news coverage prepared for: the european union...
TRANSCRIPT
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News Coverage
prepared for: The European Union delegation
to Egypt
Disclaimer:
“This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The
contents of this document are the sole responsibility of authors of articles and under no
circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of IPSOS or the European Union.”
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Thematic Headlines
Domestic Scene Al-Buhairi Head of the Supreme Constitutional Court Calls to Adhere t the Supreme Constitutional Court’s Decision The Supreme Constitutional Court Dissolves the People’s Assembly 50 Million Voters Vote in 13 Thousand Polling Stations The Azhar Denies its Withdrawal from the Constituent Assembly SCAF is Responsible for the Legislative Authority The American Embassy Warns American Citizens of Political Troubles The Muslim Brotherhood Bribes Voters The Muslim Brotherhood is Accused of Dividing Egypt Ahmad Shafiq in a Press Conference SCAF is Responsible for the Legislative Authority Court Dissolves Parliament, Reinstates Shafiq Tight Security for Court Panel Mubarak’s Health Condition Stable - Minister Sinai Shrine Attacked Baradei Calls on SCAF to Postpone Presidential Polls Protests Back in Tahrir Voice of Girl Accused of Indecency Identical to Recorded CD Advisory Council Says Constitution First Mufti Urges Citizens to Vote Expatriates’ Vote Results within Hours Morsi Campaign Denies Epilepsy Rumors Shafiq: Court Ruling Historic Two Wounded in Quarrel between Shafiq and Morsi Supporters
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Newspapers (15/06/2012)
Pages: 1 Author: not mentioned
Al-Buhairi Head of the Supreme Constitutional Court
Field Marshl Hussein Tantawi, head of SCF decided to assign Judge Mahir al-Buhairi head of the Supreme Constitutional Court as from July first.
Al-Buhairi will succeed Judge Farouq Sulatan after the retirement of the latter.
Similar news was reported in Gomhourya, p. 3
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Pages: 1 Author: not mentioned
Calls to Adhere t the Supreme Constitutional Court’s Decision
Many political players called on people to respect the court rulings.
Midhat al-Haddad, responsible for the Administrative Office of the Muslim Brotherhood in
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Pages: 1 Author: many authors
The Supreme Constitutional Court Dissolves the People’s Assembly
The Supreme Constitutional Court issued its long awaited rulings about the legitimacy of the People’s Assembly and the political isolation.
The court said the People’s Assembly was not constitutional, as such it is dissolved.
On the other hand, the court proved the so-called political isolation law unconstitutional. In case it was proved constitutional, the law would have prevented Ahmad Shafiq from continuing the presidential race.
The ruling created controversy in the political milieus.
The Muslim Brotherhood and its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party declared continuing the presidential race, stating that the court did not exclude Shafiq, and the only way left is to exclude him publically.
The General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood Muhammad Badei called on all Egyptians to participate in the elections to prevent the reproduction of the former regime and to preserve the gains of the revolution.
Meanwhile presidential candidate Ahmad Shafiq described the ruling as “historical” and “a message” that the age of abusing laws and authorities has gone for good.
Constitutional expert Dr. Fawziya Abd al-Sattar approved the court ruling concerning the political isolation law, asserting that it was not constitutional.
Former potential Presidential candidate Muhammad al-Baradei called for postponing the presidential elections, stating that the elections of a president in the absence of the parliament and the constitution would lead to an unprecedented dictatorship.
Former presidential candidate Abd al-Munim Abu al-Futouh considered the ruling to be a coup d’etat, especially after giving the military police the seizure right.
Dr. Muhammad al-Biltagui, member of the executive office of the Freedom and Justice Party also described the ruling as a coup d’etat.
Similar news was reported in al-Shurouk, pp. 1, 5, Gomhourya, pp. 1, 5; al-Dustour, p. 1
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Page: 1 Author: Farouq el-Dessouki, Adel el-Dargali and Hamdi Dabsh
Court Dissolves Parliament, Reinstates Shafiq
The Supreme Constitutional Court on Thursday ruled that the political isolation or disenfranchisement law is unconstitutional.
The Higher Presidential Election Commission had previously allowed candidate Ahmed Shafiq to run in the presidential elections on the basis of a possible unconstitutionality of the political isolation law.
The commission then referred the law to the Supreme Constitutional Court.
The Supreme Constitutional Court, in a statement on the ruling, indicated that the Higher Presidential Election Commission is considered a panel of judicial powers in line with article 29 of the Supreme Constitutional Court.
Therefore a decision by the commission referring the political isolation law to the court is valid, added the court.
The court also indicated that the law in question violates the principle of equality.
The Supreme Constitutional Court also ruled that some articles of the law that governed the People's Assembly elections were not constitutional.
It was unconstitutional to allow party members to compete as independent candidates for individual seats in the lower house, the court said.
Including the names of party members vying for individual seats into the final list of party candidates was unconstitutional, it added.
