and cultural rights.
Zizo Abdou by Ahmed Gamal Ziada |
This is a huge blow without doubt to the human rights lawyers Egypt.
After his arrest, Malek Adly's Social media accounts were closed by his wife as a precautionary procedure.
Zizo Abdu , who was from the remaining April 6 Youth Movement leading members out of detention is also detained 15 days pending investigation.
This is getting more than ridiculous.
I think the number of the detainees attested because of Tiran and Sanafir increased now.
On Sunday, Egypt's House of Representatives is going to start discussing the Egyptian Saudi deal.
Of course, I do not have any hopes all because after all I found in the past few days , the head of the National security committee, a former army general Kamel Amar that the isles are Saudi already.
Interestingly , Russia Today's Correspondent Ahmed Al-Ashkar said that he was told by an unnamed financial analyst that Saudi Arabia was holding all its investments and deposits at Egypt's Central Bank till the House of Representatives approves the maritime borders agreement.
1000 Days passed since Rabaa sit-in dispersal and Shawkan is still in detention.
People are allowed to remember the worst sit-in dispersal in the history of Egypt on the social media for the time being sharing sad photos and videos from that day.
The curse of that day is still haunting us down.
1000 days have passed and there are still innocent people who are still detained since that day above them Egyptian Freelancer Photographer Mahmoud Abu Zeid aka Shawkan.
The latest photo from Shawkan at court on 23 April by Momen Samir. |
Shawkan and over 400 other men are currently standing trial known in the media as "Rabaa dispersal".
Shawkan and others are facing a number of charges including incitement to kill police officers.
The young photographer who is suffering from Hepatitis C was covering the sit-in dispersal as a freelance photographer who was working with DEMOTIX agency during then.
He will have another trial session next 10 May.
Here is a short video report made by Daily News Egypt about Shawkan in English.
I have just read earlier online those lines and actually they described the situation perfectly after Rabaa.
Aside from those killed there , the survivors died on that day there , those who rejected the forcible dispersal died also on that day and those who supported the dispersal also died from inside on that day.It is a dark moment in our time by all measures, if not the darkest. May God forgive us all.
By Mosa'ab El-Shamy from Rabaa sit-in during the dispersal and afterwards |
Seen at the Egyptian Museum : From the Old Kingdom
Seen at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo , three colored statues from the Old Kingdom at the Old Kingdom section in the first floor of the museum. "Via Instagram"
The Wanted "Street Children" Troupe "‘Updated"
The 6 young men who work in Theatre and study arts used to post videos on their official Facebook page showing them singing in the street about social and political issues sarcastically in a very artistic way I would say.
The street children troupe members |
Now , the members of that troupe have been fugitive except one who had been arrested from two days ago and is being accused of publishing videos online that are insulting to the State institutions and inciting protests. A Cairo court ordered his release on bail "LE 10,000" but the prosecution appeal against the decision.
Updated: Four other members were arrested.
According to their official Facebook page , the band member Ezz El-Din Khaled was arrested early Saturday from his house in Heliopolis and that he was referred to the Prosecution.
On the same day , the Prosecution decided to detain the 19 years old student at Ain Shams University 4 days pending investigation for publishing videos online that are insulting to the state institution and inciting protests.
Later , we found a heartbreaking post published by another band member Mohamed Khaled about the rest of the band was on the run and that their youngest, Ezz who is diabetic was arrested.
I am not going to say that we are surprised because we knew that something was going to happen.I know many people are blaming us , especially blaming me because I was pushing the band to do many stuff. Still two days before shooting the last video, we said that we do not get old and remember that we were coward when we were young. We are not coward but what is happening to us is a bit bigger than all of us as it turned out that our files are on the minister of interior's desk. All the six of us are wanted. Five are on the run and the youngest one of us who suffers from diabetes is arrested. I spoke with the lads last night and we do not regret that it came to this but we are afraid of the future. Egypt is so scary. What happened was inevitable. Our lives are changing in front of our eyes but Egypt insists not to change. I know that we are nobodies in the current course of event but the life of those 6 nobodies is being shaped those days.. and possibly it is going to finish. One of us thinks about suicide and two others think about shit and the rest of us are shocked.
