"
Cartouche Dimanche
Equipe de rédaction:
Abdel Massih Felli
Dalia Victor
18 Mars 2007
Michael Victor
Névine Lameï 9 Baramhat 1723
Caroline Onsy, Nermine Onsy Rédacteur en chef Directrice de rédaction 28 Safar 1428
Mise en page: Youssef Sidhom Laura Hakim 1ère ANNEE
Héba Adel NUMERO 46
Révision:
Rafik Baracat
En Bref
Egypte Jacques Chirac ne briguera
pas un nouveau mandat
monde, il faut le prendre à bras-le-corps, mais
L e président de la République Française a
Michael Victor sans jamais brader notre modèle français ", a-t-il
prévenu. Comme en signe d'avertissement à Ni-
adressé plusieurs messages aux Français en forme de testa-
colas Sarkozy qui en propose l'adaptation après l'avoir jugé
ment politique.
obsolète. Chirac qui, vendredi, à l'occasion de son dernier
La réforme constitutionnelle en cours ne re- " JE ne solliciterai pas vos suffrages pour un nouveau man-
Conseil européen à Bruxelles, a fait son mea culpa après
mettra pas en cause le fait que la charia is- dat. " c'est avec " beaucoup d'émotion ", " avec au coeur
l'échec du référendum en mai 2005, a estimé qu'il était vital
lamique restera la source principale de la législa- l'amour et la fierté de la France " que Jacques Chirac s'est
de poursuivre la construction européenne.
tion en Egypte, a assuré Gamal Moubarak, fils adressé aux Français pour leur faire part de ce choix. " Au
" La France doit affirmer l'exigence d'une Europe puis-
du chef de l'Etat et haute figure du parti au pou- terme du mandat que vous m'avez confié, le moment sera
sance. D'une Europe politique. D'une Europe qui garantisse
voir, cité par la presse vendredi. "Il n'y a aucune venu pour moi de vous servir autrement ", a-t-il dit dans une
notre modèle social ", a-t-il ajouté.
intention de contourner l'article 2", qui porte sur allocution radiotélévisée. " D'une manière différente, mais
la charia islamique, a déclaré M. Moubarak en avec un enthousiasme intact et la même passion d'agir pour
soulignant que "cet article restera" dans la Con- vous, je continuerai à mener les combats qui sont les nôtres, " La France a des responsabilités
stitution égyptienne "Le but des allégations sur les combats de toute ma vie, pour la justice, pour le progrès, particulières "
un amendement de l'article 2 de la Constitution, pour la paix, pour la grandeur de la France. " Alors que son action internationale est un point fort de son
qui porte sur la charia islamique, est de semer Jacques Chirac a indiqué qu'il aurait ultérieurement " l'oc- bilan, il a souligné que la France n'est pas un pays comme
la confusion sur les amendements con- casion d'exprimer ses choix personnels " pour la prés- les autres et qu'elle a des responsabilités particulières ". "
stitutionnels prévus", a encore déclaré aux jour- identielle. Après avoir défendu son bilan, notamment la res- Face au risque d'un choc des civilisations, face à la montée
nalistes, Gamal Moubarak, président du comité tauration des valeurs républicaines et la laïcité, il a préféré des extrémistes religieux, la France doit défendre la tolér-
politique du Parti National démocrate et adjoint adresser " plusieurs messages " aux Français en forme de ance, le dialogue et le respect entre les hommes et entre les
au secrétaire général. testament politique. cultures ". Il a également insisté sur " le devoir de la France ",
" Ne composez jamais avec l'extrémisme, le racisme, " peser de tout son poids " pour l'aide au développement et
l'antisémitisme ou le rejet de l'autre. Dans notre histoire, mener " la révolution écologique qui s'engage ".
Quartette arabe l'extrémisme a déjà failli nous conduire à l'abîme. C'est un
Condolizza Rice ar-
poison. Il divise. Il pervertit, il détruit ", a-t-il dit. Il a également
rivera en Egypte le 25
exalté " le beau combat de la France " pour " l'unité " et " la Séquence émotion
mars et participera le jour
cohésion ". " Oui, nos valeurs ont un sens ! Oui, la France est Jacques Chirac a conclu par une déclaration d'amour à la
même à une réunion du
riche de sa diversité ! Oui, l'honneur de la politique, c'est France et aux Français : " Pas un instant, vous n'avez cessé
Quartette arabe dans la
d'agir d'abord pour l'égalité des chances ! ", a-t-il lancé. d'habiter mon coeur et mon esprit. Pas une minute, je n'ai
ville d'Assouan en Haute-
Jacques Chirac a appelé les Français à toujours croire en cessé d'agir pour servir cette France magnifique. Cette
Egypte, a déclaré M.
eux et en la France. " Nous avons tant d'atouts. Nous ne dev- France que j'aime autant que je vous aime " et qui " n'a pas
Aboul Gheït. La sec-
ons pas craindre les évolutions du monde. Ce nouveau fini d'étonner le monde ".
rétaire d'Etat, qui doit
rencontrer le Président
Hosni Moubarak, se ren-
dra également à deux reprises en Israël et dans
les territoires palestiniens, avant et après sa
réunion en Egypte avec le Quartette arabe, a
JOURNEE FRANCO-EGYPTIENNE DES CEREALES
La position de la France est d'autant plus nécessaire à cet équilibre que la demande est
précisé le ministre. Le Quartette arabe regroupe
l'Egypte, l'Arabie Saoudite, la Jordanie et les
Emirats Arabes Unis.
L 'Association France Export Céréales a organisé le mardi 13 mars au Caire, la 11ème supérieure à l'offre : la production mondiale est estimée à 589 millions de tonnes et la de-
mande à 606 millions de tonnes. Ainsi, les stocks seront largement utilisés pour satisfaire
Journée franco-égyptienne des céréales sous le patronage du Ministère égyptien de l'Ag-
les besoins de consommation et atteindront des niveaux très bas en fin de campagne. En
riculture et de la Bonification des terres, en coopération avec l'Ambassade et la Mission
conséquence de cette tension entre l'offre et la demande, tous les prix mondiaux affichent
Syrie économique française en Egypte.
une hausse de 35 à 50%.
Javier Solana demande à Bachar el-Assad Selon Hassan Behnam, Directeur du bureau de presse régional d'UBIFRANCE, un grand Au niveau mondial, les blés français sont recherchés. Réputés pour leurs qualités, les
de faire des efforts pour aider à la stabilité du nombre de personnalités et d'experts liés au secteur du blé et des céréales ont assisté à ventes françaises de blés sont soutenues, parfois vers des marchés nouveaux soucieux de
Liban... Le représentant de la diplomatie eu- cette rencontre pour faire le point sur les échanges mondiaux des céréales et les ca- trouver des blés de haut niveau qualitatif.
ropéenne a rencontré le président Syrien ce ractéristiques de la récolte française 2006. Les exposés techniques par des intervenants Sur l'Egypte l'effet prix explique le recul des ventes françaises mais les blés français
mercredi dernier. Damas est isolé sur la scène français et égyptiens ont porté sur l'adéquation des blés français aux exigences de fabrica- restent appréciés pour leurs qualités boulangères ainsi que leurs qualités meunières de
internationale depuis l'assassinat de l'ancien tion des différents pains arabes. Dans le cadre de ce séminaire, un exposé de meunerie a blé semi hard, homogènes et propres.
Premier ministre libanais Rafic Hariri. Mais Da- été également proposé. En général, les farines issues des blés français permettent une amélioration de l'aspect
mas pose plusieurs conditions à sa coop- Avec 420.000 tonnes de blés déjà contractées, la France reste un fournisseur ma- du pain, des volumes et des goûts plus briochés. Par ailleurs, les rendements en farine sont
ération. Bachar el-Assad veut notamment que jeur de céréales de l'Egypte et demeure, avec 34,9 millions de tonnes de blés produits améliorés de 2 % au moins et conduisent à une économie du même ordre, soit 4 USD/
les européens et les américains l'aident à rep- dont 15,2 millions de tonnes exportées, l'un des pays clefs de l'équilibre mondial de tonne selon les cours actuels. Les utilisateurs disent que travailler avec l'origine française,
rendre le contrôle du plateau du Golan occupé l'offre et de la demande. c'est travailler en confiance.
par les forces israéliennes depuis 1967. Javier
Solana a demandé aux autorités syriennes de
combattre le trafic d'armes avec le Liban et
fournir un effort maximal pour appliquer la rés- Le président
Le président
Fin de la visite de
olultion de l'ONU qui prévoit le désarmement américain
américain
du Hezbollah. George W. Bush
George W. Bush
et son
et son
Royaume-Uni homologue mexicain
homologue mexicain
Greenpeace a répondu de manière spec- Felipe Calderon
Felipe Calderon
Bush au Mexique
taculaire en déployant une banderole sur le
parlement, au projet de Tony Blair de renouveler
le système de dissuasion nucléaire britannique.
Le Premier ministre soumettra au vote en fin de
journée son plan de modernisation de la force
de frappe nucléaire. S'il obtient une majorité,
Tony Blair a prévu la construction de nouveaux
sous marins, armés de missiles balistiques nu-
La réforme que M. Bush défend depuis les gouvernements.
cléaires Trident. Mais beaucoup de députés se
demandent si cette stratégie est la bonne, au
moment où l'armée de sa majesté est en dif-
L e président américain George W. des mois prévoit un renforcement de la
frontière et de l'immigration clandestine,
Mais M. Bush a
donné satisfaction
Bush a affirmé sa détermination à faire mais ouvre aussi la voie à la régular- à son collègue
ficulté en Iraq, et aurait davantage besoin de adopter une réforme des lois amér-
blindés et de transports de troupes. Deux mini- isation d'une partie des douze millions mexicain en
icaines sur l'immigration et a évoqué un d'étrangers travaillant clandestinement évoquant la
stres du gouvernement ont déjà démissionné, et plan régional pour lutter contre le trafic
entre 60 et 70 députés travaillistes ont annoncé aux Etats-Unis. Quatre ou cinq millions "responsabilité"
de drogue et le crime, mercredi au derni- d'entre eux sont Mexicains. qu'ont les
qu'ils voteraient contre. Mais Tony Blair n'as pas er jour de sa tournée en Amérique lat-
de souci à se faire concernant le vote, puisque La réforme se heurte aux résistances Etats-Unis de
ine. des amis républicains de M. Bush au combattre la
les conservateurs ont annoncé qu'ils appuieront La réponse américaine à la question
le projet Congrès. consommation de
migratoire, préoccupation majeure en Mais M. Bush s'est dit "optimiste" stupéfiants sur leur
Amérique latine, s'est à nouveau im- quant à la possibilité de trouver un "ter- territoire pour ne
Corée du Nord posée dans l'agenda de M. Bush à me- rain d'entente". pas encourager les
Selon Mohamed El Baradei, le directeur gén- sure qu'il se rapprochait de la frontière M. Calderon a exprimé "les in- trafics.
