"
Cartouche Dimanche
Equipe de rédaction:
Abdel Massih Felli
Dalia Victor er
1 Avril 2007
Michael Victor
Névine Lameï 23 Baramhat 1723
Caroline Onsy, Nermine Onsy Rédacteur en chef Directrice de rédaction 13 Rabie El-Aoual 1428
Mise en page: Youssef Sidhom Laura Hakim 1ère ANNEE
Héba Adel NUMERO 48
Révision:
Rafik Baracat
Le 19ème Sommet arabe en Arabie saoudite
Relancer le processus
de paix et l'Union
douanière au menu
L e 19ème sommet arabe s'est ouvert le 28
Abdel Massih Felli d'un Etat palestinien. En réponse, dans leur déc-
laration finale, les dirigeants arabes invitent tous
mars dernier à Riyad en Arabie saoudite, où les dirigeants des les Israéliens à leur initiative et à saisir cette chance pour rep-
pays arabes se sont efforcés à prendre une position commune rendre un processus de négociations direct et sérieux à tous les
sur les questions régionales, notamment la relance du pro- niveaux. Cette offre pourrait être la dernière chance pour Israël
cessus de paix au Moyen-Orient. Les chefs d'Etat de 17 sur 22 de vivre dans une "mer de paix" de Nouakchott à Djakarta, a af-
pays membres de la Ligue arabe ont pris part au sommet. Le firmé le président palestinien Mahmoud Abbas, soulignant qu'il Les dirigeants participant au sommet arabe
président soudanais Omar El Béchir, dont le pays a présidé le s'agissait de la plus importante initiative arabe depuis la création pour régler la crise intérieure libanaise mais l'Arabie saoudite n'ont pu trouver de position commune
18ème sommet de la Ligue arabe à Khartoum, a pris la parole de l'Etat juif, en 1948. poursuit néanmoins sa médiation, a déclaré le Premier mini-
lors de la cérémonie d'ouverture. A cette réunion ont assisté L'initiative arabe, à laquelle le Hamas a promis de ne pas s'op- stre libanais Fouad Siniora. Chef d'une coalition majoritaire à Dossiers économiques
aussi le secrétaire général de l'Organisation des Nations unies poser, est l'un des piliers du processus de paix, a déclaré le sec- dominante sunnite soutenue par le gouvernement saoudien, Le sommet de Riyad, n'a pas été exclusivement politique,
Ban Ki-moon, le Haut représentant de l'Union Européenne pour rétaire général de l'ONU, Ban Ki-moon, lors de la séance d'ou- Siniora est contesté par les partis d'opposition chiites et le il a traité aussi d'importants dossiers économiques in-
la politique extérieure Javier Solana, et le président de la Com- verture du sommet de Riyad, qui a duré deux jours, en invitant les courant chrétien du général Michel Aoun qui exigent une mi- téressant l'ensemble des pays arabes. Les dirigeants
mission de l'Union africaine, Alpha Oumar Konaré. leaders arabes à y réaffirmer leur attachement, car la situation est norité de blocage au sein de son gouvernement. arabes ont examiné ainsi un rapport détaillé sur le projet
La Libye a boycotté cette conférence. Selon le ministre libyen dangereuse. Ce bras de fer entre le gouvernement pro-occidental de d'une Union douanière et d'un tribunal des in-
des Affaires étragnères, Abderrahmane Shalgam, le boycott de Ces périls ont été évoqués par le roi Abdallah, qui a invité les Siniora et l'opposition pro-syrienne, dont le président Emile vestissements, dont l'objectif a été de rassurer les hommes
son pays est dû au transfert de la tenue de ce sommet de pays arabes à surmonter leurs différends et à faire preuve d'unité Lahoud et le président chiite du Parlement Nabih Berri sont d'affaires arabes qui investissent dans des pays arabes. La
Charm El-Cheikh en Egypte à Riyad. Le roi Abdallah a ouvert le pour les affronter en Irak, au Liban et en Palestine, où la mon- des alliés, dure depuis plus de quatre mois. Le résultat en création d'une Union douanière arabe a été décidée lors du
sommet arabe en invitant la communauté internationale à lever archie soaudite observe avec inquiétude le développement de est que le Liban est représenté à Riyad par deux déléga- dernier sommet de la Ligue, tenu en mars 2006 à Khar-
le blocus financier injuste frappant les Palestiniens afin de créer l'influence de l'Iran et l'escalade de son bras de fer avec l'Oc- tions, l'une conduite par Siniora et l'autre par Lahoud. La toum, au Soudan. Le Koweït a également proposé de con-
un climat propice au processus de paix. cident. Il a toutefois consacré l'essentiel de son intervention au crise libanaise est à l'ordre du jour du sommet, où l'Arabie voquer un sommet arabe spécial avec un seul point à l'or-
conflit israélo-palestinien, que les Etats arabes sunnites con- saoudite poursuit ses efforts de rapprochement, mais il n'y a dre du jour comment développer les relations économiques
Reformuler la dernière chance sidèrent comme la cause majeure de la montée de l'extrémisme pas d'initiative au sens propre du terme, a déclaré Siniora entre les pays arabes .