The court ruled that the elections of the People's Assembly, the lower house of parliament, were unconstitutional, and thus the parliament's current formation was null and void.
The court said the current parliament is no longer legally based.
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Page: 1 Authors: Not mentioned
Tight Security for Court Panel
Guarded by police and army elements, the panel of Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court, which will rule on the constitutionality of both the disenfranchisement law and parliamentary polls, arrived at the court headquarters in Kornich el-Maadi.
The panel was escorted by two army vehicles and a police motorcycle.
Hundreds of armed forces and central security elements were deployed around the court since the wee hours of Thursday as well as scores of military vehicles and armors to secure the court. Also, a big number of local and international media men are seen in the precincts of the court.
Scores of protesters gathered outside the court calling for applying the disenfranchisement law on ex-Mubarak premier Ahmed Shafia and banning him from running in the runoffs.
Traffic along Kornich el-Maadi was totally paralyzed from both directions, forcing Cairo traffic police to divert cars coming from Helwan in direction of Maadi to the ring road.
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Page: 9 Authors: Yousri el-Badri
Mubarak’s Health Condition Stable - Minister
The health condition of former president Hosni Mubarak is stable, said Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim on Thursday.
At a press conference, he added that the former president is now serving a lifetime prison sentence in Tora prison hospital.
Mubarak would be transferred to any military hospital in case his health condition deteriorated like any other prisoner.
He said he receives on daily basis in the morning and evening reports on the health condition of the jailed former president.
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Page: 9 Authors: Ahmed Abu-Deraa
Sinai Shrine Attacked
Unidentified persons attacked the Sheikh Zoueid shrine in North Sinai, destroying its dome, on Thursday.
The explosion's strong sounds were heard in the area and nearby houses were shaken by its ferocity.
The shrine was targeted with RPGs but only the dome was destroyed, security sources said.
No casualties were reported, the sources added.
The shrine has been attacked twice in May and August of last year.
Sheikh Zoueid is one of first Muslims who accompanied Amr ibn al-As during the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 640. The city where he was buried in was named after him.
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Pages: 3 Author: Muhammad Mursi
50 Million Voters Vote in 13 Thousand Polling Stations
50 million eligible voters are to head tomorrow to 13 thousand and 99 sub stations to vote in the runoff round of the presidential elections and choose between the two candidates Ahmad Shafiq and Muhammad Mursi.
14 thousand judges are assigned to monitor the elections, including 1200 women judges to deal with fully veiled women [niqabies] who will need to reveal their faces to be identified.
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Pages: 3 Author: Muhammad Zain al-Abideen
The Azhar Denies its Withdrawal from the Constituent Assembly
The Azhar denied what was rumored about its representatives’ withdrawal from the Constituent Assembly, asserting that the Azhar was keen on performing all its national duties.
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Pages: 3 Author: Muhsin al-Miri
SCAF is Responsible for the Legislative Authority
Well informed sources declared that with the Supreme Constitutional Court ruling to dissolve the People’s Assembly, SCAF is the legislative authority now in Egypt.
The sources also reported that SCAF held a meeting to discuss the current situation after the Supreme Constitutional Court ruling.
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Pages: 1 Author: Majdi Fikri
The American Embassy Warns American Citizens of Political Troubles
The American Embassy in Cairo warned the American citizens in Egypt of possible troubles after the Supreme Constitutional Court ruling.
The embassy called on the American citizens to avoid the Tahrir Square and other squares where demonstration usually take place. It also called the citizens to take care of their personal safety.
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Pages: 1 Author: Majdi Fikri
The Muslim Brotherhood Bribes Voters
Al-Dusour published documents that prove that the Muslim Brotherhood is bribing voters to get their votes.
The document was sent by the Muslim Brotherhood to the group’s coordinator in Mina’s village of Darwa in Upper Egypt. The document was sent with a check of a million American Dollars.
The group called the coordinator to distribute the money on people who are included in the voters list to vote for Mursi and to give $ 100 to every family in the village and its farms.
$ 100 thousand was assigned to transfer voters to the different polling stations.
In a related context, al-Dustour reported that the secretary general of the Jan 25 Revolution Association refused a bribe paid by Mursi’s campaign.
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Pages: 1 Author: Ahmad Jamal al-Din
The Muslim Brotherhood is Accused of Dividing Egypt
Al-Tajammu Party, the Democratic al-Salam Party, the Egyptian Revolution Party, the Egyptian Citizine Party, Democratic al-Jil Party, the Socialists Arabic Egyptian Party, al-Ittihad party, al-Hayah Party and al-Islah wa al-Tanmiya [Reform and Development] Party rejected the current formation of the Constituent Assembly, arguing that the assembly does not represent the different sectors of the Egyptian society.
The above mentioned parties denounced the Muslim Brotherhood’s desire to monopolize all authorities.
The parties also rejected dividing the nation into two categories; religious and nonreligious.
The parties promised to reveal soon an alleged plan to impose a constitution that does not serve the nation but a specific trend.
