Egypt Media Roundup – Apr 11, 2014


TOP STORIES

Legal & Political Institutions

Supporters of former interim vice president Mohamed El Baradei have yet to give up hope that the founder of the Dostour Party will run for president. His supporters have started a campaign called “Authorize Elbaradei [to run] for President” and have been collecting signatures to support his presidential run and return El Baradei’s name to the front of politics. The campaign manager has stressed that the group was launched without El Baradei’s knowledge or approval. [Al MonitorRead More..

Security Sector

Two armed members of the Muslim Brotherhood were killed in a shootout in the Nile Delta. Called “terrorist elements of the Brotherhood” by security officials, the group allegedly opened fire on police and tried to torch a traffic police checkpoint. Two were killed in a firefight while others escaped. [AFP, Ahram, ReutersRead More..

Marginalized Groups

Following tribal violence between the Nubian Daboud village and the Ben Hilal clan that left 27 dead in Aswan, 40 people have been arrested. [Egypt Independent

Rights & Freedoms

Anti-government groups in Cairo staged a march against the controversial protest law that recently jailed three leading youth activists in Egypt. The march, as part of a campaign organized by several political movements, is one of many planned public demonstrations calling for the revocation of the protest law. [Ahram, Mada Masr, Aswat MasriyaRead More..

Economy

Egypt has announced plans to complete the first stage of a high-speed rail system between Alexandria and Giza. The rail project, which will cost about LE20billion, is due to be completed in 2017 and boasts that it will transport about 50million passengers per year, with eat trip taking 35 minutes. [Amwal al Ghad]

Foreign Relations

Catherine Ashton, the EU’s foreign policy chief voiced support for Abdel Fattah al Sisi’s bid for presidency in her recent trip to Cairo. She expressed that “she understood his bid for the presidency was motivated by a sense of responsibility, not the pursuit of power.” Ashton was visiting Cairo to monitor the political situation pre-elections, and finalized plans for the EU to officially monitor elections next month. [Mada Masr, Ahram, EuroMed, APARead More..

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Legal & Political Institutions

Sisi’s rise to power: “Sisi is now a total hero, [but] he can be tomorrow’s villain”

Newsweek: Dream of Egypt’s 2011 Tahrir Square Revolt Fades as Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Builds Power

In this article: Newsweek contextualizes Sisi’s rise to power as a return to Mubarak era ruling. Egypt needs, maybe not more than an iron fist, but rather, an entirely different outlook for leaders. “This country is known to turn on a sixpence very quickly. Sisi is now a total hero, he can be tomorrow’s villain. He knows that,” said a European diplomat. “I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.” Sisi’s strategy of wiping out any and all opposition will not serve him well in the long-run, while Egypt’s youth and marginalized groups stand by with none of the demands of the revolution fulfilled.

Security Sector

One killed in Brotherhood clashes with police

Aswat Masriya: Brotherhood clashes with police in Alexandria, one killed

World Bulletin: Anti-coup protester killed in Alexandria, Egypt

In this article: During clashes between police forces and “Muslim Brotherhood elements” in Alexandria, one man was shot dead,and five were arrested. The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy has called on supporters to stage continuous protests for one week to protest the current regime.

Ansar Beit al Maqdis posts video of suicide bombing attack in Mansoura last December

AP: Video Shows Suicide Bomber Who Killed 16 in Egypt

US Newsweek: Al-Qaida-inspired group posts video of suicide bomber attacking a police headquarters in Egypt

In this article: Ansar Beit al Maqdis recently posted a video online showing the suicide bomber that conducted the attack on the security headquarters in Mansoura that killed 16 people in December. The video “also said the suicide bomber previously was injured in Islamist demonstrations…this comment marks the first time a suicide bomber in the widening campaign of militant attacks striking Egypt has been directly linked to demonstrating Morsi supporters.”

Rights & Freedoms

Al Jazeera journalist detained in Suez for ‘inciting violence’–9 arrest warrants against him

Guardian: Egyptian authorities arrest journalist for ‘inciting violence’

In this article: Abdel-Rahman Shaheen is the latest Al Jazeera journalist to come under attack in Egypt. Egyptian authorities arrest Shaheen for allegedly inciting and engaging in violence, and was detained in the Suez Canal area. According to a security official, “Shaheen had nine arrest warrants against him over alleged violent attacks.”

Abdullah Al-Shami’s health deteriorates as his hunger strike reaches 81 days

Al Jazeera: Concern over detained AJ journalist’s health

In this article: Abdullah Al-Shami, an Al Jazeera journalist who has been imprisoned since August 14 without charge, is facing serious health risks as he passes his 81st day on hunger strike. Al Shami, wrote a letter which was published on Al Jazeera’s website, describing his deteriorating health, yet continues his hunger strike, like many others in the same situation, in protest of his unlawful detention.

As more journalists are arrested in Egypt, Committee to Protect Journalists states: “You cannot have a free election without a free press”

Committee to Protect Journalists: Egypt detains more journalists as elections approach

In this article: Two more journalists were arrested in Egypt this week, while new charges were filed against three others. Ahmed al-Ajos and Abdel Rahman Shaheen were arrested on charges of inciting and engaging in violence. The Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement saying, “If the Egyptian government is serious about organizing free and fair presidential elections, it must end this campaign against the press and release all journalists in jail. You cannot have a free election without a free press and independent news coverage.”

Several Muslim Brotherhood protesters arrested all over Egypt, demonstrations dispersed by security officials

Ahram: Egypt police disperse Friday Islamist demos

In this article: Various Muslim Brotherhood demonstrations were dispersed through Egypt today. A protest in Fayoum was dispersed with teargas and give people were arrested, while in Damietta four people were arrested and police claimed to have confiscated knives and the ‘Raba’a’ symbol from protesters. Several protesters were arrested in Alexandria, and one was killed. Security forces fired teargas at Morsi supporters gathered in Nasr City and Giza as well.

Foreign Relations

Turkish political parties issue joint statement against mass death sentence in Egypt

Daily Sabah: Turkey: PARLIAMENT UNITES ON EGYPT

Today’s Zaman: Turkish political parties draft joint declaration against Egypt executions

In this article: A group of political parties in Turkey has issued a joint statement against Egypt’s decision to sentence 529 Muslim Brotherhood members to death. The statement comes after considerable in-fighting between parties in Turkey. Meanwhile, rallies protesting the Egyptian court’s decision to sentence hundreds of MB members to death took place in numerous Turkish cities on Wednesday.