éral de l'Agence de l'énergie atomique des na- des Etats-Unis à l'issue d'une tournée quiétudes" mexicaines sur le respect M. Bush achevait
tions unies, les re- de six jours. des droits de l'homme par les Etats-Unis au Mexique une
sponsables nord coréens Cette dernière était destinée à contrer dans le traitement de ceux qui traversent tournée où il s'est
ont réaffirmé leur désir le mouvement anti-américain et anti- la frontière. Il a déclaré que celle-ci de- employé à
de fermer leurs in- libéral qui s'est considérablement ren- vait rapprocher et non diviser les deux améliorer son
stallations nucléaires. forcé en Amérique latine et à convaincre pays et a indiqué que le Mexique et les image et celle des
D'après Mohamed El Ba- que les Etats-Unis se préoccupaient Etats-Unis envisageaient l'ouverture de Etats-Unis, avec un
radei, La Corée du Nord d'autre chose que de commerce et de nouveaux points de passage. résultat incertain.
est prête à travailler avec lutte contre la drogue. La veille, il avait à nouveau critiqué la Une vingtaine de
les agences concernées, Mais, au Mexique, l'immigration, év- construction d'environ mille kilomètres personnes ont été
pour leur permettre de oquée dans les quatre pays précédem- de mur sur un tiers de la frontière. blessées à Mexico
vérifier la fermeture des ment visités, ne pouvait manquer de re- Celle-ci cristallise les préoccupations quand une
installations nucléaires et venir au premier plan. des deux gouvernements comme le manifestation de plusieurs centaines de de personnes et n'ont donné lieu qu'à
notamment la centrale de "Je travaillerai avec le Congrès, avec point de passage de tous les trafics. militants de gauche, étudiants, syn- des incidents limités.
YongByon. La Corée du les membres des deux partis, pour faire dicalistes ou défenseurs de l'environne- Mais ils ont mis en lumière le mouve-
Nord a cependant posé une condition : la levée adopter une loi sur l'immigration qui M. Calderon "travaillera avec les Etats- ment a dégénéré en jets de bouteilles, ment fait d'opposition à la guerre en Irak
des sanctions financières qui pèsent sur le nous permettra de faire respecter en Unis et les pays d'Amérique centrale de pierres et de peinture sur les po- et à la politique de libéralisation des
pays, en particulier sur les comptes bloqués même temps la loi et les valeurs hu- pour développer un plan régional" contre liciers protégeant l'ambassade amér- échanges des Etats-Unis, du sentiment
dans une banque de Macao. Une mesure prom- maines d'une manière qui corresponde le trafic de drogue et le crime, a dit M. icaine. d'être négligé au profit de la lutte contre
ise par Washington, et qui suit son cours. La aux valeurs des Etats-Unis d'Amérique", Bush. Ces manifestations, qui ont ac- le terrorisme ou le trafic de drogue, et
visite historique du chef de l'AIEA à Pyon- a déclaré M. Bush lors d'une conférence La Maison Blanche a indiqué récem- compagné M. Bush tout au long de son globalement d'hostilité à M. Bush.
gyang, faisait suite à l'accord conclu le 13 févri- de presse commune avec son homo- ment que ce plan viserait surtout à ren- périple dans cinq pays, ont rarement
er à Pékin entre la Corée du Nord d'une part, la logue mexicain Felipe Calderon à Mér- forcer le partage des informations entre rassemblé plus de quelques centaines
Chine, le Japon, la Corée du Sud, la Russie et ida sud-est du Mexique.
M.V
les Etats-Unis d'autre part. Une nouvelle ses-
sion de pourparlers à six débutera lundi pro-
tarif d’abonnement: Egypte:65 L.E - Pays arabes: 150 L.E - L’europe: 90 dollars - L’amérique: 100 dollars - L’australie: 120 dollars américain
chain à Pékin.
"
21.
✂
Watani Francophone Sunday
18 March 2007
Editor-in-chief Managing Editor 9 Baramhat 1723
Youssef Sidhom Samia Sidhom 28 Safar 1428
YEAR 7
ISSUE 318
Page 5 - 6
Editorial
Problems on hold
If it weren’t tragic, it Cairo’s double-face
would be downright funny
Youssef Sidhom
Today Watani resumes printing problem
cases with the Civil Register Authority
(CRA). The root of this notorious problem
goes back to the fact that, starting this year,
the old ID papers which were issued man-
ually by the Civil Register Authority will
be invalidated, and new computerised ID
documents will replace them. It is thus in-
evitable for Egyptians to acquire new com-
puterised identity papers. In the process of
applying for and obtaining these papers,
many find themselves faced with un-
warranted data entry errors which should be
very easy to correct once the clerks refer to
the original, authentic, hand-written, CRA-
issued documents. But, more often than Every Cairene knows that Cairo is a city of contrasts. Grand, Maged Samir ment of Cairo’s underground metro lines has led to an opposite
not, CRA clerks refuse to do so, and send modern suburbs built to a high-standard stand side by side with trend, with squatter areas extending outside greater Cairo.
the applicants instead on arduous, prob- squatter, randomly-built sections. Old Maadi with its charming vil- southern suburb of Helwan. At the turn of the 20th century Hel- Dr Ibrahim indicated the features which characterise randomly-
lematic tasks to prove the veracity of their las and gardens lies next to New Maadi with its narrow and crowd- wan had a reputation as a beautiful wintering spot; its warm sunny built squatter areas, such as narrow roads, a lack of services, dense
ID data. ed alleyways and back-to-back multi-storey buildings. The wide weather and it sulphur springs made it a first class health spa, to population and poor housing. He added that developers estimated
Following is a new set of CRA problem boulevards and modern high-rises of Mohandessin neighbour the say nothing of its Japanese gardens and splendid Wax Museum. these areas in Egypt at some 133 square kilometres, while the gov-
cases. poor, noisy Boulaq al-Dakrour. All this changed irrevocably with Egypt’s industrial boom in the ernment placed the figure at a mere 34 square kilometres. A work-
Both Samah William Aziz and her father, 1950s and 1960s, when cement, iron and steel factories were built shop was arranged to clear up the discrepancy, with 60 people
who are Christians, were registered as Mus- Aerial trip on the outskirts of Helwan and countless related industries sprang working for almost four months to verify the figures. Results re-
lims in their computerised birth certificate. A seminar organised in Cairo by the Goethe Institute—the Ger- up in the vicinity. One of the world’s most beautiful spas turned vealed that Giza alone was home to some 73 square kilometres of
Ironically, the computerised birth certificate man cultural centre—featured Mohamed Ibrahim, geographical into one of its most polluted areas. squatter residence.
of Samah’s brother correctly cites the father communications systems expert at the German agency for tech- Accurate figures are essential for decision making and budget
as Christian. nical co-operation, who took his audience on an aerial trip with How many square kilometres allocation, Dr Ibrahim said. He highlighted the importance of
Ireni Yehia Ibrahim Atta was born in Google Earth above the skies of Cairo. Squatter areas around greater Cairo expanded by crawling to- cooperation between the residents of squatter areas and the de-
Alexandria in 1971, and possesses manual- It was revealed that one third of Cairo’s poorer districts lie in the wards the city centre. Google Earth indicated that the establish- cision makers.
ly-issued ID and birth certificate which cite
her as a Christian born to Christian parents.
Her computerised birth certificate cites her
A life for a life
mother as a Muslim.
Mrs N.S.M (who wished her name to be
withheld) was born in1937 in Fayoum. She
is in possession of a manually-issued ID,
birth certificate and passport, has worked
for decades with the Tax Authority, and
regularly cashes her pension. When she ap-
plied for a computerised ID, she was told One o’clock in the afternoon of Friday 9 with them hand in hand, and did Nader Shukry Suweif had indeed committed a for space, it is no wonder that disputes arise
that her name was not registered on the March, in one of the narrow streets of the ran- business with them. "This incident Emad Khalil crime, but he had been severely pro- regularly.
computer and she had to go back to Fay- domly built, sprawling district of Imbaba, Giza, has nothing to do with religion," voked. He said the defendant should Sheikh Adel, a butcher on the street told
oum to re-register her name in the manual a bout of temper led to a horrible crime. Atta they said. not be charged with murder, but with Watani that Copts were in general the
files. Attiya, 55, and his 25-year-old son Magdi were Ayman al-Hamzawi, head of the In- assault which led to death. Hassan hopes rec- wealthier members of the Imbaba com-
The case of Mina Hanna Baskharon Han- heading to their poultry shop in their Jeep vestigations Department at Imbaba Police Sta- onciliation could be managed; the vendetta al- munity, and were hence frequently objects
na is exceptional. Mina was born to Egyp- when, as they passed through al-Mashrou tion said the crime was the outcome of a street ternative is too bleak to contemplate, he said. of resentment of the poorer masses. There
tian parents in Giza in 1990, and has correct Street, their way was blocked by a truck. They fight and carried no sectarian implications. The Especially that, in vendetta, a head accounted were thus fears that the recent crime would
manual ID and birth certificates. When he asked the truck driver to give them way, he re- police were in control of the situation, he for a head, meaning that one can expect two take a sectarian turn since people of the
received the computerised birth certificate, fused, an argument ensued, followed by insults stressed, and keen on achieving reconciliation deaths. same religion usually sided with one an-
he found all the information correct except and curses, and the rage turned into a street between the two families since a vendetta At al-Mashrou Street, the scene of the crime, other.
that his homeland was cited as Namibia. fight. Passersby, family members and friends would only lead to more crime. Watani talked to the locals. It takes no effort
Mina, who probably never heard of Na- all joined in. Atta and Magdi beat the driver to realise that the street is in itself a major First and, hopefully, last
mibia, went to the CRA to correct the mis- who then called for a cousin’s help; Hamed Cause for trouble cause for trouble. Narrow and crowded, with It was the opinion of the clergy of St
take, only to be told that ‘the computer nev- Mehanny Suweif came to the rescue, shot the Ahmed Hassan, lawyer of the defendant, said pedestrians, cars, trucks, and tuk-tuks vying Mina’s Church of Imbaba that rec-
er lies’. father and son dead and ran onciliation was essential in con-
The story of Fahim Habib Basada Faltas away. taining the crisis, but it could
is unique in kind. Fahim, who was born in The following day saw the po- only come following a just and
1924, wrote to Watani: "I am relating a true lice catch the murderer, and the fair trial in court. Sheikh Salah,
story. I am 82 years old, and applied to As- tear-stained family members and Imam of al-Ikhlas Mosque on the
suit CRA for a computerised ID, submitting friends of the victims attend the same street said it was not the
the documents required. The application funeral with burning hearts. The right time to push for rec-
was returned to me with a note saying family is a branch of the famous onciliation with the victims’ fam-
‘birth certificate has been tampered with’ al-Kadareaks of al-Badaari, As- ily at the peak of their anger and
since the clerk found nothing in the certif- siut, while the killer belongs to the grief. It would probably be better
icate to indicate my parents’ nationality or Arab Moteirs of Abnoub, also in when the wrath calms down.
