Egypt’s powerful armed forces issued a virtual ultimatum
to Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on Monday, calling on the nation’s
feuding politicians to agree on an inclusive roadmap for the country’s
future within 48 hours.
A dramatic military statement broadcast on state television declared
the nation was in danger after millions of Egyptians took to the streets
on Sunday to demand that Mursi quit and the headquarters of the ruling
Muslim Brotherhood were ransacked.
“If the demands of the people are not realised within the defined
period, it will be incumbent upon (the armed forces)… to announce a road
map for the future,” said the statement by chief-of-staff General Abdel
Fattah al-Sisi. It was followed by patriotic music.
The people had expressed their will with unprecedented clarity in the
mass demonstrations and wasting more time would only increase the
danger of division and violence, he said.
The army said it would oversee the implementation of the roadmap it
sought “with the participation of all factions and national parties,
including young people”, but it would not get directly involved in
politics or government.
This has to be the least shocking headline of the day.
(MEMRI) — Following are excerpts from a public address by Egyptian cleric Safwat Higazi, which aired on Al-Aqsa TV on June 10, 2011:
Jerusalem will not be liberated through conferences, accords, or agreements. Jerusalem will be liberated only through a sacred march by millions. Millions of young Arabs will set out from all Arab countries in order to liberate Jerusalem once again. This will happen in the near future, Allah willing, whether people like it or not.
Before the [Egyptian] revolution, we would say: “Never mind if we do not live to see victory and the liberation of Jerusalem. The important thing is that we lay another brick on that path. Our children, our grandchildren, or our great-grandchildren will liberate Jerusalem.”
After the Egyptian revolution, I do not say this anymore. Allah willing, we will be liberating Jerusalem ourselves, and we will pray in Jerusalem, Allah willing. We will be the ones to be martyred on the threshold of Jerusalem. We shall not wait for our children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren. Time is pressing. We will be liberating Jerusalem, Allah willing.
Please tell me why we are sending our tax dollars to Egypt?
(AINA) — A Military court in Egypt has sentenced three Christian Copts to 5-years imprisonment on charges of possession of firearms and pocket knives. The Court released all other Muslims and Copts arrested following clashes on May 19 over the re-opening of St. Mary and St. Abraham churches in Ain Shams West (AINA 5-24-2011). Copts Emad Ayyad and Ayman Youssef Halim were convicted of carrying firearms. Emad Ayyam’s son, Ayad Emad Ayad, was convicted of carrying a pocket knife.
Eight Copts, mostly students, were arrested in Ain Shams West and charged with rioting, violence and causing injury to citizens. Three of the Copts were also charged with possession of firearms and knives. Police arrested three under-age Muslims on charges of throwing stones at the army.
Defense lawyer Abraham Edward said “This is a very unjust, severe and cruel verdict.” He said that as lawyers they are unable to fathom what is going on. “Today’s case is very strange, a case where there is not one shred of evidence to indict them. If this case went in front of the International Court of Justice they would all be set free.” He criticized the five-year prison sentence handed down to Ayad Emad Ayad for carrying a pocket knife. According to the law this is punishable by a six months suspended sentence.
Hosni Mubarak qualifies as a petty dictator because he quashes the opposition. He did win the last election with 80% of the vote, but anyone getting 80% in a democratic election is likely committing vote fraud. On the other hand, Mubarak doesn't seem to be pursuing a nuclear weapon and he is willing to deal with Israel diplomatically instead of with terrorism or military force. This creates a real problem for the U.S. diplomatically. If Mubarak goes, who takes power. The next biggest political party in Egypt is the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamic transnational movement committed to unifying Arab states under an Islamic Caliphate. They are no friend of Israel. The protester in the CNN video brings it home.