Le sommet a reformulé une offre de paix faite il y a cinq ans à dans la région. Les Etats-Unis et Israël avaient à l'époque rejeté dont les propos à Riyad ont été publiés par ses services à Ce point a été adopté par les ministres et a été proposé au
Israël en échange de son retrait des territoires occupés durant la ce plan après son adoption à Beyrouth, les dirigeants israéliens Beyrouth. Sous l'égide de l'Arabie saoudite, Nabih Berri a sommet pour adoption. Le lancement d'un satellite arabe
guerre de 1967, y compris la partie orientale de Jérusalem, mettant notamment en avant la clause appelant à parvenir à une rencontré ce mois-ci à Beyrouth Saad Hariri, chef du groupe d'observation de la Terre, et la création d'une agence chargée
appelée à devenir la capitale du futur Etat palestinien. Ce plan, solution équitable du problème des réfugiés palestiniens, con- parlementaire majoritaire, mais ils ne sont pas parvenus à un de la protection de l'environnement, ont été également ex-
dont le souverain saoudien est l'artisan, avait été rejeté d'em- formément à la résolution 194 de l'Assemblée générale des Na- compromis sur un nouveau gouvernement. Berri refuse en aminés lors de ce sommet. Les 17 pays membres de la Ligue
blée par Israël et méprisé par les Etats-Unis qui, soucieux au- tions unies. Mais la secrétaire d'Etat américaine Condoleezza outre de réunir le Parlement pour ratifier les statuts du tri- ont discuté en outre de l'utilisation de l'énergie nucléaire à des
jourd'hui de relancer le processus de paix dans un Moyen- Rice et le Premier ministre israélien Ehud Olmert se sont montrés bunal international chargé de juger les commanditaires prés- fins pacifiques à travers l'adoption d'une stratégie arabe en la
Orient plus instable que jamais, ont encouragé l'Arabie saoudite récemment plus conciliants dans leurs propos, Israël se disant umés de l'assassinat du père de Hariri, l'ancien Premier mini- matière, d'une stratégie de développement agricole portant
à le remettre sur la table. même prêt à accepter ce plan comme base pour des négocia- stre Rafic Hariri. L'opposition est soupçonnée de vouloir ainsi jusqu'à 2025, de la stratégie arabe des télécommunications et
La secrétaire d'Etat américaine Condoleezza Rice a estimé tions s'il était modifié. éviter une mise en cause de la Syrie. de l'information. D'autre part, le secrétaire général de la Ligue
qu'il faut que les Etats arabes commencent à tendre la main à Le 19ème sommet arabe a des dossiers brûlants tels que arabe, Amr Moussa, a déclaré que le sommet arabe a traité
Israël pour lui assurer que sa place dans la région sera plus, et Crise intérieure libanaise la Palestine, le Liban, l'Irak, mais aussi le Darfour et le Sa- un important document sur le développement de l'en-
non pas moins, sûre après la fin de l'occupation et la création Le sommet arabe de Riyad n'a pas pris aucune initiative hara-Occidental. Jusqu'à présent, tous les sommets arabes seignement et de la recherche scientifique.
Résultats du référendum
Stand français Les réformes constitutionnelles pro-
posées par le président Hosni Moubarak sur les amendements
mis au vote populaire figurait l'interdiction
des activités politiques fondées sur la re-
ont été approuvées par 75,9% des votants ligion, une clause qui vise les Frères mu-
constitutionnels
à l'exposition de la lors du référendum de lundi en Egypte, a
annoncé mardi dernier le ministère de la
Justice, mais la participation n'a été que de 27,1%, selon les chif-
sulmans, principal mouvement d'opposi-
tion, dont la progression aux élections
inquiète le pouvoir en place. Comme tous les autres partis d'op-
Franchise au Caire fres officiels. L'Organisation égyptienne des droits de l'Homme,
un groupe indépendant, a affirmé pour sa part que la participa-
tion avait été seulement de 5 à 9%. Parmi les amendements sou-
position, les Frères musulmans, qui sont en principe interdits
mais tolérés de facto, avaient appelé au boycottage de la con-
sultation, jugeant par avance le scrutin truqué.