religion. This was obvious since, at the time Assiut. They all come from Upper Mamdouh Abdel-Hamid, MP
I was born, birth certificates did not include Egypt, where an eye should ac- for Imbaba, told Watani there
boxes for the parents’ nationality or re- count for an eye, a life for a life, were no problems between Mus-
ligion, and I was simply registered as Egyp- and vendetta is held sacred. lims and Copts in Imbaba. Sec-
tian and Copt. Authorities at the time appar- tarian incidents are the result of
ently assumed children would follow their Men, not chickens ignorance and narrow-
parents nationality and religion. The CRA, The victims’ family refused to mindedness propagated by ex-
however, asked me to apply for a new birth accept condolences—a very ob- tremist religious thought, such as
certificate. When I got it, I found my par- vious indication of their in- the Wahabi movement, which
ents registered as Muslims. Does it make tention to avenge their dead. finds fertile ground amid rampant
any sense for two Muslim parents to reg- They accused the police of treat- poverty. Abdel-Hamid calls for
ister their son as a Christian? When I ing them harshly since Esmat NGOs to join clergy to spread
sought to correct the mistake, the CRA Attiya, the first victim’s son and awareness. Copts should play a
asked me to provide a certificate from the the other’s brother, was detained positive role in the political field
archbishopric of Assuit proving my parents directly after the crime and and should be granted fair repre-
were Christian. I did that, but was further charged with possessing an un- sentation in legislative councils,
asked to furnish their death certificates, licensed weapon, whereas the he insisted.
which I failed to do since they died some killer was only arrested a day lat- Sobhy al-Qalaawy, deputy of
60 years ago and I do not even remember er. Attiya was allowed to attend the Lawyers Syndicate Com-
the dates of their deaths. What am I to do?" the funeral service, then released mittee in Imbaba asserted that
Mr Fahim spared me the effort of writing on bail. The Attiyas insisted that, Imbaba was rife with problems;
a conclusion to this editorial when he unless they revenged their dead, eight murders were recently com-
wrote: "May God forgive those who distort they could never raise their mitted in the span of four days.
the beautiful image of Egypt ingrained in heads high in dignity. "We lost However, he said, this last crime
our souls." two men," one of them told Wa- was the first to involve Copts and
tani, "not two of the chickens Muslims. Let us hope it would be
CORRECTION our women breed on the roof- the last.
In Watani’s editorial of 4 March, it top". When asked about their re-
was mentioned that a Christian man lations with the Muslims in the
was sentenced to six years in prison. It neighbourhood, they said that al-Mashrou Street
should read six months. The editor they maintained perfectly nor-
regrets the error. mal relations with them, worked in Imbaba
N Aiding Somali refugees
Egypt has extended urgent medical aid
tion to Norway for its recent decision to
write off 76 per cent of Egypt’s debts.
New project
Petroleum Minister Sameh Fahmi has
gramme and the Egyptian national scholar-
ship programme.
see Egypt’s "Sunken Treasures" on exhibit.
The number of visitors has exceeded half a
These debts amount to 185.4 billion Kro- million. The exhibit, which started last De-
E to some 170,000 Somali refugees in Ken-
ya, through the Egyptian Foreign Min- ner—some $25.8 billion.
laid the foundation stone of a new pet-
rochemical plant in Port Said with a ca- Maritime cable
Egypt’s National Telecommunications
cember, ended last Friday.
istry's Fund for Technical Cooperation pacity of 400,000 tons annually and in-
W with Africa. Egypt’s ambassador to Nai-
robi oversaw the handing over of the as-
Nile navigation
An integrated plan has been set up to
vestments of $750 million. The plant
produces propylene and polypropylene
Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and the Arab
Company for maritime cables have signed
Shooting Championship
Egypt has won the eighth African shoot-
finalise the development of the River Nile an agreement to install the first Egyptian-
S sistance to the United Nations refugee
commission office in Nairobi. Egypt re- navigational watercourse by the end of
this year. The Nile operation will be car-
compounds, which are used in food pack-
aging, carpets and other essential in-
Arab maritime cable for communications.
Egypt will have a 51 per cent stake in the
ing championship qualifier for the 2008
Beijing Olympic Games. Eight Egyptian
players qualified for the Olympics after
cently offered material and technical as- dustries. Fahmi said the project provides
L sistance to Kenya to face drought and
floods, and has announced that it will dig
ried out in conjunction with the ports and
marinas plan for loading and unloading,
2,500 job opportunities.
project. Communications and Information
Technology Minister Tarek Kamel said the
winning the gold medals in the tournament
at the shooting fields of the Armed Forces
and comes as a prelude to link the river agreement marked a new stage on the road
I 50 wells in Kenya as a gift to the African
State.
and the land transportation networks, with
the purpose of creating an integrated one
Slovak-Egyptian Science
Egypt has signed a bilateral agreement on
to liberalising the communications sector.
in Cairo earlier this month. Egyptians won
16 gold, nine silver and ten bronze medals
in the contest, ranking first among 208
N Debts cleared
covering all Egypt. The Cabinet is looking
into the plan which a spokesman said was
scientific and technological co-operation
with the Slovak Republic. Slovakia regu-
Half-a-million visitors
Despite bad weather and heavy rains,
players from 12 participating countries.
South Africa came second with six gold,
Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit has taking into consideration all Nile trans- larly provides scholarships to Egyptian stu- thousands queued in front of the Grand Pa- four silver and four bronze medals, and Tu-
E expressed Egypt’s thanks and apprecia- port: passengers, goods, and Nile cruising. dents within the framework of a Slovak pro- lais Museum in central Paris for a chance to nisia came third with three gold, four silver
Published by Watani Printing and Publishing Corporation 27, Abdel Khaleq Tharwat st. Cairo – Egypt Tel. 202-3927201, 202-3936051 Fax 202-3935946 Website: www.watani.com.eg E-Mail: watanie@watani.com.eg
✂
22.
18 March 2007 Watani International 3
Wanted: An Islamic Enlightenment Economy
ing. He believes that Western values are univer- form of government.” Calling for “Muslim plu-
Phyllis Chesler sal, although he felt that most human rights initia-
tives within the West, including the Human Rights
ralism,” Manji decried theocratic governments. In
this regard, Manji commented that someone
How Will China Invest Its Massive
Can ‘Islam’ be reformed from within, or is Mus-
lim violence and hatred due entirely to the teach-
Commission in Geneva, are “hopeless” and will
not push sovereign Muslim tyrannies toward re-
“should tell President Bush that he should not have
empowered the theocrats in Iraq.”
Foreign Currency Reserves?
ings and history? These were some of the major form. He mourned the fact that the West contin- Manji proved an equal opportunity critic. She asset prices higher and create even more
issues raised at the Secular Islam Summit in St ues to “apologize for colonialism and racism” and castigated “missionary atheists” who are so “an- Jim Yardley competition for scarce resources.
Petersburg, Florida, last week. that Turkey still “refuses to acknowledge the Ar- gry that they resemble religious fundamentalists.” But Jin, the finance minister, suggested that the
A landmark event, the summit brought together menian genocide.” At the same time, she criticized those Muslims The Chinese government announced the formation new investment agency would not simply be
such brave and eloquent defenders of freedom and A running theme of Ibn Warraq’s remarks was who are so “submissive to authority that they can- of a new agency to oversee investment of China’s allowed to speculate.
conscience as the scholar Ibn Warraq (his nom de the unjust treatment of Muslims in Islamic coun- not stand up to (unjust or tyrannical) authority.” $1 trillion in foreign currency reserves, “The biggest priority is safety, and under the
guerre); Iranian exile and activist Banafasheh tries. For instance, he insisted that “protecting non- Agreeing with Ibn Warraq about the universal na- representing a potent new force in international principle of security we will try to will try to
Zand-Bonazzi; Austin Dacy of the Center for In- Muslims in Muslim societies” is crucial and can ture of human rights, she condemned the popular finance. increase the efficiency of management and the
quiry; as well as many other Muslim and ex-Mus- “lead to pluralism and tolerance for Muslims as view that we are “not supposed to criticize an- Finance Minister Jin Renqing offered no investments’ returns,” Jin said at his news
lim dissidents. well.” He called for a “legal recourse” within the other culture” if we are not part of it. specifics about how much of the currency reserves conference during the two-week meeting of the
Most were incredible orators, some were en- Islamic world for the widespread denial of free- Manji shared Warraq’s view that “more Mus- would be made available to the investment agency. National People’s Congress, the country’s largely
tertainers, others were deep and mournful think- dom of speech. He “demanded the re-writing of lims have been raped, tortured and murdered by But analysts say the agency is expected to control ceremonial national legislature.
ers. They included: Egyptian-born Dr. Tawfik anti-American, anti-Israel, and anti-Jewish text- other Muslims than by westerners.” Finally, she one of the world’s biggest investment funds, and Andy Rothman, a strategist at CLSA Asia-
Hamid, who was once a “colleague” of Osama books, especially in Saudi Arabia and Egypt,” made a point that I have made many times - and one that could singlehandedly alter the value of Pacific Markets, said the government would
bin Laden’s second in command, Al-Zawahiri; adding that he considers such hatred “scandalous.” which has gotten me demonized as a “racist” - many assets. probably be extremely conservative in how it
The Gandhi-like Dr. Shahriar Kabir, Bangladesh’s Warraq also implored “women’s groups in the namely, that so-called western “anti-racists” are The government said one model for the agency invested and would initially use only a small
leading human rights activist; Tashbih Sayeed, West to defend Muslim women” really acting as “racists” when they was Temasek Holdings, the Singapore fraction of its overall reserves. “I think they are
Pakistan’s foremost opponent of radical Islam, a under siege. hold Muslims to lower standards out government’s successful investment agency, which going to move very, very slowly to diversify what
man of few, but fiery words; Dr. Afshin Ellian, an In this connection, he assailed of some misguided notion of respect. manages an $84 billion global portfolio of they are doing. Nobody should expect that
Iranian professor in exile in Holland, a close friend the “inconsistency and hypocrisy of There was much more on offer at investments. suddenly they are going to invest $1 trillion.”
of Aayan Hirsi Ali, and a man of genial wit and the “western multi-culturalists, in- the summit. Other subjects of dis- China already has the world’s largest foreign Some analysts say the formation of the new
wide-ranging knowledge; Egyptian-Palestinian- cluding feminists” and stated that cussion included the war between exchange holdings, and they are growing rapidly agency means that Beijing is moving away from
American author, Nonie Darwish a warm but ab- the “law of the western secular state Sunni and Shiia Muslims; the nature because of the country’s huge trade surpluses. Most heavy reliance on investing in dollars through U.S.
