Political and religious leaders have called on President Hosni Mubarak to put off his visit to the US, which is scheduled for next Sunday, until he calms down after the death of his grandson Mohamed. Dr. Monie Abdel Halim Mahmoud, professor at Al-Azhar University, called on President Mubarak to postpone his visit until he recovers from the loss of his grandson. Dr. Mahmoud said that postponing the visit would be normal, as Islam requires that the leader be in perfect physical and psychological conditions to run his subjects' or citizens' affairs. "Putting off some of the President's activities would be in the interest of Islam and Muslims, as this would let him take the most suitable decisions especially when it comes to the Palestinian issue, which will be the main issue on the agenda" he added. Dr. Suhair Abdel Aziz, a professor at Al-Azhar University, said she fully backed the idea of putting off the President's visit to the US. "Political decisions require wisdom, which is something we are used to seeing in President Mubarak" she affirmed. Father Salib Matta Sawiris, a member of the Confessional Council and priest at Mary Guirguis al-Guyushi Church, said that the President had the right to rest and that he was the only one who could determine how long he needed, according to his psychological conditions. "It would be natural for the President to take some rest and put off his engagements until he calms down, especially as he's always lived to serve the country" he affirmed. Priest Ikram Lamie, president of the Information and Publishing Committee of the Evangelical Church, said the President was human and had the right to be sad and take some rest so that he could get over this crisis peacefully. "President Mubarak is bold and strong, particularly as he is originally a pilot" he said, adding: "Historic personalities always keep their grief inside them and President Mubarak, as far as I know him, will get over this tragedy quickly."
He stressed: "Mubarak has always been able to bear huge responsibilities, that's why his consolation will be to serve his country as much as he can" he added. For her part, Dr. Amani Kandil, a researcher in political science, has said she discussed this topic yesterday morning with some of her Arab colleagues at a workshop on the civil society. She said she disagreed with them, as they said President Mubarak was a politician and came from the Armed Forces, which they thought would allow him to get over this crisis and go to the US. Instead, she said any person, whatever his position or responsibility, "needs some time to be psychologically strong and healthy and to be able to negotiate and face difficult situations".
She said the President had the right to spend some time alone to get back his strength and do his job, especially as he is due to carry out such an important visit to the US after five years and to hold meetings with the new U.S. administration. Dr. Mona Makram Ebeid, professor of political sciences at the American University, said "President Mubarak had better postpone his visit to the US or wait until President Obama arrives in Egypt on June 4 to hold the discussions he is due to have over there". She also affirmed that the U.S. administration would understand the circumstances the President was going through. Ambassador Mohamed Shaker, deputy at the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, said the decision whether or not to put off the visit was up to the President himself. Yet, he pointed out that a postponement was possible and would be understood by the U.S. administration.
Shaker said that if the president decided to postpone the visit given these difficult circumstances, Obama's visit to Cairo early next month would give Mubarak the chance to have talks with him anyway. He pointed out that President Mubarak could go to the US later on if he could not bear the efforts of carrying out talks there now.
