Egypt Media Roundup (August 6)

 [This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Egypt and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Egypt Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to egypt@jadaliyya.com by Sunday night of every week.]

“UPDATE: Sinai border attack kills 15 Egyptian police, Rafah crossing closed”
Gunmen storm a police station, seize military vehicles and try to storm border with Israel.

“Sectarian clashes in Dahshur add a new chapter to an ongoing crisis”
After inept intervention from the state, sectarian clashes result in the eviction of more than a hundred Coptic Christians from Dahshur.

“Technocrats outnumber Islamists in Egypt's new Qandil government”
Hisham Qandil puts together a cabinet with a mix of ministers from Al-Ganzouri’s government, Islamists, bureaucrats, and technocrats.

“Proposed ministers reflect ‘continuity’”
Observers say the new cabinet make-up is disappointing and not conducive to reform.

“SCAF's Tantawi to remain defence minister”
Field Marshall Mohamed Tantawi will continue as head of the defense ministry, as the second constitutional declaration stipulated.

“Clinton statement causes backlash”
Hilary Clinton’s statement that religious discrimination is on the rise in Egypt provokes controversy.

“Nour Party boycotts new government”
Salafi Al-Nour party rejects the offer of the environmental ministry.

“Copts protest Dahshur clashes in front of presidential palace”
Clashes in Giza erupt again during the funeral of a Muslim man who died last week on Friday during sectarian fighting.

“Maria TV: Exclusive for niqab”
Women at niqab-only TV say it gives them a chance to work in media and wear the face veil.

“Egypt accepts World Bank loan criticized by Salafis”
Salafis criticize a loan deal with the World Bank for sewage infrastructure because the interest rate is against Sharia.

“Aboul-Ghar: “We rejected an offer for our party to hold the Ministry of Investment””
An interview with the Head of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, who says his party was offered the minister of investment post.

“Badie fires first shot against Brotherhood defamation”
The Muslim Brotherhood is to sue the former minister of information and Rose Al-Yusef newspaper.

“Above the State: The Officers’ Republic in Egypt”
Yezid Sayigh follows the history of the political and socio-economic life of the military within the Egyptian society.

“Mubarak sons detained on fresh corruption charges”
Gamal and Alaa Mubarak are in detention in connection with corruption trial against former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq.

“Morsi's Pardon of Islamists Stirs Controversy in Egypt”
The President releases by pardon decree sixteen Islamists, some of whom sentenced to death, while thousands of civilians tried in military courts remain in prison.

“Egyptian court sentences man for insulting Prophet’s companions”
The court has accused Mohammed Fahmy of spreading Shi‘ism in Egypt.

“First Shiite school reportedly established in Egypt”
Another controversy of Shia-phobia strikes, as Dream TV broadcasts a video of an alleged Shi‘ite school in Egypt.

“Violence erupts at Nile City Towers”
Hotel property damaged and cars burned after a resident from Ramlet Boulaq is shot by tourism police.

 

In Arabic:

“..وبدأ عصر الإخوان”
Emad el-Din Hussein says the Age of the Brotherhood has started and that liberal forces need to recognize that their rule is not just a transient phase.

“الحكم على مواطن بالسجن لاتهامه بنشر الفكر الشيعي، هو تعد سافر على حرية العقيدة وحرية الكلام”
The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression responds to the recent court verdict against a man accused of spreading Shi‘ism.

“صلاح عبد المقصود وزير الإعلام فى سطور”
A profile of the new minister of information Saleh Abd El-Maqsoud

“«المبادرة المصرية»: «الأمن» لم يتحرك لمحاسبة الجناة في «فتنة دهشور»”
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights says the responsibility for Wednesday’s sectarian clashes in Giza falls with the security authorities.

“الظلام أيضا سياسة”
Wael Gamal writes about the rising protest movements among Egyptians demanding the provision of basic utilities such as water and electricity.

“استقالة هاني سري الدين من «المصريين الأحرار»”
A third resignation from the leadership of the liberal Free Egyptians Party

“أهالي أسيوط يقطعون الطرق والسكة الحديد احتجاجًا على انقطاع المياه والكهرباء”
Protests erupt in Assiut over water and electricity outages.

“التشكيل النهائي لحكومة قنديل 35 وزيرا: طنطاوي للدفاع.. وعبد المقصود للإعلام.. ومكي للعدل.. وزعزوع للسياحة.. وبلبع كهرباء”
Full list of all ministers of Hesham Qandil’s fist cabinet under President Mohamed Morsi.

“بلاغ يتهم وزير الكهرباء الجديد وحسن يونس بإهدار مليارات الجنيهات والإهمال ويحملهما مسئولية انقطاع الكهرباء”
A group of engineers accuse the former and current ministers of electricity of mismanagement and squandering state funds leading to current power outages.

 

Recent Jadaliyya articles on Egypt:

Urbanism and the Arab Uprisings: Downtown Cairo and the Fall of Mubarak
Deen Sharp comments on the Arab Spring from the point of view of Urban Studies.

The Identity of Al-Azhar and Its Doctrine
Ibrahim El-Houdaiby comments on the past and the future of Al-Azhar.

“في نقد مبدأ (اتبرع.. ولو بجنيه”(
Salma Hussein reflects on charity and poverty alleviation. 

“العدودة القبطية القنائية”
Fathy Abul-Magd reviews a recently released collection of folklore from Upper Egypt.