solutely uncompromising thinker and speaker; and must override religious law when of jihad; and the Islamic Caliphate. of the reserves China now accumulates are Treasury securities, and that could affect interest
Syrian-American psychiatrist, Wafa Sultan , the religious law denies basic human It is worth noting that the tenor of conservatively invested in U.S. Treasury bonds and rates in the United States, which are being kept
woman who became instantly famous for her de- rights.” Some European police - he the week was very different from other government securities, which earn little down by China’s huge purchases.
bate on Al-Jazeera TV. A small, trim woman, she mentioned Sweden in particular - what many have come to expect return for China yet help to keep interest rates in But foreign exchange reserves are accumulating
is a towering speaker, theatrically thrilling and pas- still return the victims of family Irshad Manji from conferences on Islam. The con- so quickly in China, at more than $20 billion a
the United States and other countries low.
sionate. violence to the families that will kill ference also presented a declaration But the investment agency being established will month, analysts say, that it’s possible that for the
Indeed, there were so many excellent speakers them. In his view, the “rights of in English, Arabic, Bengali and Per- allow China to diversify its foreign exchange time being the agency would be operating with
that I cannot do them all justice here. For now, let women are central to Islamic reform.” Warraq sian. holdings. Analysts say the agency could deploy only a small portion of the money now
me focus on only two. The opening speeches were summed up his views on reform with the follow- One might think that the western media would hundreds of billions of dollars to acquire financial accumulating.
delivered by Ibn Warraq, a consummate intellec- ing credo: “No to female genital mutilation; no to have flocked to the summit in droves. It’s not every or strategic assets around the world, particularly China’s foreign exchange holdings are just one
tual and committed secularist, and Irshad Manji, forced and polygamous marriage; no to gender day, after all, that Muslim reformers and dissidents in developing countries in Africa and Latin of the latest signs of the country’s spectacular rise
the best-selling author and a onetime master of separatism.” gather for a forthright discussion about the trou- America. — and of its growing influence in the global
the spunky sound bite who is now a bit more mod- Irshad Manji spoke next. She began with the bles of Islam and the Islamic world. Such was not “They’re not going to be looking for financial economy and financial markets.
erate and modest in tone. wise observation that “courage is not the absence the case, with some notable exceptions. Curiously, assets, but energy assets and natural resources, With that growth have come rising costs for
Ibn Warraq spoke of the dangers that Muslims of fear but the recognition that some things are both al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya, not previously minerals — things China desperately needs,” said education, health care and pension funds. Making
in the Islamic world face for speaking the truth more important than fear.” Manji, whose entou- known for their support of Islamic reform, cov- Jing Ulrich of J.P. Morgan. a better return on government holdings, analysts
about Islam, including prison, torture, exile and rage included a young woman in hijab, described ered the conference, which aired live and in Ara- China’s currency-exchange reserves are now say, will allow the government to cope with some
death. Proving his point was the fact that a number herself as a “person of faith but not a dogmatist.” bic. It is an unhappy irony that these noble dissi- held by its central bank, the People’s Bank of of these problems.
of invitees to the summit from Egypt, Iraq, and Manji found support for her moderation in a quote dents should face ostracism and grave danger in China, and most of the reserves are expected to Rothman said the formation of the new
Saudi Arabia did not attend after receiving one from the Qur’an, which “tells us to oppose your Muslim lands and only to be similarly ignored by continue to be held there, in safe, conservative investment agency should be viewed in the context
too many death threats or after being told that their family” when the truth or true inner struggle is at the Western intelligentsia and media. investments in government securities. of other new government measures, like the recent
families would be targeted if they chose to attend. stake. She pointed out that the “Qur’an says noth- Nonetheless, the summit was a remarkable suc- But a large sum of money is expected to be efforts to pass a private property law and a law to
Most writers have been stopped in their tracks by ing about the proper form of government,” which cess. As a participant, I was privileged to stand in shifted to the new agency or investment group, equalize corporate taxes. He said China was trying
such Muslim-on-Muslim repression. suggests that Islam should remain a private faith, solidarity with these dissidents. They are our best which could aggressively invest it for higher to create the legal and regulatory structure to
Warraq explained that he wants an Islamic “En- not a political movement or a government. hope in the fight to win hearts and minds. returns. Some of the money could even possibly underpin its still-evolving market economy.
lightenment,” à la John Stuart Mill, rather than a In Manji’s opinion, “this silence is deliberate __________________________ be used to acquire stocks, corporate bonds or real Jin, the finance minister, said the new agency
“Reformation,” which he considers mere tinker- and gives us room to experiment with a different FrontPageMagazine (abridged) estate holdings in other parts of the world. would answer directly to the State Council, the
Some financial experts are already talking about equivalent of China’s cabinet.
Jesus’ Tomb: Let’s Bury that Idea Straight Away the huge potential impact of China’s emergence
as a major global investor, and how that could push
__________________________
The New York Times (abridged)
grave marked Ringo next to others marked John, curiosity in our allegedly secular age, says
Martin Wroe Paul and George.” Longenecker. “We have such a hunger to find ways
It is the greatest newspaper story ever told, and it
As a way of promoting his film The Lost Tomb
of Jesus, which airs tonight on the Discovery Chan-
of interpreting Jesus that are different to orthodox
depictions, that artefacts are leapt on and mas-
French Elections
was told again last week. In New York the Oscar- nel, he could hardly have done more. saged, often in rather farfetched ways.”
winning film-maker James Cameron pulled back The film, he says, offers “tangible, physical, ar- The most famous 20th-century example was the Royal Rubbish!
a curtain to reveal two cream-coloured limestone cheological and in some cases forensic evidence” Turin shroud, which fell from grace in the 1980s
coffins, flown in from Jerusalem. One of them, for the existence of Jesus. after radiocarbon dating suggested it was medi- means ginning-up the printing presses. France’s
he said, had once held the recently crucified body Steve Forbes left-wing femme fatale thinks stable money is the
The only snag is that nobody is looking for any eval smoke and mirrors. But while an ossuary or
of Jesus of Nazareth. Another — there are 10 in evidence. “I can’t believe how far behind the game shroud can command a global 21st-century audi- enemy of progress. She’s apparently too young to
the set — had held that of Mary Magdalene. he is,” says Tom Wright, one of the Church of ence, down the centuries relics have always been Enemies of France should fervently favor the elec- remember the devastating inflation of the 1970s
“It doesn’t get bigger than this,” he said, and England’s leading New Testament scholars and box office. Collect all the pieces of the True Cross tion of Ségolène Royal as that country’s next presi- and early 1980s. Nor does she seem to recall what
then claimed it did. He had evidence that Jesus now Bishop of Durham. “Scholars from all reli- venerated in hundreds of European churches and dent. The Socialist candidate has unveiled her plat- happened the last time a French president took
and Mary Magdalene had married and that an- gious traditions and none have no doubts that Je- you could rebuild Noah’s Ark. From Veronica’s form, and if this charmingly ignorant hack—her socialism seriously: In 1981 newly elected
other coffin — or “ossuary” — had contained a sus lived. The argument is about whether he was Veil (used to wipe the forehead of Jesus) to the gaffes, especially on foreign policy, are becoming François Mitterrand went on a nationalization and
son, Judah. who he said he was.” Crown of Thorns and the Holy Lance (which legendary—wins this spring’s election, France’s tax-hiking binge. France’s currency cratered and
It was a scene-stealing performance from the As for the statistics and the names, Professor pierced Jesus’s side to confirm his death), relics economy, now none too robust, the economy sputtered—so badly that
man who swept the Oscars with Titanic in 1998. Geza Vermes, world authority on the life and times have always lured the devout. will be on a North Korea-like tra- within a couple of years Mitterrand
Techno
Indeed, it could hardly have been more dramatic of Jesus and one of the first to study the 1st-cen- “There have been quite a few foreskins of Je- jectory.
Mademoiselle Royal wants
made an abrupt U-turn.
Royal’s opponent, Interior Min-
if Cameron had come on stage wearing the Turin tury Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947, finds sus,” says Professor Vermes. “And several heads
shroud. Cameron’s claims more Hollywood than Jerusa- of John the Baptist. The believer wants something to scrap recently enacted laws ister Nicolas Sarkozy, wants to cut
If true, his claims would fracture the 2,000-year- lem. tangible to confirm their faith, the unbeliever making it easier for small com- taxes, reduce regulations and scale
old pillars of Christian history: the New Testa- “These are such common names of the time that wants the same to disprove it.” panies to hire and fire workers. back the scope of the state to rev up
ment reports that Jesus rose from the tomb after nothing would oblige you to connect them with Take it from me, he says, speaking as someone Small businesses are the biggest France’s long-anemic economy. He
three days — no ossuary necessary — and “after the figures of the New Testament. You’d also have who knows, “Neither will have it.” History won’t job creators, but her prescriptions would be the most serious reformer the
40 days” ascended into heaven. “If Christ is not to assume that Joseph and Mary — who famously turn up that kind of proof. will help increase the country’s country’s had in nearly half a century.
raised,” said St Paul, who had quite a lot riding lived in Nazareth — moved to Jerusalem to be But Keith Ward, former regius professor of di- unemployment rate, which is al- Naturally, his crybaby critics whine
on it, “then our faith is in vain.” buried there. vinity at Oxford University, wonders if the present ready about twice that of the U.S. that his proposals are nothing more
Confusing for booksellers, too: should Dan Now, says Professor Vermes, who calls himself fascination with shrouds and tombs is different Royal wants to boost France’s than “cold, heartless, impoverishing
Brown be moved to “factual”? After all, The Da a “sympathetic agnostic”, “if we had an inscrip- from religious veneration. Relics offered a sense job-killing minimum wage, med- Anglo-American capitalism.”
Vinci Code also has Jesus getting in the family tion saying ‘This is Jesus, son of Joseph, celebrated of devotion because of their perceived link to Je- dle even more in its nationalized If Sarkozy pulls off a win, buy
way with Mary Magdalene. as the Messiah’, then we might be getting some- sus — “like people who collect football shirts” electric industry and increase French equities—and those of Ger-
Cameron produced the Israeli Antiquities Au- where, because why would you need an ossuary — but “this modern obsession is the opposite”. state control over the financial and media sectors. many and Italy. France will become an innova-
thority to confirm that the 10 ossuaries — or if the body has been raised . . . but I wish I hadn’t “Like The Da Vinci Code, it is the simple desire Government spending—which makes our levels tive, dynamic economic player again, and
“bone-boxes”, originally dug up in a Jerusalem suggested that because it will give someone an to shock even when the argument is breathtak- look parsimonious—will soar to pay for a raft of Sarkozy’s example could finally, positively shake
suburb in 1980 — were inscribed with a collec- idea!” ingly literalistic, ludicrous and superstitious.” expensive social, economic and environmental up lethargic Germany and Italy. If Royal reigns,
tion of names pointing right back to the original Bruce Longenecker, New Testament specialist It’s no different from campaigning secularists programs she’s advocating. however, France and Western Europe will descend
Jesus and Mary. The inscriptions included “Yeshua at St Andrews University, knows a thing or two who have taken to attacking religious belief, Ward Royal also wants to end the European Cen- into increasing irrelevance, becoming more and
bar Yosef” (Hebrew: Jesus son of Joseph), about 1st-century names: of all those found in the says. “It’s part of the same syndrome as Richard tral Bank’s independence by mandating that “eco- more museum-like places for tourists.
