In the Description de l'Egypte, the French scholars accompanying Napoleon Bonaparte's expedition to Egypt at the end of the eighteenth century noted that only a small minority of Muslims were not affiliated with the Sufi tariqas, or orders, that (...)
Some believe, or pretend, current developments that seem to abort the revolution were inevitable and unavoidable, and thus exploring the reasons for the present situation and highlighting mistakes is a waste of time. But I believe this is incorrect (...)
(They are) distracted in mind even in the midst of it ― being (sincerely) for neither one group nor for another. (Al-Nisa, 143).
Oh Allah, show us truth and grant us the will to follow it.
Morsi's legitimacy was compromised before the army's (...)
The writings and statements of key “Islamist” figures about “the Islamic project” are endless. But the project remains ambiguous and mysterious in terms of its main ideas, which denotes disparities between their intentions.
Throughout history, (...)
Many demands for institutional reform lose their meaning if they are triggered by partisanship, are delayed despite an urgent public need for them or are revived only when a specific party needs them. Sometimes they are detached from their contexts (...)
The difference in the appearance of the ousted president between when we saw him in August 2011 and last week demonstrates how his regime recovered some of its strength due to the poor performance of current political players. But this does not mean (...)
22 June 1961: The National Assembly is almost vacant. Some 89 members send their regrets; 42 are excused; and 48 are absent without excuse or permission. The atmosphere is tense inside the room and all eyes are turned to the podium where a number of (...)
While their arguments reveal their differences – and perhaps abridgement – when reading history (since each camp claims the identity they endorse is the only heritage), it also reflects their intellectual defeat in facing off with the allure of (...)
Political violence among citizens, which has been escalating for months, is less dangerous than violence which occurs between citizens and state institutions.
Working towards understanding the context of violence must be based on its rejection, with (...)
The logjam in the political scene before the revolution transformed professional and student unions into the backyards of politics. These bodies abandoned their services and professional role and became platforms to battle tyranny and exclusion. (...)
The continuously complex political scene, partially due to the positions and competence of those in power and the opposition, is an expression of the conflict between two visions of governance.
One is of the authoritarian state that existed before (...)
Calls for the army to take over power, which come from “revolutionary” and “civil” forces, reveal the failures of those in power and the bankruptcy of the opposition, and thus require closer inspection.
Army intervention is unlikely because it would (...)
Successive events continue to show confusion among political forces on the relation between the state and religion. Shura Council discussions over the past few weeks were eye opening in this regard. The draft law on “Islamic bonds” — submitted by (...)
The essence of the current political, economic and social crisis is that the incumbent regime does not have enough legitimacy, which renders resorting to its apparatuses an unacceptable path for various political and social forces. The way to change (...)
Some imagination is necessary to better deal with reality. So imagine Egypt without the Muslim Brotherhood; then imagine the political scene that would not only be void of the Brotherhood but of their critics as well.
There is no way to defend the (...)
Over the past few weeks, human rights groups recorded more than 20 cases of sexual assault and collective harassment against female protestors in Tahrir Square, which at times included stabbing victims with switchblades. Some victims are still in (...)
The wave of violence that accompanied the second anniversary of the revolution deserves a closer look to understand its reasons, free of any conspiratorial thinking by those in power or political manipulation by the opposition. They all participated (...)
Some comrades in Tahrir Square will celebrate the second anniversary of the revolution; some will protest, demanding the revolution continue and serious attempts be made to achieve its goals. Others will demand the overthrow of the president, (...)
Egypt's upcoming parliamentary elections are a serious challenge for the opposition where its ability to offer an alternative to those in power and to build electoral coalitions that correspond to the questions occupying the Egyptian public will be (...)
It has become very clear over past months that the present political administration – in the name of consensus and because it lacks a clear vision for change – is trying to combine two contradictory promises for governance. Since it is impossible to (...)
Adopting the new constitution concludes the transitional phase which those in power used as an excuse for the instability of this period and to justify their failure to fulfill their electoral promises. They have at least two months to propose and (...)
“I urge everyone, especially my students, to pause and reflect. The gauge is not the success of the revolution but taking a stand. Revolutions can be aborted, and sincere calls can be defeated. Some prophets (peace be upon them) will come alone on (...)
To avoid the president withdrawing his 22 November constitutional declaration, the Constituent Assembly (CA) quickly finished the draft constitution.
This put the people in front of two choices: an incomplete constitution that embeds tyranny — (...)
One year has passed since the Karbala-like clashes at Mohamed Mahmoud and blood is still being spilled – voluntarily or by force – for the sake of change.
The assault on protestors came on the heels of a million-strong demonstration on 18 February (...)
Despite all the hard work that went into drafting Egypt's new constitution to "reform" the authoritarian July state by removing any obstacles hindering its institutions from functioning effectively, it still does not in any way express a desire to (...)