The parties also called on all Egyptian to be united to fail this “association” that was aiming at forging the public will and betraying the goals of the Jan 25 resvolution.
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Pages: 1, 5 Author: Nasr Abdu
Ahmad Shafiq in a Press Conference
Presidential candidate Ahmad Shafiq held a press conference. Shafiq promised to honestly serve all Egyptians. He also promised to take care of the Revolution victim and their medical treatment.
Former Egyptian First Lady Gihane al-Sadat said that Shafiq was not part of the former regime, and that he accepted to be Prime Minister at times many others escaped. Dr. Huda Abd al-Nasir and Muna Abd al-Nasir were also present to support Shafiq.
Adil al-Jarihi, head of the Political Office of the Egypt Revolutionaries Union declared that 16 coalitions in the union would support Shafiq because he was apt to lead Egypt in this period.
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Page: 3 Author: Peter Magdi and Ismail el-Wassimi
Baradei Calls on SCAF to Postpone Presidential Polls
Political activist and founder of the "Constitution Party" Mohamed el-Baradei called on the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to postpone the second round of the presidential elections until better ways on taking the country to safety were reached.
Baradei, a former chief of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, wrote the remark on his Twitter account on Thursday.
Electing a president while there is neither a constitution nor a parliament gives him unprecedented dictatorial powers, he said.
He underlined on his Twitter account the necessity of ending the current political crisis in Egypt. He proposed two solutions to the current crisis; the first of which is approving a presidential council that is entrusted with forming a constituent assembly and a national salvation government and supervising parliamentary and presidential elections after endorsing the constitution.
The second solution, he added, is having an interim president operating with a national salvation government that forms a committee to outline the new constitution ahead of holding parliamentary and presidential elections.
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Page: 6 Author: Sediq el-Essawi, Sherif el-Bermawi and Asmaa Fathi
Protests Back in Tahrir
Dozens of protesters started flocking to Cairo's Tahrir Square as soon as the Supreme Constitutional Court issued a verdict nullifying the political disenfranchisement law, thus allowing presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister to serve ousted president Hosni Mubarak, to remain in the presidential race.
The protesters called for disqualifying Shafiq from the runoff phase, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
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Pages: 3 Author: Muhsin al-Miri
SCAF is Responsible for the Legislative Authority
Well informed sources declared that with the Supreme Constitutional Court ruling to dissolve the People’s Assembly, SCAF is the legislative authority now in Egypt.
The sources also reported that SCAF held a meeting to discuss the current situation after the Supreme Constitutional Court ruling.
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Page: 3 Author: Mohamed Qassem and Mohamed Afifi
Voice of Girl Accused of Indecency Identical to Recorded CD
A voice identification expert at the Egyptian Television and Radio Union asserted that the voice of a girl, who was allegedly caught in an indecent act with an MP, was identical to the one recorded on a CD during the incident.
The girl, identified as Nisreen, was remanded in custody for 15 days pending investigations.
Ali Wanis, a lawmaker representing the Salafi el-Nour Party, was found by police on June 7 in a parked car with a university student on a stretch of road near the city of Tokh.
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Page: 3 Authors: Ahmed Khalil
Advisory Council Says Constitution First
The Advisory Council has recommended that the military council issues a
complementary constitutional declaration to form a constitution-drafting panel.
It called for the implementation of its previous proposals over the panel line-up, Sameh
Ashour, head of the council, said in a statement.
The proposal stipulates that the panel should be made up of representatives from
Egypt's parties, trade unions, NGOs, judicial bodies, constitutional law sections at Egyptian
universities, along with representatives from religious institutions, plus thirsty public figures,
the statement said.
A majority of two-thirds of the panel's members will be needed to approve the draft
constitution, the statement read.
Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Constitutional Court issued a ruling deciding the
unconstitutionality of the People's Assembly over violations during the parliamentary elections
regarding elections mechanism.
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Page: 10 Authors: Diaa Abul-Safa
Mufti Urges Citizens to Vote
Egypt's Mufti Ali Gomaa urged all Egyptians to undertake their national duty and vote
in the second phase of the presidential elections, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
In a statement Thursday, Gomaa urged the voters to accept the results of the elections so
stability can be realized in the country.
Gomaa also denied reports about his support of one of the runoff candidates, saying the
Iftaa House stands neutral toward all candidates and does not have any political affiliation.
In the runoff, Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi is running neck-and-neck
with former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq.
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Page: 10 Authors: Mohamed Hendawi
Expatriates’ Vote Results within Hours
The High Presidential Elections Commission (HPEC) will announce the official results of
the Egyptian expatriates' vote in the presidential runoffs within hours, said Foreign Minister
Mohammed Amr.
He added that the voter turnout in the runoffs expressed a serious desire by Egyptians
to take part in drawing up the future of Egypt.
He said the ministry sent many diplomats and administrative staffers to give a hand in
the polling process abroad, especially in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait which have big Egyptian
communities.