“Maria”, “Matia” (Matthew), “Yose” (Joseph), relevant archeological area, 9% are “Jesus”, 14% Dawkins and Daniel Dennett, writing shallow nomic growth” will be the primary consideration ________________
“Mariamene e Mara” (Greek: Mary the teacher “Joseph”, 10% “Judas” and 5% “Matthew”. “It’s books which attack Christianity but are still taken in setting monetary policy, which in this context Forbes Magazine
or Mary Magdalene) and “Yehuda bar Yeshua” not as if they had hundreds of names to choose seriously. As a scholar, I don’t care if people aren’t
(Aramaic: “Judah son of Jesus”). from, so there’s nothing statistically significant religious, but I am dumbfounded at the second-
Finding just these names on coffins from the
same 1st-century tomb was way too much of a
about finding such a grouping in Jerusalem at the
time,” he says.
rate thinking.”
________________
Billionaires
coincidence, said Cameron. “The chances of find- But if Cameron’s claims are so risible, why the The Sunday Times Rank Name Citizenship Age Net Worth
ing that combination together was like finding a global fascination? It’s the paradox of our religious
($ Billion)
1 William Gates III USA 51 56.0
Internet Wikipedia’s Sticky Wicket 2 Warren Buffett USA 76 52.0
Students in history classes at Middlebury College For the many “wiki”-type sites – ones that pedigreed academics against amateur scholars.
3 Carlos Slim Helu Mexico 67 49.0
this spring may have to change the way they do compile knowledge with volunteers – such an Globalization and technology are creating other 4 Ingvar Kamprad & family Sweden 80 33.0
research for papers or tests. Although they can ethical misstep would be a test of their ability for socio-cultural changes that challenge old notions 5 Lakshmi Mittal India 56 32.0
consult the online encyclopedia Wikipedia for internal correction. But it also reinforces educators’ of expertise. When people can now more easily, 6 Sheldon Adelson USA 73 26.5
background, they are not allowed to cite it as a warnings to students to be “informationally say, sell a house, write a will, or file a complex
source. literate” in how to use the six-year-old Wikipedia tax return, they defer less to authorities, among 7 Bernard Arnault France 58 26.0
Professors who drafted the new policy at the and to rely more on the thousands of more- them lawyers, clergy, teachers, and other 8 Amancio Ortega Spain 71 24.0
Vermont college praise the free website as a scholarly databases online. professionals. 9 Li Ka-shing Hong Kong 78 23.0
“wonderful innovation.” They note the more than Wikipedia not only challenges the concept of The Internet’s ability to empower individuals
1.6 million entries, the up-to-date bibliographies, what an encyclopedia is; it also raises an intriguing with an illusion of infinite knowledge challenges 10 David Thomson & family Canada 49 22.0
and the links to relevant, often more reliable sites. question: What qualifies as intellectual authority even notions of reality. Like Pontius Pilate’s 11 Lawrence Ellison USA 62 21.5
But they caution that its open-editing system, in an age of information overload, when society question – What is truth? – supporters of 12 Liliane Bettencourt France 84 20.7
which allows anyone to write or edit entries relies increasingly on the Internet? Wikipedia are asking “Whose truth?”
anonymously, carries a risk of error. Some critics are troubled by what they regard Is information on the site absolute fact or simply
13 Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud Saudi Arabia 50 20.3
Just this month a dark cloud fell over as a tendency on the Web to value anonymous, a matter of group consensus? Is any information 14 Mukesh Ambani India 49 20.1
Wikipedia’s credibility after it was revealed that collective thought over individual intellect. Some accurate only by agreement of those with extensive 15 Karl Albrecht Germany 87 20.0
a trusted contributor who claimed to be a tenured claim Wikipedia devalues traditional scholarship. credentials using peer review, or do the masses 16 Roman Abramovich Russia 40 18.7
professor of religion was actually a 24-year-old Supporters counter that the online encyclopedia’s have a voice?
college dropout. He was also one of the appointed constant and easy revision of articles only If other schools follow Middlebury’s lead, the 17 Stefan Persson Sweden 59 18.4
“arbiters” who settled disputes between strengthens their credibility. Fans also praise collective effect could encourage Wikipedia to 18 Anil Ambani India 47 18.2
contributors. Wikipedia for “democratizing” knowledge, pitting raise its standards. Scholars, too, might benefit 19 Paul Allen USA 54 18.0
from using “wiki” practices, such as open access
and wider input. 20 Theo Albrecht Germany 84 17.5
Middlebury’s policy serves as a reminder about
the need to carefully sift any information on the 62 Naguib Sawiris Egypt 52 10.0
Internet. Over time, users will force sites like
Wikipedia to build up the same trust and
158 Onsi Sawiris Egypt 77 5.0
reputations now granted to established institutions 226 Nassef Sawiris Egypt NA 3.9
such as universities or old-style encyclopedias. 664 Samih Sawiris Egypt 50 1.5
Truth, like truthfulness, must be demonstrated. _____________________
_____________________________
Christian Science Monitor, editorial Source: Forbes Magazine
23.
2 Watani International 18 March 2007
The Coptophile Column
John H. Watson
It will be obvious to all religious people in the modern world – of public of China to the Middle East and from the United States of America to
whatever faith system – that any religious belief is now rigorously Africa. The author applies his extraordinary gifts as a narrator, vividly cap-
questioned. In modern literature – fact or fiction – religion is in the turing the lives of ordinary people as they struggle to live, to fight and to do
dock. the right thing: most of his characters manage none of these. In a string of
short stories we follow a British family in the Far East who travel alone, and
Patricia Hampl, from St. Paul, Minnesota wrote Virgin Time: In collide with the ruthless side of the country, slowly becoming complicit in
search of the contemplative life, and more recently (Granta 87 its appalling violence. Another narrative describes an oil worker in a dusty
Autumn 2004) produced a remarkable essay entitled Pilgrim. Hampl Central Asian village who knows that he can control a local beauty. A fur-
had been to Israel as part of a ‘friendship mission’ and the tour in- ther account presents a ploddingly respectable London lawyer who chances
cluded places like the historic fortress of Masada, the famed literary upon a stash of cocaine and discover that it offers him the wealth and status
caves of Qumran, East Jerusalem, Caesarea and many other sites. he is longing for. In the American Midwest we have a narrative of a devoted
Just one incident in the tour of the ‘friendship mission’ affected her. housewife who finds herself strangely compelled to betray her husband and
She had been a little dehydrated and two female members of the family.
‘mission’ who were not believers instructed her to keep drinking
Sprite from a can. Patricia Hampl drank the Sprite and then, feeling Matthew Kneale transports all readers across many frontiers in an in-
the grainy champagne of this fizzy drink, she felt it spark through stant, setting the foreign and the familiar side by side and challenging
her. From that moment on she suddenly knew that she was not dying. our understanding of both. This collection gains momentum until the
The ladies were firm in response: "They had attested stoutly to their world seems to be unravelled to us in a new way.
atheism as to a matter of basic hygiene. Culture – yes, they had said. The beautifully crafted short story entitled White is under twenty pages
But religion? – A ruinous mixture of nonsense and trouble. Evil, one in length. It is concerned with a suicide activist; out to destroy others and
had said." In the Concise Oxford Dictionary there are at least five willing to annihilate himself as a martyr. The main character is called Yu-
definitions of the word ‘religion.’ Hampl was trained through years nis. He carries the title of the tenth Surah of the Qur’an because he is
of Roman Catholic schooling and surely knew what ‘religion’ is, but named after the biblical character Jonah, who is known as dhu al-Noon,
defining the word in modern times has become a much greater ‘Lord of the fish’. Perhaps we are looking at one who is lost in a belly of
problem for any believer of any kind anywhere. darkness. Yunis will at first be confident as the story opens, then lacking
sufficient conviction as the narrative moves forward, but ultimately he is
The reshuffling of letters from a single word or a sentence, which lost as the tale shifts to its conclusion. Yunis has certainly worked with the
we call an anagram, has often successfully produced marvellous Qur’an, though perhaps he does not embrace it properly as a religious text,
puzzles and games. One approved choice has always been the ad- but as a repetitive score for brainwashing. In his approaching end as a sui-
aptation of "total abstainers" to "sit not at ale bars." In October cide bomber Yunis felt geared up and serene: ‘Today all would be perfect:
2005, Richard Dawkins, who is professor of the public under- today God would lead him forward to make everything white.’ But, in a
standing of Science at Oxford University, created his own anagram, hasty change through only a few pages of uncertainty and anxiety, his
which is likely to survive everlastingly! "Gerin Oil (or Geriniol to confidence has vanished: ‘Was this what God wanted, that he should
give it its scientific name) is a powerful drug which acts directly on make these ones white?’ There are no essential geographical, theological
the central nervous system to produce a range of characteristic symp- or emotional boundaries in this kind of storytelling, though those who in-
toms, often of an antisocial or self damaging nature. If administered fluence Yunis most do tell him that by suicide bombing he is doing ‘some-
chronically in child hood, Gerin oil can permanently modify the thing beautiful’ that will ‘make history.’ The pain of loneliness haunts Yu-
brain to produce adult disorders, including dangerous delusions nis. So does the mesmerising vision of his much-loved Jewish girlfriend
which have proved very hard to treat." Rachel, with the more compassionate remembrance of his dyspeptic uncle
Ibrahim. Hurtful thoughts weigh him down and Yunis questions if he is
Dawkins explains that Geriniol is readily obtainable anywhere in even in the hands of God. Yunis has no peace. Accompanying an or-
the world. A prescription is not needed. It is traded on the streets and thodox Jew on a bus to Tel Avis, Yunis thought, ‘I can make you white.’
in purpose-built structures. The distributors occupy influential posi- But he was already threatened inwardly concerning the absurdity of sui-
tions and have the attention of presidents and prime ministers. cide bombing. Could he even think of Paradise? Did God want life, not
Geriniol has tax-exempt status. Schools using the drug are subsidised and Professor Richard Dawkins may not be the most popular person amongst peo- death?
children are often hooked on the substance, with a harmful prognosis for ple of ‘religion’ but he certainly knows about the tragedies that affect the re- Readers must read the story and should not be told the ending. White is
their adult minds. Dawkins reported that he was prompted to write his ar- ligious. the kind of story which can affect us most of all.
ticle because of the smiling face of a man in Bali, who ecstatically greeted Fiction too can express the same tragedy of Geriniol. Matthew Kneale’s fine
the news of his execution in court because he had murdered large numbers collection of short stories, "Small Crimes in an Age of Abundance" (Picador, The Revd. Dr. John H. Watson is an Anglican priest who has been writing the
of innocent holidaymakers. The drugged man punched the air, ‘delirious London 2005) takes us on a journey around today’s uncertain world. The narra- fortnightly Coptophile Column for Watani International since 2002. He is the
with joy’ when he knew that he was about to become a Geriniol ‘martyr’. tion moves from the United Kingdom to South America, from the Peoples Re- author of several books including Among the Copts (2000), Christians Ob-
served (2004), and Listening to Islam (2005).
