[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.]
Regional and International Relations:
USAID Tamped Down Internal Criticism over Egypt Work: Report
Reuters reports that the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) inspector general has heavily edited a twenty-one page document criticizing the agency’s work in Egypt, cutting it to just nine pages.
Carter Center Under Fire in Egypt
Khaled Dawoud argues that the closure of the Carter Center in Cairo will have only a short-term impact on the United States’ relations with Egypt.
We are Fighting Terrorism and We Will not Succumb to the Brotherhood
Hassan Abou Taleb writes on Egypt’s international rhetoric on its “war on terror.”
Egypt Postpones Indirect Palestinian-Israeli Talks: Hamas
Indirect Palestinian-Israeli talks have been postponed due to security concerns, Ahram Online reports.
Egypt Will Not Renew Navigation Agreement with Turkey
Aswat Masriya reports that the 2011 navigation agreement between Turkey and Egypt will not be renewed because it did not achieve “required financial revenues.”
Human Rights and Rule of Law:
Joint Letter to the HRC Re: UPR Review of Egypt - November 5, 2014
Human Rights Watch releases a joint statement with Amnesty International and five other human rights groups containing proposals for the implementation of judicial reforms in Egypt.
Seventeen Sentenced to Five Years in Jail for Rioting during Constitutional Referendum
Mada Masr reports on the verdict against the seventeen pro-Muslim Brotherhood protesters for causing riots during the constitutional referendum in January of this year.
Lawyer: Prison Sentence for Twenty-Three Activists is Political
Mada Masr reports on the verdict against activists who protested near Cairo’s Etihadiyya Palace. Click here to read the article in Arabic.
Egypt’s Detained Minors: A Hardship Untold
Reem Gehad sheds light on the arrest of minors on charges such as illegally protesting, and supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.
Should Egypt be Governed by Majority Rule or by Rule of Law?
Mohammed Nosseir writes on the setbacks of establishing and implementing a majority rule system in Egypt.
NGOs Lose Ground in Sisi`s Egypt
Ola Kubbara writes, “NGOs in Egypt did not expect to have fewer freedoms under al-Sisi`s presidency. But regressive laws and regulations governing them are now being reinforced.”
Egypt in Classism Row Over Prosecutors Sacked Because Parents Had No Degrees
Patrick Kingsley reacts to officials’ refusal to reinstate 138 prosecutors because their parents do not have degrees.
Prospects for Judicial Reform in Egypt
Yussef Uaf suggests several reform strategies to apply to the judiciary without destroying the original structure of the institution itself.
Endowments Ministry Inspectors Granted Right of Civilian Arrests
Menan Khater writes on the Justice Ministry’s granting of the Endowments Ministry “the right to arrest any civilian who violates religious speech law and regulations inside mosques.”
Did Producer Lead Al Jazeera Coworkers Straight to Jail?
Mohannad Sabry writes, “The judge in the trial of three Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt based his verdict on testimony provided during the interrogation of one of the defendants, Baher Mohamed, but the validity of Mohamed`s statements is questionable.”
Better Late than Never: How to Rebound State Fragility in Egypt?
Abdulla M. Erfan responds to the Fund for Peace index on the state of Egypt’s fragility compared to 178 countries.
University Protests:
Al-Azhar Students, Faculty to be Expelled for Protests: Presidential Decree
Ahram Online reports, “President Abdelfattah al-Sisi issues decree allowing expulsion for anything that harms educational process at Islamic university.”
Egypt’s Crackdown on Student Protests: The Last “Open Space”
Rana Muhammad Taha writes on the emergence of the Students Against the Coup Movement following Morsi’s ouster, and the authorities’ response to their on-campus demonstrations.
Gender Studies and Sexuality:
How to Raise a Monster
Nada Riyadh writes on society’s definition of gender roles and norms. This article is translated and published in Arabic.
Parliamentary Elections:
Former NDP Figures Prepare for Strong Showing in Egypt`s Parliamentary Polls
Gamal Essam al-Din writes on the Egyptian Front Party’s preparations for the parliamentary elections.
Reports and Opinions:
Interview on ABC Radio on Egypt’s latest situation
ABC Radio interviews PhD candidate Amro Ali, who discusses protests, the status of human rights, state violence, and Australian journalist Peter Greste’s case in Egypt. Click here to listen to the audio file.
Egypt’s “Poor Revolution”?
Sarah Moawad writes on a newly founded movement called the “Poor Revolution” that cites a number of economic and social grievances that have magnified under the socioeconomic policies of the current regime.
In Egypt, Media is Made to Serve the Interests of the Regime
William Barnes comments on the censorship measures pursued by the current regime against the media.