As for attacks on Egyptians in Greece, he said high-level contacts were held between
Egypt's ambassador in Athens and Greek officials who immediately made an official apology to
Egypt, expressing the ministry's keenness on protecting all Egyptians abroad.
About the weak voter turnout reported in foreign states, he said many Egyptians in
foreign countries, especially in the United States, do not visit Egypt much and so many of them
do not have national ID cards.
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Page: 11 Authors: Mohamed el-Fiqqi
Morsi Campaign Denies Epilepsy Rumors
The electoral campaign of the Freedom and Justice Party's presidential candidate
Mohamed Morsi denied reports about his suffering from epilepsy.
In a statement Thursday, the campaign described the reports as groundless.
It said that Morsi underwent a surgery in 2008 to remove a small benign tumor in
membrane lining of the skull and not the brain.
The operation did not affect his health, the statement added.
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Page: 11 Authors: Mohamed Hendawi
Shafiq: Court Ruling Historic
Presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq on Thursday described a court ruling on the
unconstitutionality of the political isolation law as historic.
At a press conference, he added that it testifies that the age of settling scores has gone
and will not return.
The verdict means that the State institutions are no longer used to harm any person, he
added, noting that the court has boosted his legitimacy to run for president.
Shafiq pointed out that the constitutional court asserted his right to run in the
presidential election and reinforced the legitimacy of the vote.
"It is no doubt that the verdict proved that Egypt is a country based on legal and
constitutional institutions," he said.
"No authority can take unilateral decision or monopolize the future," he added.
The former premier expressed confidence that military and police forces would secure
the run-off vote, due on Saturday and Sunday.
The polls will be monitored by local and international NGOs, something that will ensure
the vote's integrity and transparency, he asserted.
He also vowed that he will, if elected, grant youths a sizeable representation in the
coming government.
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Page: 11 Authors: Not mentioned
Two Wounded in Quarrel between Shafiq and Morsi Supporters
Two people were wounded in a quarrel between supporters of presidential candidates
Ahmed Shafiq and Mohammed Morsi during an elections march in Mahla el-Kobra city.
A number of Salafists, who were taking part in a march ahead of the start of elections
silence on Thursday, clashed with the owner and the guests of a cafe who were supporting
Shafiq.
The cafe owner ascended the roof of the building where the cafe was located and opened
fire in the air, wounding two.
One of the wounded received a bullet in the head and chest and the other in the chest,
security sources and eyewitnesses said.
The cafe owner was arrested and wounded were ambulanced to a nearby hospital.
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TV Coverage (14/6/2012)
Program: Al-Hayat Al-Yoom Channel: Al-Hayat Host: Lobna Assal MP Mostafa Bakry said: The Supreme Constitutional Court ruling must be implemented.
We are paying the price of holding the elections before drafting the constitution.
Judge Al-Khodery said after dissolving the Parliament, there will be no legislative authority.
Program: Masr Tantakheb Al-Raees Channel: CBC Host: Emad Adeeb
Presidential candidate Shafiq said:
I wasn’t expecting the Supreme Constitutional Court ruling but I always had hope.
I wished the Parliament remained in place.
There is no reason to delay the elections.
The Muslim Brotherhood didn’t trigger the revolution but it joined it after it succeeded.
Program: Sabah Al-Kheir Ya Masr Channel 1”State TV”
Counselor Hatem Begato, the High Presidential Elections Commission (HPEC) Secretary-General, accuses Muslim Brotherhood of threatening the Commission.
Morsi and Shafiq campaigns intensify their work. The HPEC warns against any violations to the electoral rules. The government said the ballot stations will be fully secured, the election days will be official days off and the transportation will be free on those two days as well.
Program: Akhbar Masr Channel 1”State TV”
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The Minister of Interior said there is a strict security plan to secure the elections.
News Channel 2”State TV” Time: 26:00:00
Mohamed Morsi, a presidential candidate, said “we respect the court decisions and there are indicators that show a conspiracy against the revolution”.
Presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq said the Supreme Constitutional Court ruling was final.
The Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that political isolation law was not constitutional and the Parliamentary elections were not valid.
Similar news was reported in: Program: Maweed Maa Al-Raees, Channel: Al-Nahar, Host: Reham Ibrahim Program: Al-Hayat Al-Yoom, Channel: Al-Hayat, Host: Lobna Assal Program: Montaha Al-Saraha, Channel: Al-Hayat 2, Host: Mostafa Bakry Program: Akhbar Masr, Channel 1”State TV” Program: 24 Hours News, Channel 1”State TV”
Program: Akher Al-Nahar, Channel: Al-Nahar, Host: Mahmoud Saad
Tahrir demonstrators protest against the Supreme Constitutional Court decisions.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) said the runoff will be held on time.
Similar news was reported in Program: 24 Hours News, Channel 1”State TV”
Five lawsuits were filed against the Judicial Seizure Law.
