Egypt spreads the message of peace

The recent demonstrations in Egypt against a war on Iraq received extensive coverage in the Egyptian press, not only because of their size and frequency but also as a result of the recent developments in the region as war seems imminent.

"It was an unbelievable sight and a great stance.... we lived a day that will never be forgotten in history," noted Mahmoud Bakry of Al Osboa.

Almost a week ago, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians gathered at Cairo's stadium, carrying signs, chanting and, most importantly, infused with a sense of patriotism and pride in their national culture, said Bakry. The demonstrators were men and women from all classes and professions, attending the protest in the name of the Iraqi people. They came in cars, buses and on foot, all in the hope of preventing the war on Iraq.

A message was sent out to the rest of the world, saying that its people are still loyal to the Arab world and its cause and protective of its existence.

Furthermore, the success of the demonstration proved that Egypt's politicians, political parties and its members could easily set aside their differences to stand together in a time of danger and threat, affirms Bakry.

This demonstration, notes Bakry, shows to the world that Egypt refuses to accept a war being prepared for by Washington, and that it will stand by Iraq and Palestine in order to fight for their citizens' right to live.

Bakry concludes by saying that the protestors' sense of responsibility towards their fellow Arabs resulted in a successful gathering of such magnitude without any kind of chaos, inside or outside the stadium. Their striving for peace was reflected in their peaceful protest.

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In fact, the demonstrators did not hesitate to express their position when they took part in a protest the following day at Azhar University, according to a report in Al-Shaab.

The minute Friday prayers ended, signs were raised at the University. People began chanting slogans against the American stance towards Iraq and the Israeli Zionist actions towards the Palestinian people, says Al-Shaab.

The protest began with Labour Party member, Magdy Kerker, stating that the past week was a week of Egyptian anger against the attack by the alliance of evil, the Zionist-American alliance, notes Al-Shaab. He noted that the anger began in Azhar University and spread to all the Egyptian universities, leading to the historic day at the Egyptian stadium.

Party leader, Magdy Hussein, ended the demonstration by urging Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the Arab governments to stand up against an American attack on Iraq, even if the UN Security Council agrees to such an attack, says Al-Shaab.

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The position taken by politicians, scholars and writers on the issue of an attack against Iraq proves that the conscience of the Arab world is still alive, writes Mona Ragab in Al-Ahram. Regardless of all the different opinions, views and beliefs, the Arab world has finally come together to declare in one voice their total rejection of a war on Iraq. This united voice also demands that peace is the only solution. They request peace in order to save the blood of their fellow Arabs, the Iraqi people, says Mona.

This position was also expressed at a recently held regional summit for authors, writers and scholars. This group insisted that it will continue to join the rest of Egypt in protests, proving that the majority of men, women and young people still hold on to the slim hope that war can be avoided, as well as the hope that the voice of peace will grow even louder, concludes Mona.