Egyptian TV Host Suspended as Network Slams Content `Demotivating the Army`
Marina Barsoum writes, “TV anchor Mahmoud Saad is prevented from going on-air after a guest on his regular show refers to the 1967 defeat of the army.”
Proposed Community Police Would Do More Harm than Good: Experts
Mada Masr reports on experts’ reactions to the Ministry of Interior’s approved proposal to establish a new division within Egypt’s police force called the “Police Community.”
MB-Affiliated Protesters Clash with Police in Haram during Friday Protests
Pro-Brotherhood protesters and police clash during the weekly Friday Anti-Coup protests, Mada Masr reports.
In Numbers: A Change in the Nature of Armed Attacks in Sinai
Marium Mohamed writes a detailed account of the number of attacks and civil and military deaths in Sinai since June of this year.
Curfew and Three-Month State of Emergency in North Sinai Following Attacks
A state of emergency was declared on Saturday following the deadly attack on security forces in Northern Sinai in which at least thirty-one lost their lives.
Egypt`s al-Sisi Says Foreign Hands behind Friday Sinai Attack; Vows Action
President al-Sisi reacts to the Sinai attack that killed thirty-one troops, Ahram Online reports.
MB Condemns Deadly Sinai Checkpoint Attack
In the statement, ousted president Mohamed Morsi’s family condemns Friday’s deadly attack on a security checkpoint in Sinai, and blames the state for its failure to restore security in the Peninsula.
In Arabic
قوى سياسية تشكل جبهة وطنية لمواجهة الإرهاب
Al-Shorouk reports that a number of political leaders and heads of political parties have formed a national coalition to fight terrorism.
أفكار لمواجهة الفساد
Amr Hamzawy lists four suggestions to fight governmental corruption in Egypt.
معركة الهضبة
Isabel Eastrman highlights Sharm el-Shaikh’s community’s collective action to stop the Arab Contractors’ project on the Um el-Sayyed Hill, which may lead to geological and environmental crisis.
الجامعة والمستقبل
Mahmoud Abdelfadeel argues that the situation on university campuses will not be resolved unless the state takes inclusive and comprehensive measures to rid the country from corruption and tyranny.
تدشين حملة للبحث عن المختفين قسريا
Omar Said writes on the Hisham Mubarak Law Center’s press conference launching a campaign to search for forcibly disappeared detainees.
المبادرة المصرية للحقوق الشخصية تشعر بالصدمة إزاء الحكم على المدافعة عن حقوق الإنسان يارا سلام
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights releases a statement on the verdict against rights activist Yara Sallam in addition to twenty-two other co-defendants, found guilty of demonstrating against the Protest Law. This statement is translated and published in English.
تأجيل جلسة «غرفة عمليات رابعة» إلى 5 نوفمبر.. وتضارب فى تقارير إضراب «سلطان»
Mada Masr reports that a Cairo criminal court adjourned “The Rab‘a Operation Room” case session to 5 November and that there are contradictory reports on Mohamed Sultan’s hunger strike status.
سيناء.. بين الحلول الأمنية وتصعيد الخطاب الإعلامي
Mustafa Muhie reports on the media’s rhetoric following the deadly explosion that targeted a security checkpoint in Northern Sinai.
«أجناد مصر»: انفجار الجامعة استهدف الشرطة.. والشرطة: الانفجار استهدف الطلاب
Mada Masr writes on the contradictory statements of the militia group “Ajnad Masr” and the police on the university explosion on Wednesday.
ما وراء تنحية الخلافات
Fahmy Huwaidy analyzes Egyptian-Sudanese relations following al-Sisi’s meeting with President Omar al-Bashir.
هل تصلح "داعش" العلاقات المصرية الإيرانية
Rami Galal argues that the rise of the Islamic State (IS) may lead both Iran and Egypt to reconsider their countries’ bilateral relations. This article is translated and published in English.
الصراع المصريّ - التركيّ من الأمم المتّحدة إلى ساحة الأزهر الشريف
Walla Hussain writes on the escalation of tensions between Turkey and Egypt following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly. This article is translated and published in English.
قيادات دينيّة تناقش عودة جلسات النّصح للراغبين في تغيير دينهم
Ahmed Fouad writes on the social ramifications of forced religious conversions in Egypt, and the role that both Muslim and Christian leaders play in holding counseling sessions for those who express their desire to convert religions. This article is translated and published in English.
Recently on Jadaliyya Egypt
Press Release: Announcing the Website of Watch/Raqeb -- An Arab Regional Project on Information Access
Jadaliyya’s Reports Page announces the launch of a new website called “Raqeb” (Watch), which focuses on the impact of international politics on the Middle East.
Hydrogen Senior Project Exhibition
Medrar TV reports on “‘Hydrogen’ a 2014 senior student exhibition of the American University in Cairo`s Visual Cultures Program.”