Program: Yesed Sabahak Channel 2”State TV” Host: Sarah Al-Helaly and Ahmed Al-Sawy
Counselor Hatem Begato, HPEC Secretary-General said the voters’ lists are confidential and will not be handed over to any candidate.
Program: Maweed Maa Al-Raees Channel: Al-Nahar Host: Reham Ibrahim
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SCAF denies issuing any statements.
Presidential candidate Shafiq’s campaign said the Egyptians considered the political isolation law invalid before Supreme Constitutional Court hands down its ruling when they elected Shafiq in the first round.
Presidential candidate Shafiq said the Supreme Constitutional Court ruling showed that there is no authority in Egypt that can dominate all the decisions.
Program: Akher Al-Nahar Channel: Al-Nahar Host: Mahmoud Saad
Political activist Mohamed Al-Baradei has two suggestions to end this crisis; one of them is forming a presidential council.
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Radio Coverage (14/6/2012
News Channel: Radio Masr Time: 25:00:00
The Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that the political isolation law was not constitutional and the parliamentary elections were not valid.
Similar news was reported in: Channel: Al-Shabab w Al-Reyada, Time: 23:15:00 Channel: State Radio, Time: 23:00:00
Channel: Al-Shark Al-Awsat, Time: 25:00:00
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) said the runoff will be held on time.
Similar news was reported in: Channel: Al-Shabab w Al-Reyada, Time: 23:15:00 Channel: Al-Shark Al-Awsat, Channel: 25:00:00 Channel: State Radio, Channel: 23:00:00
Protests held against the Supreme Constitutional Court ruling.
Similar news was reported in: Channel: Al-Shabab w Al-Reyada, Time: 23:15:00 Channel: State Radio, Time: 23:00:00
Channel: Al-Shark Al-Awsat, Time: 25:00:00
The Supreme Constitutional Court announces that the Parliament was not valid anymore.
News Channel: State Radio Time: 23:00:00
The Parliament announces holding its sessions until receiving the reasoning for the Supreme Constitutional Court’s ruling.
Similar news was reported in Channel: Al-Shark Al-Awsat, Time: 25:00:00
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Internet Coverage (15/6/2012)
Facebook We are all Khaled Saeed
Dialogue among generations. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=429599460423257&set=a.104265636289976.2684.104224996294040&type=1
Don’t forget: the coming president is not an emperor unless we make him one. The revolution will continue with the change of our way of thinking. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=429633160419887&set=a.104265636289976.2684.104224996294040&type=1
Don’t forget: Morsi will not save the revolution and Shafiq will not stop the revolution! The revolution continues.
The arrest of Egypt’s first president. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=285172548199283&set=a.242272179155987.49830.104224996294040&type=1
Security forces cordon off People’s Assembly after court ruling on its dissolution. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=382570308471179&set=a.277604095634468.64692.120213561373523&type=1
Cabinet:
Interior Ministry: 9,339 court rulings executed and 22 stolen cars recovered in the past 24 days.
The Muslim Brotherhood
Press Statement by People’s Assembly Speaker on Constitutional Court Ruling
Dr. Mohamed Saad Katatni, Speaker of the Egyptian People’s Assembly (PA) asserted that the PA has so far not received any decisions relating to the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) ruling that supposedly invalidates some articles of parliamentary law.
The PA Speaker, in his first response to the SCC ruling, pointed that fast-circulating media reports on interpretations and analyses – by a number of legal ‘experts’ – of the decision and how it could be enforced, raise many question marks about the timing of its release, coupled with fierce media campaigns vilifying the parliament over the past months, which
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intensified ever further after the announcement of national consensus on the makeup of the Constituent Assembly entrusted with writing the new charter. Dr. Katatni was baffled by a possible relationship between this SCC ruling and threats he personally heard before from caretaker Prime Minister Dr. Kamal Ganzouri to the effect that the ruling is ready on the SCC’s desk to dissolve parliament. The PA Speaker assured that the Egyptian people, who freely and democratically elected their representative MPs in historic free and fair elections for the People's Assembly and Shura Council (the two houses of Egyptian Parliament), are able to re-elect those who will protect the gains made by the revolution, on which some self-interest forces want to pounce. Dr. Katatni further affirmed that he participated, on Thursday, in a joint meeting between the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP)’s Executive Office and the Muslim Brotherhood’s Guidance Bureau to discuss steps to be taken after the SCC’s most recent decisions. He stressed that the joint meeting concluded with agreement on the need to continue in the presidential race with the FJP’s candidate, Dr. Mohamed Morsi, as the only option for the Egyptian revolution. The PA Speaker refuted as totally inaccurate media reports about remarks attributed to him on a certain Facebook page that falsely assumed his name, saying that the statements attributed to him have no basis in truth about an apology he is supposed to offer to the Egyptian people for the performance of parliament. He added that, since its first session on January 23, 2012 Parliament used all its power to support the Egyptian revolution against repeated attempts by some forces to abort it. Dr. Katatni assured that he is proud of all MPs and their performance, which honored the responsibility the people trusted their MPs with.
