A cartoon portraying a mother asking her daughter what her fiancé does for a living, which was published in an Egyptian newspaper, says it all. “He’s a career revolutionary,” answers the smiling girl. Egypt is chock-a-block with Islamists on the one side and liberal so-called activists on the other, whose sole mission in life is to replace governments with anarchy. Caught in the middle are millions who are sick of daily protests and annual revolutions — all they want is stability, security and opportunity. Main roads free of chanting hordes, burning tyres and all manner of projectiles might be nice.
The demands of the Muslim Brotherhood and its following are well known, a return to those ‘utopian’ times’ when Mohammad Mursi, whose only presidential credentials was his subservience to a global organisation that vowed to rule Egypt for 500 years, was at the helm. Their strings are being pulled by the international Muslim Brotherhood that’s in cahoots with certain foreign western and Middle East powers, whose open-ended coffers are at the disposal of fifth columnists bent on stirring up dissent. Egypt’s Minister of Information says she has written evidence of such foreign plots.
It’s no secret where the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stands, for instance. He’s been flashing four-finger Rabaa signs, condemning the “coup” and hosting Tanzim Al Dawli (International Muslim Brotherhood) conferences on Turkish soil, which is why Cairo downgraded its relations with Turkey it accuses of interfering in Egypt’s internal affairs. On Sunday, the Egyptian Arabic daily Masry Al Youm reported that 13 Brothers were arrested in Alexandria for conspiracy to overthrow the interim government on instructions from the Tanzim Al Dawli; a plot involving inflaming university students, launching attacks on security forces, threatening civil servants and slandering prosecutors and judges.
As for western interference, Egypt’s Presidential Adviser Ahmad Al Muslimani had this to say at the University of Bucharest. “Today, we are fighting a tough battle with extremists who are supported with money and weapons. We are surprised to see western institutions supporting religious extremism in the Arab world. Since those institutions do not work for the benefit of Islam and Muslims, we are angry. They seek modernity for their countries and extremism and chaos for ours.”
Adding grist to Al Muslimani’s mill, various non-mainstream websites have published articles on an alleged Top Secret US report reportedly leaked by Russian intelligence. The report focuses on the goal of bringing down popular Armed Forces Chief and Defence Secretary General Abdul Fatah Al Sissi because “If things remain the same as they are right now in Egypt, we will be facing a new Nasser in the region but this time, Al Sissi will be supported by Gulf countries as was not the case with his predecessor.” This snippet may or may not be credible but it is undeniable that since Mursi’s overthrow, the US has done all it can to undermine the transition while avoiding red lines that might convert Egypt’s flirtation with the Russian Bear into a love affair. A strong, independent Egypt, a recipient of sophisticated Russian-made weapons, militarily and economically partnered with Saudi Arabia is one of Washington’s worst nightmares.
As if their homeland doesn’t have enough problems, educated liberal activists have leapt on the bandwagon of destruction over new protest laws that demand three days notice before demonstrations can be held. There are various penalties for those flouting the law and people carrying weapons or damaging property face harsh fines and jail terms. The law has been criticised by the UN, the EU, various human rights groups and the US, which last year passed draconian anti-protest laws permitting the arrest of anyone getting too close to the White House and other federal buildings. Condemnation from a president empowered to order assassinations anywhere in the world and a government that makes individuals suspected of terrorism disappear, amounts to hypocrisy in the extreme.
Egyptian university students also feel hard done by because they no longer have a free hand to vandalise university property, threaten administrators and engage in violent clashes with students holding opposing views without police interference on campus. The poor dears; in that case, they should thank their lucky stars they’re not a member of the University of London’s student body. Students were arrested for chalking on walls until the University banned all protests with infringers to be considered trespassers.
Egyptian activists say they are protecting the revolution/s when, in reality, they are playing right into the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood and foreign powers. Frankly, it’s their fault the country’s in this mess; Mursi rode into office on the back of liberals recoiling from his challenger, a man they considered a Mubarak regime remnant.
They complain bitterly that they, the hallowed January 25th revolutionaries, have been arrested for testing the government’s mettle in implementing the new law as though there should be one rule for them and another for everyone else. They chant against the Brotherhood, the Army and the interim government. Great! But who’s left? All they need to do is bite the bullet and wait for parliamentary and presidential elections when they can vote for candidates representing their interests. It’s about time they learned the meaning of patience, real politic and patriotism. It’s about time they grew up.
Linda S. Heard is a specialist writer on Middle East affairs. She can be contacted at lheard@gulfnews.com