Egypt is indeed a scary place. I can not writer "Freedom for Ezz" and the most person who believes that he will not be released , we are not going to be out for too long. It is too difficult. What I can say that you should no be afraid outside because we are not going to be afraid inside
The boys in handcuffs "Tarek Al-Awady" |
Monday evening , three other band members "Mohamed Dousky , Mohamed Adel and Yahia " were arrested according to lawyer Tarek Al-Awady.
Here are the photos of the boys in handcuffs. Yes, one of them shaved his hair and beard so he would not be recognized.
On Tuesday , we knew that the court decided to release Ezz but the Prosecution decided to detain the remaining members 15 days pending investigation for the following charges :
- Joining others in forming a group that is against the principles of the state and incites against authorities '!!!'
- Spreading false news about Tiran and Sanafir
- Joining a group attempting to topple the regime.
I knew that those boys were going into a trouble when they made a video mocking President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi telling him to leave. "Their Facebook page and accounts are closed"
Here is a video from YouTube.
It is a suicidal act without a doubt now in Egypt.
After receiving threats online and the Pro-State and Pro-Regime Facebook pages began to attack them, the boys published another sarcastic video about how they were afraid.
Here it is on YouTube
The troupe used to criticize the regime in a light way I would say bringing up matter like Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam.
From YouTube But then came the Tiran and Sanafir islands matter and what followed from security crackdown against activists and protesters.
Among those who already arrested in the past few week , popular online political satirist Mohamed Mamdouh. Mamdouh , another university student began to follow Bassem Youssef's steps and have this popular and successful YouTube show "Who is that !? "
Mohamed Mahmoud |
Mamdouh criticized and mocked Sisi in his video.
The good news is that he and other detainees are released on bail on Tuesday. Mamdouh paid about LE 20,000 bail.
Of course, there is a case against him and others. Mamdouh is accused of attempting to topple the regime , disturbing public peace and inciting protests.
Now , I think you understand why Bassem Youssef does not want to return back.
Nevertheless , they did not care.
The boys had more guts than big men to speak up and mock the regime and its head. Yes, it is dangerous and yes, it is foolish. Still those boys are from those 25 January kids who made fun of the naked Emperor
Here is the one of the interviews they made on TV with Lilian Daoud on ONTV from several weeks ago.
In the end, I remember the words of late Poet Salah Jahin :
I am the clown
Why did you leave ?
Why are you scared ?
I have no sword in my hands nor a horse underneath me !!
Oh my !!
Ezz , the Street children band as a clown |
DSC01878 [Flickr]
Kodak Agfa posted a photo:
After the great fire that destroyed famous Rewaiei commercial street in Downtown Cairo's famous Attaba square.
ما بعد حريق شارع الرويعى
DSC01882 [Flickr]
Kodak Agfa posted a photo:
After the great fire that destroyed famous Rewaiei commercial street in Downtown Cairo's famous Attaba square.
ما بعد حريق شارع الرويعى
DSC01884 [Flickr]
Kodak Agfa posted a photo:
After the great fire that destroyed famous Rewaiei commercial street in Downtown Cairo's famous Attaba square.
ما بعد حريق شارع الرويعى
DSC01885 [Flickr]
Kodak Agfa posted a photo:
After the great fire that destroyed famous Rewaiei commercial street in Downtown Cairo's famous Attaba square.
ما بعد حريق شارع الرويعى
DSC01890 [Flickr]
Kodak Agfa posted a photo:
After the great fire that destroyed famous Rewaiei commercial street in Downtown Cairo's famous Attaba square.
ما بعد حريق شارع الرويعى
The Attaba fire aftermath
Al-Andalus Hotel , where it allegedly started |
I took couple of photos and videos but I am so tired to post them here and write about this huge blow to Egypt's gray economy
Here is what I could upload now while my eyes are open after a long day.
Yes, they were still putting off the fire there |
The fires continued till Tuesday |
That street used to be buzzing and you could not move in it because of street vendors' stalls All was destroyed in the fire |
A little glimpse of the damage because of the fire |
DSC01891 [Flickr]
Kodak Agfa posted a photo:
After the great fire that destroyed famous Rewaiei commercial street in Downtown Cairo's famous Attaba square.
ما بعد حريق شارع الرويعى
DSC01892 [Flickr]
Kodak Agfa posted a photo:
After the great fire that destroyed famous Rewaiei commercial street in Downtown Cairo's famous Attaba square.
ما بعد حريق شارع الرويعى