Morsi Central Campaign's Statement on Constitutional Court Rulings
Long-hidden facts and actions that we have been warning against are finally revealed in stark defiance to all reason and logic. Here comes the counter-revolution plainly witnessed by all, so everyone knows that we are facing a defining moment and a critical turning point, as the great people's revolution faces the dark powers of repression, which are making a final forceful and desperate push trying to circumvent the will of the people.
After the Constitutional Court, on Thursday, issued its two shocking decisions
announcing unconstitutionality of the law of isolation (disenfranchisement law) and dissolution of parliament, Dr. Mohamed Morsi’s presidential campaign affirms that our candidate remains in the presidential race with renewed resolve.
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Dr. Morsi is determined not to abandon the people who placed their confidence and
trust in him, or the revolution being brutally aborted, or the pure blood of Martyrs meant to be forgotten.
We fully believe that the Egyptian people, who waited for this moment for long decades, will back the revolutionary candidate to achieve success for the revolution and exact retribution for its martyrs.
The great people who turned out massively in the first round, and gave their confidence to the candidates of the revolution – almost seventy percent altogether – are eager to complete their march for full transformation, to defend the revolution, and to achieve its remaining goals of effective change, freedom, social justice and human dignity.
During the last few days, ousted Mubarak’s reactionary forces broadcast rumors and deliberate distortion of facts vilifying our candidate. Nevertheless, we have seen greater enthusiasm of the people to support the candidate of the revolution, an enthusiasm that was evident in the vote of Egyptians abroad, giving a 76% landslide victory for Dr. Morsi.
We are confident that this triumph will be repeated at home on Saturday and Sunday (June, 16 and 17), unless flagrant fraud reverses the situation. However, if such fraud occurs, the people will face it with full force and will not allow fraudsters to get away with their crime, not without proper punishment.
The two rulings issued Thursday together at the same time, and before them the Prime Minister’s decision to grant military police and intelligence officers arrest and detention powers, all cast serious doubts on potential integrity of the electoral process.
In fact, we are now facing a heinous coup shamelessly aborting the revolution. It is clear that this coup is the last card of counter-revolutionary players. But the people who bravely revolted on January 25 until they toppled Mubarak on February 11, throwing him and a number of his top officials behind bars, meanwhile sacrificing hundreds of martyrs and thousands of wounded, will never allow anyone to hijack their revolution or bring back the dark era of injustice and oppression, tyranny and backwardness.
Faced with these stark realities on the scene… 1. We call upon the great Egyptian people, to turn out in million-man marches to the ballot boxes, because then the forces of darkness will not dare falsify your will as you fill voting stations in defense of your revolution and your children’s future. 2. We call on patriotic and revolutionary groups and movements, to rally around the candidate of the Egyptian revolution, the candidate of all Egyptians, and to fail all those who bet on
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breaking your will and your unity in a critical historic moment for which we all bear the responsibility now. 3. We call upon former regime loyalists who are trying to drag this homeland and the people to a dark past of corruption and repression and tyranny, to abandon their hopeless attempts. We assure them that fraud, falsifying the will of the people and hijacking their revolution are crimes that cannot go unpunished, and that Egyptians with confront them with all their might. 4. We assure everyone, that the Egyptians look forward to a much better, much brighter future. The desperate endeavors of old guard forces to spread despair will not succeed, and the psychological war they wage to distract the people from completing their revolution and from active and positive participation in the presidential election, will come to nothing. For our revolution now takes shape at the ballot stations, in support of the candidate of the revolution.
Muslim Brotherhood Statement on Constitutionality of Disenfranchisement Law Decision
The Egyptian Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) issued a decision, on Thursday, ruling unconstitutional the law of political isolation (the disenfranchisement law), which effectively means that General Ahmed Shafiq stays in the presidential race, and that parliament’s attempt to disqualify him as one of the pillars of the old corrupt despotic regime did not succeed.
This naturally means that we have only one option to defeat the old guard General which is popular isolation, through the ballot box.
Meanwhile, a look at the Egyptian scene reveals that the above decision was announced at the same time with another that rules unconstitutional some articles of parliamentary law, and yet another decision – by the interim Minister of Justice – to grant low-ranking military intelligence and military police officers and noncommissioned officers powers to arrest and detain civilians.
This is effectively a militarization of the State, which in turn means we are embarking on hard and dangerous days; perhaps more dangerous than the last days of Mubarak's rule.
It also means that all the gains of the revolution for democratic change are being squandered by military coup handing over power to one of the most prominent symbols of the despotic former regime, who affirmed in a well-known and very public statement that the former president is his role model, and that "There has not been any revolution" and pledges to quell peaceful demonstrations using military police forces.
