Muslim Brotherhood, Salafi or liberal? We pick and choose but Farah El-Akkad reminds us we're all in the same boat The perception most people have of a bearded man in a galabiya is that of a hard, angry fellow warning wrong-doers of eternal damnation in hell, a person who is biased and refuses to accept any opinion other than his own. On the other hand, another set of people views liberals as non-religious, Westernised aliens from another planet who seek to Americanise society, one which will abandon all restrictions. Are you for the Muslim Brotherhood, Salafis or liberals? A question often heard these days. Everyone is quick to declare fealty to this or that political party but we run the risk of failing to remember that, at the end of the day, we are all Egyptians. "Salafio Costa" is a group on Facebook, created by admins from a diverse religious and political background aiming to give a realistic image of Salafis, as well as establish a common ground and a familiar language of dialogue between people of different beliefs. It follows a positive approach of accepting the other no matter how different he or she is, and focussing on what brings us together instead of what separates us. The idea of the group started with a number of young Salafi men who frequented Costa Coffee on a regular basis. Their daily get-togethers allowed them to discover people's perception of men with beards; they were met with strange, uncomfortable looks that revealed definite dislike. Mohamed Tolba, a Salafi and founder of the group, explains: "People found it very odd that Salafi men actually went to cafés for coffee and a chat." He says he is against the label "Salafi" because it parcels Muslims into different sects. "Whether you're a Salafi or from the Muslim Brotherhood, in the end you are a Muslim. Whether you're a Christian or a Muslim, you carry an Egyptian passport of which you should be proud." Tolba believes that the fear others have of Salafis or the Muslim Brotherhood is because of lack of dialogue between the parties involved. Mohamed Mamdouh, a 22-year-old mass communication graduate and journalist, and a member of the Shabab Al-Ekhwan group, shares Tolba's views, adding, "the reason behind this huge gap is basically lack of communication between all sides. Moreover, some Salafis fail to present a clear image of themselves and their beliefs which causes others to misunderstand them." Mamdouh explains that he has many friends from the Muslim Brotherhood who share his lifestyle. "They go to the same club, enjoy sports and cinema, and just because they have certain limits, it doesn't make them aliens. They're pretty much peaceful human beings," he adds with a trace of amusement in his voice. Taking a look back, we find that the media has played a major role in encouraging us to stereotype people on the basis of the way they look and dress. Mamdouh criticises the media for focussing on trivialities and "ridiculous" matters in their questions posed to religious political parties, such as those about swimsuits, beaches and alcohol. "I think the media should focus on more important questions at the present time, regarding education, security, the high cost of living and poverty." Salwa Salman, 21, a liberal activist, believes all these differences will soon turn to dust. "Egyptians are renowned for their kind nature, and both Christianity and Islam uphold tolerance, compassion and love." Salman stresses that the vast majority of us share the same daily problems like traffic jams and the increase in prices. "At the end of the day, we want to go to sleep with a peaceful mind, and to wake up to a better Egypt. If we dig deeper, we'll be truly amazed at how much we're alike."
