Morsi warns, but are protesters afraid? On social networks, Egyptians debated President Mohamed Morsi's speech on Sunday in which he described “the inciters and supporters” of violence and thuggery” as “those who are sabotaging” the course of the 25 January Revolution and Egypt's democratic transition. Morsi went on to stress his “right to impose exceptional measures to restore domestic order” which many people on Facebook and Twitter noted was a “repeat of Mubarak's and the military's rhetoric” which was used to justify violating human rights and abusing power. “If he thinks he's a strong president, he has to work for the sake of this nation, not for the sake of Al-Gamaa [the Muslim Brotherhood],” said Mohamed Abdel-Kader who added that from his first day in office Morsi was using double standards in dealing with protests. “When it is in the favour of the Muslim Brotherhood, it's freedom of expression. When it is against them it is thuggery. We cannot forget what they did in front of the Supreme Constitutional Court and the Media Production City,” Abdel-Kader said, referring to recent protests by the Islamists around these areas. Raya Mahmoud agreed with Abdel-Kader saying Morsi had lost his legitimacy sooner that anybody expected when he “traded the blood of the Egyptians cheaply”. “If he really cared about saving the lives of Egyptians he would have worked faithfully for this country. Instead he works in the interest of a tiny radical group that will not be able to rule the country for more than a year,” she argued. Rana Kamal believes that most of Morsi's critics are superficial and only focus on achieving the opposition's goals. “Does the opposition understand that the country is falling apart and the economy is collapsing and that they have to help the government pass through this crisis, not protest against it?” Kamal said. Karim Saleh Mahmoud urged Morsi to take all the necessary measures to restore law and order on the street in order to start rebuilding the country. Mahmoud said protests should be banned for three months and people who call for a protest jailed until the country becomes safe, economically and politically. A guitar inside Al-Azhar University The Big Pharaoh wrote about his experience with Al-Azhar University student who wanted to play music inside the campus of the religious educational institution: “A few days ago I had an interesting discussion with a medical student at Al-Azhar University. Al-Azhar University is the educational branch of Al-Azhar. It is far more conservative than Egypt's ‘secular' universities. Most of its faculties are religious studies-based yet it does have other faculties such as medicine and engineering. Male and female students are segregated and my friend told me that there is only one female student that does not wear the head cover. The Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist political forces are in total domination there. My friend, who is in his fourth year of college, told me that he has a friend, another Al-Azhar University student, who plays the guitar. He was intimidated not to take it with him on campus so he just plays in his dorm room. There is no law in the university that bans students from plating musical instruments; he was just not so sure how the students and the Islamists who control the campus would react to the stringed intruder. A few days ago his friend woke up in the morning, grabbed his guitar and walked to campus. He played and students reacted very positively. “People have changed,” said my friend. “We're not afraid anymore and people are now confronting the radicals.” Our society is changing as a result of the Islamists reaching power. The halo that they have been sporting during Mubarak is gradually diminishing and many Egyptians, especially the youth, are now starting to have second thoughts about the Islamists and this proves the latter's unprecedented defeat in the recent student union elections. “We're even having a music and acting competition next month at our faculty. Can you imagine that?” continued my startled friend. It seems his friend's guitar cast a spell that no one can stop.” Tweets “Because of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis now most of the ‘Sheikh' title is associated with either violence or legalising sexual harassment.” @Mahmoud Abdel-Azim
“As long as the president is willing to sacrifice some of the citizens for the sake of the county, we really do not mind to sacrifice him for our beloved country too.” @ Asmaa Mahfouz
“The irony is Morsi arresting revolutionaries who supported him because they feared Shafik might do so.” @Salama Moussa
Egypt continues its slide towards anarchy. Has the Muslim Brotherhood lost control as the country risks becoming ungovernable?” @Thom Reilly
“Egyptians need jobs, need secure streets. Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood need to secure their HQs and grip on power. Big difference.” @Mona ElTahawy
“We often hear leaders speak of sacrificing themselves for the nation; never of sacrificing ‘the few.” @Dalia Ezzat
“Morsi gets honorary PhD for ‘recognition of significant contribution towards promotion of harmony in the world' except in Egypt.” @Amro Ali