This imposes on us a patriotic duty to join hands together to prevent the return of the former regime. This requires that all fifty million voters turn out to cast their ballots in the
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presidential election, to isolate the representative of the former regime through the ballot box, and to protect the electoral process against fraud attempts.
Moreover, it means there is no room for calls to boycott the election, because that would help revive the defunct regime with all its evil tyranny and repression, which will take brutal revenge against the revolution and the revolutionaries.
No-one should at all be fooled by General Shafiq’s rosy promises. We did try, and we did hear the gentle words of all former regime senior officials, of freedom, democracy and social justice, and yet at the same time we suffered all manner of humiliation, repression, pure terror, oppression, injustice and corruption.
In these dire circumstances, no-one should allow disagreements with the Muslim Brotherhood, or its presidential candidate, to stop them from doing the right thing. The situation is gravely dangerous, and the future is in serious peril. Now, disputes and division would certainly threaten the entire homeland and the people, the revolution and the revolutionaries.
Rantings of A Sandmonkey:
Does that sound familia?
Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within groups of people. It is the mode of thinking that happens when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative ideas or viewpoints.
Causes of Groupthink:
High group cohesiveness Structural faults:
o insulation of the group o lack of impartial leadership o lack of norms requiring methodological procedures o homogeneity of members’ social backgrounds and ideology
Situational context: o highly stressful external threats o recent failures o excessive difficulties on the decision-making task o moral dilemmas
Symptoms:
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Type I: Overestimations of the group—its power and morality
1. Illusions of invulnerability creating excessive optimism and encouraging risk taking. 2. Unquestioned belief in the morality of the group, causing members to ignore the
consequences of their actions.
Type II: Closed-mindedness
1. Rationalizing warnings that might challenge the group’s assumptions. 2. Stereotyping those who are opposed to the group as weak, evil, biased, spiteful,
impotent, or stupid.
Type III: Pressures toward uniformity
1. Self-censorship of ideas that deviate from the apparent group consensus. 2. Illusions of unanimity among group members, silence is viewed as agreement. 3. Direct pressure to conform placed on any member who questions the group, couched in
terms of “disloyalty” 4. Mind guards — self-appointed members who shield the group from dissenting
information.
Groupthink, resulting from the symptoms listed above, results in defective decision-making. That is, consensus-driven decisions are the result of the following practices of groupthinking.
1. Incomplete survey of alternatives 2. Incomplete survey of objectives 3. Failure to examine risks of preferred choice 4. Failure to reevaluate previously rejected alternatives 5. Poor information search 6. Selection bias in collecting information 7. Failure to work out contingency plans.
Now, here is a fun exercise: Go over the revolution and revolutionaries, and please cite examples for every one of those points. Should make things interesting…
Twitter Wael Abbas:
Egypt’s military accused of ‘complete coup’ after Supreme Court ruling – The Telegraph.
http://www.arabtimes.com/portal/cartoons/445676%20Large%20Web%20view.jpg
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Egypt’s fair judiciary: Judges sentences to only three years in prison a driver who kidnapped a 23-year-old female Briton and raped her in Sharm El-Sheikh!!!
Dear Muslim Brotherhood member, this is the fate of your greediness you stupid ****
I will be live on Aljazeera English from around 12 noon commenting on the recent court rulings.
I’m at Tahrir Square (Cairo).
Iyad elbaghdadi:
The #MB truly believe that they are the revolution (or at least on its side), but many revolutionaries beg to differ. #Egypt
When are the official results for #Egypt abroad (second round vote) to be announced?
Forget politics. I'm playing Angry Birds. For the first time. Ever.
So... I'm basically tossing what seems like dead birds to massacre some mutant green piglets? #AngryBirds
BTW, my first startup (some 12 years ago) was in computer games development.
One of the chants heard today in the (much muted) #Tahrir: "They ask who we are! Well, even we don't know!" #Egypt
Guys, I wanna have two heart to heart talks with you this evening.
The first heart to heart talk is about what's happening in #Egypt and how I saw it coming a year ago.
The second heart to heart talk is about my tweet session on Jewish-Muslim relations. Or at least why I've been dragging my feet.
Over a year ago - in March 2011 to be exact - I started writing the #ArabSpringManifesto.
I started it by saying that "if tomorrow we'll dethrone the tyrant, and then this book is for the day after tomorrow". #ArabSpringManifesto
I called it "fully Islamic and full libertarian". Some people mocked me, but I meant exactly what I said. #ArabSpringManifesto
I was writing, on and off, between March and September 2011. But when I tried to talk about it nobody listened. #ArabSpringManifesto
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I've always considered the #ArabSpringManifesto to be my primary intellectual contribution, worth my very life.
But whenever I tried to talk about it, I got silence. People wanted to scream, shout, sometimes laugh, but never think. #ArabSpringManifesto
Last week I've been reviewing what I wrote in order to restart working on it, and it was quite telling. #ArabSpringManifesto
In the midst of all the excitement of 2011, I had a nagging feeling. Why isn't anyone talking about what's next? #ArabSpringManifesto
Forward to 2012 and we've had enough rude awakenings. We're in post-revolution limbo. Still, no one wants to listen. #ArabSpringManifesto
I recently met a new friend, and sat and talked about the #ArabSpringManifesto for 3 hours. He said I should put it up to public debate.