The Muslim Brothers on Fourth
citizenship concepts
Forum Uphill
The ‘citizenship’ of Arabic
whim Reform road
George Riad
at the Saadawi, who received terrorism, he said.
death threats for her liber- Mr Khazen stressed the importance
Despite glowing declarations by leading al books and articles on of development in the Arab region,
figures of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) on citizenship
rights and equality, the movements’ actual stances yield
Bibliotheca women’s rights. Saadawi mentioning that there were two bil-
recently left Egypt for the lion people who had no sewerage ser-
negative indications. United States as a visiting vice while 1.2 billion did not have
Unethical rights Alexandrina professor at the University
of Michigan.
clean drinking water.
Mohamed Fayeq, secretary-general
In the recent parliamentary discussions on Constitutional Osama Ghazali Harb, a of the Arab organisation for human
amendments, MB representatives strongly opposed incl- member of the national rights, referred to the problem of inc-
uding the concept of citizenship in the Constitution, des- council for human rights, reasing corruption in Arab states and
cribing it as a bizarre, heretic notion. MP Ragab Abu-Zeid said that using media said that—along with poverty—it
said "the concept of citizenship was coined in the West; it technology and satellite was one of the major obstacles in the
implies separation of religion and State [an anathema for Nevine Kameel broadcasting to exhibit way of development. Fayek said that,
the MB]. The political climate in Egypt cannot acc- women as sexual objects across the world, 850 million people
ommodate this." MP Hamdi Hassan, the MB spokesman in The Fourth Forum of fostered harassment were starving and another two billion
Parliament, said the term ‘citizenship’ was ambiguous and Arab Reform at the against them. are suffering from malnutrition. "The
elastic, and was rejected by the MB. The MB, he said, Bibliotheca Alex- cost of education in the countries of
believed the aim to insert a ‘citizenship’ clause in the Con- andrina was attended Right to decent life Third World is $6 billion, while
stitution was to counter the Second Article which stipulates by more than 700 in- On the second day, Mar- cosmetics in the US cost $8 billion,"
that Egypt is a Muslim State and that Islamic shari’a or tellectuals, writers and ianne Mishreqi spoke Mr Fayeq pointed out.
jurisdiction is the main source of legislation. The concept of politicians from 18 about the importance of
citizenship, he said, involved ‘unethical’ rights. Arab nations as well as the right of poor people to Honours
representatives of sev- lead a decent life. She sug- In the closing session names of the
Contradictory eral organisations. gested, for instance, that winners were announced of the prize
Based upon MB declarations, one can claim no under- The forum, which was the less well-off should in the name of Dr Adel Abu-Zahra.
standing of the movement’s real intentions. Their recent opened by the library’s have an equal opportunity of acquiring The environment Prize went to the
announcements about establishing a political party based director, Dr Ismail Serageddin, ad- The second sex loans. Development Association in the vil-
upon citizenship rights and allowing Coptic membership dressed the vital issues of human The liveliest session of the three- During the session of human lage of Gharabawi, the empowerment
are still fresh in mind. Prominent MB leader Essam al- rights, the status of women, and de- day conference was the one which rights and development, Gehad al- for women’s prize to the Future As-
Erian said the MB did not reject citizenship and did not velopment. discussed "Violence against women". Khazen, editor-in-chief of Al-Hayat sociation for Development, and the
object to its inclusion in the Constitution. He suggested a Dr Serageddin said that the liber- Gaber Asfour said women faced dis- newspaper, warned of the gravity of prize for creativity to the Gudran
draft of the First Article to read: "Egypt is a democratic alisation of individuals led to the crimination on political, religious, religious war in the Arab region. He (Walls) Institution for Arts and De-
country with equal opportunity, rights and duties for all, freedom of society as a whole. In oth- cultural, and educational levels. The feared civil war between the Shiias velopment in Alexandria. The Coptic
insuring freedom, justice and dignity". Erian thus directly er words, society could never be intellectual and politician Mona Mak- and Sunnis in Iraq, and added that it Evangelical Association for social
contradicted Hassan. strong unless its members were in ram Ebeid said that the moral vi- was easy to defend Islam, but not services in Cairo won the prize of
The MB should figure out a way to clear up such contra- control of their due rights and free- olence women faced was in no way through posters issued by Muslims free expression, and the special prize
dictions. Otherwise, one is bound to look for an explanation dom. The Arab world, Dr Serageddin less cruel than physical violence. Dr in some European countries which went to Tamer Bahaa’eddin Anis,
based upon past experience, which in no way supports added, tended to reject plurality in Ebeid referred to Egyptian feminist, used the motto "Kill Islam’s en- founder of the first civil association
equality or citizenship concepts. politics, opinion and religion. physician and writer Nawal al- emy". This gave an indication of for deaf-mute people.
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4 Watani International 18 March 2007
Pope Shenouda III
Young at 70
Spiritual
Ministry & the As Egypt celebrates Mother’s day
next Wednesday, Watani celebrates by
Spiritual sharing time with some wonderful
Minister (3) mothers and grandmothers—and why
not fathers and grandfathers too?
Translated by: Dr Wedad Abbas
Contemplation on (Jn17); the soliloquy be- The example of David the Prophet and
tween the Lord Christ and God the Father: He Goliath the Valiant:
said to he Father, "I have glorified You on the Everybody was speaking about the man who
earth… had come up, his huge body, his power, his
"I have finished the work which You giv- weapon, his threats, the fear of the army from
en Me to do" him, and the king promised reward reward for
The Lord Christ glorified the Father, not whoever kills him (1 Sam17: 25). No one men-
by words but by work. tioned God! But young David came and man-
He gave us an example of glorifying by ifested God’s name to the people and to Go-
work, not by tongue. He repeatedly said, liath in a way full of faith. David said, "Who is
"My food is to do the will of Him who this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should
sent Me, and to finish His work." (Jn4: 34; defy the armies of the living God?" (1Sam17:
6: 38: 17: 4). 26, 36) And when king Saul tried to warn him
He did not say I have done it, but He said that it was difficult because he was a youth and
"I have finished it": he a man of war from his youth, David told
This shows that He did it perfectly; for He him how God helped him when a lion and a
was perfect in fulfilling the Father’s will, and bear attacked him while keeping the sheep.
in revealing to the people the Father’s will. Then he said to Saul, the Lord who delivered Scene from
So, on the cross, having completed the Re- me from the paw of the lion and…of the bear,
demption, He said, "It is finished". the play of
He will deliver me…" So, he drew near to the
Can you as well say the same to the Lord Philistine and said, "You come to me with a the elderly
as the Lord said it to the Father? Probably sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I
you mean: come to you in the name of the Lord of
You, O Lord, have started the work with hosts…This day the Lord will deliver you into
Your grace, and I only finished it. my hand…that all the earth may know that Every couple of weeks, the older members of the congregation of Mary Mansour should turn off their mobile phones so as not to interrupt the meet-
With my knowledge I can do nothing; for there is a God in Israel…Then all this assembly St George’s Church in Heliopolis gather together for a prayer ing, when suddenly his own cell phone rang loudly. He quickly
you have said, "Without Me you can do noth- shall know that the Lord doe not save with meeting—named after St Joseph who, according to tradition, was turned it off in embarrassment, and everyone laughed. He also told
ing." (Jn15: 5) And as Your apostle said, "For sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord’s, himself an old man—presided over by Father Sergious Sergious. of the time when they went to the beach and one old lady took off her shoes
it is God who works in you both to will and and He will give you into our hands." and waded into the water. She apparently enjoyed it so much that she got
to do for His good pleasure." (Phil2: 13) It is Because the name of the Lord is im- Unusual idea very wet and lost her shoes. Luckily, someone had an extra jacket for her
You, Lord, who paid for this work, and I fin- portant, we put it in the beginning of the re- The group sessions were founded by Father Sergious’ late wife, Mrs and she did not catch cold.
ished it also by you. quests in the Lord’s Prayer. "Hallowed be
Or rather, it is You, O Lord, who fin- Your name".
Minervat, who used to arrange for young people to give parties to entertain
ished this work by Yourself and ascribed it We can reveal its holiness by manifesting to the elderly. Just before one such party the young people cancelled at the last Much effort
to me, out of Your humbleness. the people His greatness and sublimity, His minute, and it was then that Mrs Minervat suggested that the seniors them- Then it was time for the play. The audience kept silent when the per-
You always do this. You gave us the law eternity and unlimitedness, His holiness, per- selves arrange an evening of entertainment. At the time it seemed an unusual formance started, appreciating how much effort their colleagues had put into
and the commandments, but you called it "the fection, and omnipotence, His wonders and idea, and the elderly were rather shy and diffident at the thought of acting, it. The play was about Simon, who was one of the 70 Jewish scholars who
law of Moses" (Jn7: 23) You said, "Moses miracles, His love and His care for us. We sing singing or performing. But they apparently liked the idea and quickly inter- are said to have translated the Torah from Hebrew into Greek in Alexandria
command to give a certificate of divorce," to Him, saying: acted, learnt to work as a team, and embarked on their training. One of them in the second century BC, during the Ptolemaic era. Tradition has it that
"Moses, because of the hardness of your Sweet and blessed is Your name, on the wrote a script for a play, and they all joined in with enthusiasm. Simon lived on to a ripe old age until he witnessed the Baby Jesus being
hearts, permitted you to divorce…" (Mt19: 7, mouths of Your saints. The meetings were suspended when Mrs Minervat died, but resumed taken into the temple by Mary and Joseph. The most moving part in the play
8) Actually it is you, O Lord, who com- Beloved is Your name; it is my meditation
manded and permitted, but you ascribed it to all day long, as the Psalmist says (Ps119).
shortly afterwards under the supervision of Father Sergious. He stressed was when Simon recited the well-known verse: "Lord, now lettest thou thy
Moses! It is the same when You permit that a However, you should not only manifest His that a life of thanksgiving and faith was greatly related to happiness, con- servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy
miracle be worked by one of Your martyrs or name to the people, but manifest it in such a tentment and peace, and was the only cure for depression. He added that an salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. A light to
saints, so that people may love him while the way that they may love Him, follow His old person had to thank God for the long and fruitful life He had given him lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel."
power with which he did it is Yours. Perhaps ways and keep His commandments. to glorify His name. Mr Sorour Hanna, who played the role of Simon, told Watani that he
I may say: So the Lord said in His soliloquy, "…and loved acting and that his wife, children and grandchildren, as well as Father
The work which You gave me to do, I they have kept Your word," "I have declared to Spontaneity Sergious, encouraged him a lot.
