A Word on Politics

Politics in Egypt, as you have probably been reading about and hearing about on the news, is quite an important topic in the daily lives of Cairenes. The State, the state of affairs, affairs, and kullu haga (everything) is a common topic of conversation, and people, even if they don't vote, have active political opinions. In the day to day life this fall, I never saw a demonstration or disturbance during the parlimentary elections, but I would occasionally hear about them or see photos on the BBC each morning that I watched before work. Recently, on the evening news it was reported that the leader of the opposition party (not the Muslim Brotherhood) was arrested for forging documents related to his campaign. He's been put away for 5 years. Attached is a photo of a peaceful demonstration last Friday in protest of his arrest in one of the main squares of downtown. Notice the statue holding the orange flag.

On a more grave note, this past Friday, the Sudanese refugees who have been occupying a public space in Cairo in demand of recognition from the UNHRC and the Egyptian government of their status as refugees (at the many different kinds and stages that one can be a refugee, as defined and redefined by current politicians, scholars, and activists), have been broken up, scattered, beaten, detained and in some cases killed. I drove by the place the Sudanese occupied a few times, and I know some people involved in their cause. It's quite a complicated situation, rather confusing for all individuals and organizations. What rights a person has, the importance an ID card holds, the status one maintains as a non-citizen of anywhere--brings new meaning to the question, What's your status? These questions can be discussed until the cows come home, but the answers never seem to prevent terror from entering the lives of those stuck on the in-between.

And on that note, HAPPY NEW YEAR. KULLU SANA WINTU TAYBEEN (not perfect Arabic, but good enough). My best to all for health an happiness in the new year. P.S. Get better Holly--I'm sending my good thoughts to you!