Gsquare86:
#Tahrir now , small crowd gathering but the heat is winning #Egypt http://twitpic.com/9wmro2
#Tahrir now , small gathering but it will get stronger when the sun goes down http://twitpic.com/9wmvtq
On the eve of #egyelections ...I literally am sick to my stomach.
What's the best thing that could happen tomorrow? Almost nothing...still need a miracle to stop this mess #Egypt ...may be a tsunami hmmm
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Publication overview
Al-Ahram: Egyptian state-run official daily newspaper
Founded in 1875, is the most widely circulating Egyptian daily newspaper, and the second oldest after al-Waqa'i`al-Masriya (English: The Egyptian Events, founded 1828). It is majority owned by the Egyptian government.
Al-Akhbar: Egyptian state-owned semi-official daily newspaper
It was founded in May 1952 as a part of Akhbar El Yom.
Al-Gomhoria: Egyptian state-owned daily newspaper
An influential state-owned Egyptian Arabic language daily newspaper. It was established in 1954.
Al-Shorouk: Egyptian daily independent newspaper
Are a prominent Arabic newspaper published in Egypt [1] and several other Arabic nations It is a daily independent newspaper, covering mainly politics, militant affairs and sport.
Al-Masry al-Yom: Independent daily newspaper
On 7 June 2004, it published its first edition. The paper initially circulated primarily amongst Cairo’s intellectual elite, providing objective news coverage in the belief that good news would beat sensationalist reporting found in other Egyptian print media. After 3 years, it was challenging Al-Ahram for the status of being the national paper of record. Though
Tahrir: Daily independent newspaper
Dostor: Daily independent newspaper
Yom 7: Daily independent newspaper
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Table of Content: Newspapers ………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………3-26
Al Ahram Newspaper Al-Buhairi Head of the Supreme Constitutional Court ………………………………………………………………………3 Calls to Adhere t the Supreme Constitutional Court’s Decision…………………………………….……………………….4 The Supreme Constitutional Court Dissolves the People’s Assembly ………………………………………………………5
Al masry al youm Newspaper Court Dissolves Parliament, Reinstates Shafiq………………………………………………….………………………………6 Tight Security for Court Panel………………………………………………………………………………..…………………..7 Mubarak’s Health Condition Stable – Minister…………………………………………………………….…………………..8 Sinai Shrine Attacked……………………………………………………………………………….……………………………..9
AL Gomhoria newspaper 50 Million Voters Vote in 13 Thousand Polling Stations…………………………………………………………………….10 The Azhar Denies its Withdrawal from the Constituent Assembly…………………………………………………………11 SCAF is Responsible for the Legislative Authority …………………………………………………………………….……..12
Al dostour Newspaper The American Embassy Warns American Citizens of Political Troubles ………………………………….……………….13 The Muslim Brotherhood Bribes Voters……………………………………………………………………….………………14 The Muslim Brotherhood is Accused of Dividing Egypt……………………………………………….………………….15 Ahmad Shafiq in a Press Conference…………………………………………………………….……………………………16
Al Tahrir Newspaper… Baradei Calls on SCAF to Postpone Presidential Polls……………………………………………………………..……….17 Protests Back in Tahrir……………………………………………………………………………………….……………….18
Al Sherouk Newspaper.. SCAF is Responsible for the Legislative Authority……………………………………………….………………..……….19
Al youm al 7 newspaper Voice of Girl Accused of Indecency Identical to Recorded CD……………………………………………………………20
Al Akhbar Newspaper Advisory Council Says Constitution First…………………………………………………………….………………………21 Mufti Urges Citizens to Vote……………………………………………………………………………..…………………..22 Expatriates’ Vote Results within Hours………………………………………………………………………………………23 Morsi Campaign Denies Epilepsy Rumors……………………………………………………………………….………….24 Shafiq: Court Ruling Historic…………………………………………………………………………………………………..25 Two Wounded in Quarrel between Shafiq and Morsi Supporters………………………………..……………………….26 TV Coverage…………………………………………………………..………...……...………...….………..…27-28 Al-Hayat 2…………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………..27 CBC ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………27 Channel 1………………………………………………………………………………….…………….….………….….…27-28 Channel 2……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………28
Radio Coverage…………………………………………………………………..………..……….…………….…..………..29 Radio Masr …………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………….29 Al-Shark Al-Awsat ………………………………………………………………………………………...…………………….29 Mega fm……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………29
Internet coverage……………………………………………………………………….……......……….…....……..…… 30-33 Facebook……………………………………………………………….…………………………………...…….……………..30 Muslim brotherhood......................................................................................................................................................................33 Twitter…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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