did take part with You in finishing it. them Your name, and will declare it, that the
I have communion with the Holy Spirit love with which You loved Me may be in
I had the pleasure of attending one of St Joseph’s prayer meetings. Mrs
who works within me, through me, and with them, and I in them." (Jn17: 6, 26). Zeizaf, the oldest member of the group, took the stage to give the opening Invigorating
me, as St. Paul said about himself and Apol- Whom You have given Me. Who are address. Mrs Zeizaf, who walks with a stick, suddenly exclaimed: "Do I have "I am extremely happy since this is the first time I have ever acted," Mrs
los, "we are God’s fellow workers," "I plant- those? to remain standing during my speech?" So Father Sergious rushed to offer Margaret, who played the role of Simon’s friend, said. Her husband, Mr
ed, Apollos watered, but God gave the in- Anybody that You brought into My way, that her a chair, telling the audience how grateful everyone was to have her back Helmi, who played a Roman soldier, said that he forgot a few lines during
crease." (1Cor3: 6-9) If this is the case of You let Me meet with, or let him come to Me, with them after a bout of serious illness. "Her presence with us today is the performance, but the audience’s encouragement gave him the push to
such two great saints, how much rather we not only the twelve, my own whom I loved to almost a miracle," he said. Mrs Zeizaf was happy and said proudly, "This focus and continue.
should say? the end, but also the multitude on the mount, meeting makes me feel 20 years younger." She talked of her happiness when Father Sergious encourages the old people not only to take part in the
The work You have finished, and I was a the crowd, Zacchaeus the tax-collector who they all gathered for breakfast after Holy Mass. Everyone clapped so hard activities but also to continue learning. He encouraged Mr Said Rawi to gain
mere tool in Your hand. climbed up the tree (Lk19: 4), Nicodemus who
Indeed, not unto us, O Lord, but Your name was afraid of the Jews (Jn3: 1, 2), and Martha
when she finished that she said, beaming, "Shall I say it over again?" degrees in theology and Coptic language from the Coptic Clerical College.
give glory (Ps115: 1)! Who am I to say that I who was worried about many things while one A huge cake was brought in to celebrate the birthdays of those who were I left the party feeling happy, invigorated, and deeply moved. In Egypt,
have finished any work? It is You who begin thing only in need (Lk10: 41). born that month, and everyone sang "Happy birthday to you". such elderly people who are no longer able to work are usually swept to one
and who finish; who give the desire, the will, It is a lesson to every minister: to manifest Mr Sorour, one of the group members, then presented the latest news. He side. They frequently succumb to loneliness, a sure formula for more illness
and the power. You take part with Your ser- name of the Lord to the people, to every- listed their parties and picnics, and spoke of amusing situations they had and disability. St Joseph’s has succeeded in providing them with a warm
vants in every good work. body: found themselves in, like the time Father Sergious demanded that everyone communal life that props up their spirits and enlivens their days.
The words of the Lord reveal full hon- To everybody, not only in Jerusalem and in
esty in work and in life.. Judea, but also in Samaria and to the end of the
But what is the work which God gave us to earth (Acts1: 8), far to Gentiles (Acts22: 21).
Salah Taher (1911 – 2007)
do? Part of it is for ourselves, to sanctify our- "As you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so
selves. The other part is for the others, to lead you must also bear witness in Rome." (23: 11)
them to God. That is why St. Paul said to his But beware
disciple Timothy: Lest your works make people blaspheme
"Take heed to yourself and to the doc- against the good name which you manifest
trine. Continue in them, for in doing this to them, as St. Paul rebuked the Romans
you will save both yourself and those who (Rom2: 24). You should manifest God’s name
hear you." (1Tim4: 16) by your life, not by mere words for people will
So, God gave you: yourself and the doc- not be impressed by words not supported by a
trine, and He wants you to be honest re- life attached to God. As St. John says, "In this
garding both responsibilities. the children of God and the children of the dev-
Perfection in all responsibilities: il are manifest." (1Jn3: 10). Now let me ask
Perfection in the ministry as well. you frankly:
Have you finished all your responsibilities How many people got to know God’s
towards your family, your studies, your work, name through you?
and your social and personal duties, and at the What is your harvest of those who knew
same time you have not forgotten your spir- God’s name through you and whom you led to
itual practices and your attachment to God? Him, who remember their meeting with you
Take for example Joseph the Righteous. and remember God’s name that was the subject
He was watchful over himself, keen on of the meeting—especially those who had no
keeping himself chaste, so he said, "How then attachment to God before, who have not set
can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God before them (Ps54)? See also what the
God?" (Gen39: 9) Also towards the others, he Lord said:
was perfect, and he was a means of life to "I kept them in Your name. Those whom
everybody in his epoch. The work which God You gave Me I have kept; and none of them
Timeless
gave him was to be minister of provisions and is lost." (Jn17: 12).
sent to him preserve life (Gen45: 5). He also So, you ought, not only to manifest God’s
was perfect in his work in the house of Pot- name to the people, but also to keep them in
iphar, and the Lord made all he did to prosper His name; that is, to watch God’s work in their
in his hand (Gen39: 3), and the same hap- life so that the love with which He loved you
pened when he was in prison. The Psalmist may be in them, and that no one may perish.
therefore said about the righteous that "what- "Holy Father, keep through Your name those
ever he does shall prosper." (Ps1: 3) But mere whom You have given Me." (Jn17: 11)
creation
success in life is not enough, for perfection is Let them not fall away from that name. So
required in every work. also the Lord said about His sheep, "I give
Have you done perfectly your duty, them eternal life, and they shall never perish,
whether social or spiritual, towards your neither shall anyone snatch them out of My
family? hand…no one is able to snatch them out of My
What about God’s commandments which Father’s hand." (Jn10: 28, 29).
He requires you to talk of them when you sit Do you do that for those whom the Lord has
in your house and when you walk, and to given you? Do you pray for them and offer
teach them diligently to your children (Deut6: burnt offerings on their behalf as Job the right-
7)? See what the Lord said: eous used to do for his children (Job1: 5)? Wagdy Habashy
I have manifested Your name: Brother, do this and you will live.
I have manifested it to those you have giv- Those whom the Lord gave you are His
en Me…They were Yours, You gave them own children. In contemplating the life of an artist, one looks
to Me, and they have kept Your word (Jn17: The Lord said, "They were Yours, You gave for the prints he or she has left on the nation’s his-
6). Yea, how often did the Lord speak to them to Me, and they have kept Your word." tory and the satisfaction and pleasure his art gave.
them about the heavenly Father, His care, (Jn17: 6) As for you, keep the gift; they are Works of art, critical articles and art books are such as the academic, impressionist, and roman- 20th-century contemporary abstract school. He
and His love! His, and they are entrusted to you. Keep them spoken registers through which the observer can tic, yet presenting his subjects as coherent groups. was also one of the few who specialised in the art
Have you, likewise, manifested His name in His name. But who are they? They are not Appointed a professor of higher studies at the of portrait painting with its distinguished, multi-
to the people? learn about his art, his life, the environment in
only your household: School of Fine Arts, he became head of the Luxor vision style.
I fear you sometimes feel ashamed of the He gave you friends, colleagues, ac- which he grew up, and reflect the artist’s ability to
reconcile to the sufferings of life. Atelier in 1944. In 1953 he returned to Cairo to In the United States, Taher saw contemporary
mention of His name and hide yourself. See quaintances, neighbors, and many others.
how David the Prophet took pride in the Salah Taher (1911 – 2007) graduated from Cai- direct the Museum of Modern Art. art and tried his best to keep up with scientific and
Are you ashamed to mention the Lord’s
Lord, saying, "I will speak of Your tes- name to them? Do you think His name will an- ro’s School of Fine Arts in 1934. From then on, In 1959 he was appointed personal assistant to technological development. He believed that art
timonies also before kings," (Ps119: 46) "I noy those who like to lead a life of amusement never ceased painting or creating. His work be- the Minister of Culture, and in 1961 as a manager could not be isolated from material or emotional
will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul and pleasure? Nay, it will awaken them. came well known in the 1930s and remained pop- to the General Administration of Fine Arts. He reality. His unique paintings are distinguished by
shall be satisfied as with marrow and fat- You have only to sow the seed on al types of ular; and his personality, his quiet, simple smile, later became president of the Cairo Opera House. their magnificent lines and creative colours, and
ness." (Ps63: 4, 5). land: that with thorns, or which has no depth his patience and love of art always shone through. Taher was an artistic adviser at Al-Ahram from express various subjects inspired from an archi-
Your name, O Lord, is my sweet song and (Mt13). Who knows? Perhaps the seed falls on 1966 until his death. In 1984 he headed the
the focus of my talk with the others. I find tectural heritage. His own philosophy is apparent
good land and it will give fruit. Put before you Society of Lovers of Fine Arts. In 1998 Yasser
pleasure in speaking to them about You. the words of the Lord: "I have declared to them Teacher Saif established an NGO, Society of the Lovers of
from his library, which contains books in various
Beloved is Your name, wherever I go I Your name, and will declare it, that the love Taher started out as an art teacher at the Ab- fields: literature, art, astronomy, music, medicine
mention it, because I love You and I love basiya School in Alexandria, where he met and Salah Taher, which lists his works in order to and yoga, which he practiced. All those interests
with which You loved Me may be in them, and I
them, so I want them to love You. Many peo- in them." May the Lord be with you, with your mingled with other artists of the Alexandria protect them against loss or plagiarism. were brought within his range as an artist and a
ple, when meeting, speak on various subjects, words, your ministry, and with the seeds you school. There he held the second of his exhibi- personality, in his speech, in his lectures and in
and only remember God when they are facing sow. May you hear Him say to you, "Blessed tions, a major step forward. His style was ver- Not isolated his art. Taher’s wife Aida was a sculptor, and his
some problems so that God may solve them. shall be the produce of your ground (Deut28: 4). satile; he moved between different artistic schools Salah Taher was a leading member of Egypt’s only son Ayman Taher is also an artist.
18 March 2007
$
Watani International 3
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Watani Francophone 18 Mars 2007
6
La mère pharaonique sur
les pages de l'histoire
Marco Naguib
que la barque qui les em-
"
Elle est ta maman qui a menait -elle et sa famille -
puisse rester équilibrée.
pris en charge ta re- De même, la littérature des
sponsabilité toute seule sans pharaons incarnait l'image de
moi et quand elle t'a fait join- la relation forte qui liait la
dre l'école où tu a appris l'éc- mère et son fils. Il y avait tant
riture, elle se rendait à l'école d'histoires laissées par la
régulièrement en t'emmenant neuvième famille des ra-
le pain quotidien. Quand tu messides, parmi ces histoires
grandiras et deviendras père il y en avait celle qui abordait
de famille, souviens-toi tou- la vie d'un enfant Horus et
jours tout ce que ta mère a fait l'intention d'une mère qui
pour toi " .
C'est par ces paroles que le
éduquait son enfant une
bonne éducation. L'histoire
Hommage à Maman
père pharaonique conseillait à parlait d'un enfant nommé
Maman!
son fils de se rappeler du rôle Horus qui a été vaincu par la
de sa mère au cours de sa pauvreté et la maladie à la
formation et de tout ce qu'elle suite d'un problème commis
lui a fourni de joie et de sé- par son frère. L'épouse de ce
rénité. C'est ainsi que la mère frère prenait en charge C'est avec beaucoup de tendresse et d'émotion que je te rends cet hom-
pharaonique a occupé une d'éduquer le petit, le joint à mage.
place importante dans les an- une école où il apprenait l'éc- Merci de m'avoir donné ton cœur, ta beauté, ton temps, tu sais maman
ciennes époques riture et toutes les techniques que même si j'ai grandi j'ai toujours besoin de ton amour, de ta tendresse,
La maternité était enracinée de guerre. de tes bras, de ta voix.
dans le coeur de l'Ancien Parmi les images qui in- Que de sacrifices dans ton cœur, que d'efforts, que de travail et que
Egyptien depuis les premiers carnent la place importante d'amour. Le Bon Dieu est certes au courant de ton immense dévouement.
temps qui nous ont aidé à dé- de la femme pharaonique: le jamais je ne t'ai vue te plaindre. Pour toi maintenant c'est le repos bien
couvrir quelques déesses ca- roi Ahmosis, qui avait chassé mérité. Maintenant, tu dois être l'invitée d'honneur au banquet de l'Eter-
ractérisées par les qualités les Hiksos, décrivait sa mère nité. Là-haut tu dois être comblée, choyée, tu dois être couverte de douceur
des mères à l'instar de : Ha- comme étant un " Rakett et papa et tous ceux qui t'ont précédé doivent être de la partie pour par-
thor, déesse de maternité et Katt" ce qui signifie la mère tager avec toi ce juste retour de tes bontés.
de soin, concrétisée sous indulgente, et qui souligne Maman ! Tu étais chère et Tu occupais une grande place dans mon
forme d'une vache " symbole l'effet important des in- cœur. Tu étais force de vie malgré ton chagrin et ta grande solitude par-
de tendresse ". Cette déesse structions et des conseils ma- fois.
a allaité le dieu Horus au bord Hathor déesse de maternité et de soin ternels tout au long de sa Tu as fermé les yeux Maman, pour toujours. Mon cœur et mon esprit se
du Nil quand il était enfant. vie.. dressent vers le ciel pour t'offrir un bouquet de roses éternelles.
La maternité qui s'incarnait Il faut noter que la mère Par tes mains tu m'as appris ce qu'était le travail. Par tes mains j'ai
de cette façon dans cette société des dieux imaginée par l'Ancien Egyp- pharaonique était trop mure et indulgente ce qui la poussait à accorder compris aussi que l'on pouvait semer la joie en aimant travailler. Tu ne
tien, s'incarne alors beaucoup plus fortement dans ce monde matériel une grande attention à sa fille exactement pareille à celle accordée au cessais de dire combien c'était important pour toi de nous montrer que le
contrôlé par les liens familiaux et sociaux. garçon car elle avait la conviction que cette fille sera une future mère. travail ne tue pas.
La famille pharaonique égyptienne était cohérente et stable, les statues Les pères pharaoniques incitaient leurs fils à renouveler le J'ai appris de toi tout ce qu'une bonne personne et mère doit savoir pour
les témoignaient, le père et la mère apparaissaient ensemble dans une mémorandum de leurs mères. Les anciens textes soulignaient la être appréciée. J'ai appris à faire tant de choses comme tu pouvais si bien
cérémonie, restant sur une même chaise large et autour d'eux, les en- gratitude des enfants envers leurs parents. me le dire : " Quand tu fais quelque chose, fais-le bien et met beaucoup
fants se réunissaient restant sur des chaises basses ou s'agenouillaient Le sage "Any" conseillait son fils "Khonsouhotep" au temps de la Dy- d'amour dans ce que tu entreprends. "
sur la terre. nastie pharaonique moderne en lui disant: "approche l'eau à ta mère qui Maman, je ne t'oublierai jamais, tu restes dans mon coeur. Le jour de ta
Les relations familiales apparaissaient aussi dans les places calmes et vivait dans le désert de Gabbana et n'oublie jamais d'assumer ce de-
fête, mon cœur et mon esprit se dressent vers le ciel pour t'offrir un bou-
vides, si le père de famille voulait s'amuser par la pêche dans le Nil, il ne voir".
quet de roses éternelles.
s'emparait jamais de ce plaisir seul, il prenait son fils avec lui pour lui De tout ce qui précède, nous pouvons concevoir à quel point la mère
porter son chasse et y participait. Son épouse le soutenait de derrière, pharaonique était digne d'être toujours mentionnée dans les manuscrits Laura Hakim
sa fille s'agenouillait pour tenir les branches de papyrus ou de lotus pour de l'histoire des Anciens Egyptiens.
Fêter la Francophonie
A l'occasion de la Journée internationale de
la Francophonie, le quartette français
montluçonnais Kaolin, avec son nom d'argile
agenda se produira le 20 mars, à 20h30 au centre
Saqqiet Al Sawi et le 21 mars, à 19h au
Centre culturel jésuite d'Alexandrie.
Conférence
" Pratiques funéraires en Egypte gréco-romaine : l'ex-
ploration des nécropoles de l'oasis de Kharga " est le titre Névine Lameï
de la conférence qui sera donnée par Françoise Dumand,
professeur émérite d'Histoire des religions à l'Université
de Strasbourg et Directrice des fouilles d'El Deir (oasis de
Kharga). La conférence sera donnée en traduction si-
D ans le cadre du programme " Génération
musiques ", le Centre français de culture et de
multanée français-arabe. Le 21 mars, à 18h30, à l'auditor-
coopération, Mounira, avec le soutien de " Cul-
ium du CFCC, Mounira. tures France "- ministère des Affaires étrangères
, en partenariat avec le Centre Saqqiet Al Sawi
Cinéma au Caire et le Centre culturel jésuite d'Alex-
" Le lait de la tendresse humaine ", une comédie dramatique andrie, propose pour la Journée internationale de
française de Dominique Cabera, avec Marilyne Canto, Dom- la Francophonie, une festivité musicale, avec le
inique Blanc et Patrick Bruel. Il s'agit d'un film qui relate l'his- groupe français " Kaolin ". le groupe Kaolin avec
toire de Christelle qui a trente ans et qui travaille dans la ré- son nom d'argile, est composé d'un quatuor mu-
gion de Besançon. Elle vient de sical: Guillaume Cantillon (Chant et basse), Lud-
donner naissance à une fille, Cendrine, wig Martins dit Lulu et Julien Cantillon (guitare et
après avoir eu deux fils, Rémi et Céd- chant) et Olivier Valty. Le groupe Kaolin se dis-
ric. Christelle ne parvient pas à faire tingue par un style de musique à mi-chemin entre
face à ce que cette naissance suppose le rock et la pop et par la qualité poétique de ses "Francophonie et Francophilie".
comme changements dans sa vie. Elle textes. Créé à la fin des années 90, le groupe Dans le cadre de la Journée internationale de la Francophonie qui "ne peut se limiter au seul
Kaolin, aux influences musicales diverses mais champ linguistique, elle investit tous les domaines qu'ils soient économiques, scientifiques, culturels,
s'enfuit de chez elle. C'est la voisine du
aux textes résolument attachés à leur langue ma- voire politiques et rejoint par là même la Francophilie. Celle-ci témoigne avant tout d'une volonté de
dessus, Claire, une bibliothécaire, qui promouvoir le dialogue entre les cultures, les civilisations et les sociétés", le Centre français de cul-
ternelle, s'est fait connaître du grand public en
la recueille. Celle-ci prend soin de ture et de coopération à Héliopolis, propose la projection du film Madame brouette du Sénégalais
assurant les premières parties de Dolly, Sté-
Christelle, l'écoute. Sa vie en sera bou- Moussa Sene Absa ( Version originale sous-titrée en français). Il relate le portrait haut en couleurs
réophoniques et de Jean-Louis Murat ainsi que
leversée. Le film sera sous-titré en arabe. Le 21 mars, à par un passage très remarqué aux " Trans- d'une jeune femme dans un quartier populaire de Dakar qui cherche chaque jour à assurer sa survie
20h30, à l'auditorium du CFCC, Mounira. musicales " de Rennes en 2002. et celle de sa famille toujours avec une généreuse gaieté et bonne humeur. Le 20 mars à 19 h.
Originaires de Montluçon, le groupe Kaolin
Films d'animation reste attaché à leur Auvergne natale et continu-
Dans le cadre du cycle "Courts de Récré", une série de ent de répéter dans cette ville. Kaolin a réussi, donc évident que le groupe Kaolin choisit comme dans ses clips.
films d'animation seront projetés le 18 mars, au Centre par excellence, à conquérir beaucoup d'oreilles pour l'un de ses albums, le titre de Mélanger les Ce groupe, tout au long de sa jeune carrière, a
français de culture et de coopération, Mounira. Les films citadines, précisément à Auvergne, ravies de couleurs, lancé sur marché en 2006. Sans oub- eu la chance de collaborer avec les Valentins
seront Le manie-tout de Georges Le Piouffle, Poteline de pouvoir s'ouvrir à un genre nouveau : bien plus lier ses deux autres albums: Allez (2002 - Rose- d'Edith Fambuena, Paul Corkett (The Cure, Pla-
Chloé Miller, Fond de teint de Marie-Louise Mendy et Ma- que du post-rock. Ce groupe plane au-dessus de bud Barclay) et De retour dans nos criques (2004 cebo) et Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev, The
rottes de Benoît Razy et Les crayons de Didier Barcelo (le la mêlée des autres groupes français, étant don- - Rosebud Barclay), au titre "bucolique". Les pa- Flaming Lips).
11 mars). Ce dernier film traite d'une jolie petite fille amou- né qu'il possède un style qui peut s'apparenter roles des chansons du groupe Kazolin peuvent Lors de deux soirées consécutives au Caire et
reuse d'un garçon écrit dans son journal intime. Elle utilise tantôt au post-rock le plus atmosphérique, tantôt paraître idéalistes, mais sont d'une grande poé- à Alexandrie, tout amateur de rock français sera
des crayons à dessin. Les objets peuvent-ils ressentir des à un power pop rageux, mais dans tous les cas sie, d'un rare esthétisme et avec toujours une réjouit des plus belles chansons du groupe Kao-
émotions? Il semblait que oui…".A 18h30. avec un sens de la mélodie qui les préserve de part de rêve. Son approche esthétique de la mu- lin qui a choisi des mélodies qui s'écoutent au
toute étiquette simpliste et réductrice. Il était sique se répercute sur ses pochettes d'albums et grand air.
"