La cinquième conférence et Elections présidentielles 2007 en France
exposition sur la Franchise se
François Bayrou .. une révolution tranquille
tiendra du 3 au 5 avril 2007, pour
la première fois au Moyen-Orient
et plus précisément au Caire.
Selon Hassan Behnam , Di-
recteur du bureau de presse ré-
gional UBIFRANCE, une déléga-
tion française participera à cette
manifestation pour présenter aux
L es élections présidentielles en France, dont le premier
natures d'élus indispensables à une candidature officielle. Le
président du Parti fédéraliste, Christian Chavrier, s'est rallié à
Bayrou et fait partie de son équipe de campagne avec pour
tour aura lieu le 22 avril prochain et le second tour aura lieu
visiteurs l'expérience et le savoir- deux semaines plus tard, le 5 mai 2007 sont le point de mire. rôle d'y promouvoir les aspects fédéralistes en France et en
faire français dans un domaine Nous tentons dans les prochaines semaines, de nous con- Europe. En mars 2007, c'est au tour de la présidente du parti
relativement méconnu du grand centrer sur les différents candidats. Parmi ces candidats. écologiste Cap 21, Corinne Lepage, de lui apporter son sou-
François Bayrou. tien après l'abandon de sa candidature. Le 13 mars Edouard
public.
Fillias d'Alternative libérale jette également l'éponge à sa
En réalité, le concept de la candidature et soutient Bayrou.
Franchise offre non seulement un Homme de principes et morales
potentiel de développement ma- Les racines de Bayrou sont pyrénéennes, terriennes et cul-
Montée électorale
jeur mais il constitue également turelles. Il est né à Bordères (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), le 25
mai 1951, dans une famille d'agriculteurs. Il fit ses études au En raison de sa récente montée dans les sondages,
un outil privilégié de l'expansion François Bayrou a fait l'objet d'une cellule à l'UMP (Union
géographique. C'est un accord Hassan Behnam lycée de Nay, puis à Bordeaux. En 1974, il fut agrégé de let-
tres. La mort de son père, qui se tue dans un accident du tra- pour un mouvement populaire) de Sarkozy pour lutter con-
contractuel entre deux entités vail, l'oblige à mener de front son métier de professeur et la tre lui. Grâce à celle-ci, Simone Veil, UDF de longue date, a sports, les personnes âgées, Internet ou encore l'immigra-
commerciales distinctes et indépendantes, aux niveaux légal rejoint Nicolas Sarkozy à grand bruit. Elle a d'ailleurs déc- tion. S'il est élu, l'éducation sera, avec l'emploi, les finances
responsabilité d'une exploitation agricole, dans le village où il
et financier. laré que Bayrou était selon elle "le pire de tous" et que sa publiques et la lutte contre l'exclusion, l'un des chantiers pri-
est né. Sa femme Elisabeth et lui ont six enfants et pas mal
Le franchisé achète au franchiseur le droit d'utiliser son candidature était "une imposture". Malgré quelques désiste- oritaires sur lesquels gouvernement et Assemblée nation-
de petits-enfants. Jeune militant, éditorialiste, François Bay-
ments, il est encore soutenu à l'intérieur de son parti par ale, réunie en session extraordinaire, devront plancher tout
système commercial complet, qu'il doit appliquer selon les rou est élu député en 1986, président du Parlement de Na-
deux anciens ministres de l'économie, Jean Arthuis et Ed- l'été, au moins jusqu'au 15 août.
normes et les procédures développées par le franchiseur, le- varre en 1992. Passionné par la lutte contre l'anal-
phabétisme, il est ministre de l'Education nationale de 1993 à mond Alphandéry, par Charles de Courson, l'actuel sec-
quel est tenu de fournir des manuels opératoires et apporter rétaire de la commission des finances de l'Assemblée Na-
une assistance logistique pendant toute la durée du contrat. 1997. Secrétaire général de l'UDF (Union pour la Démocratie Politique de non discrimination
Française) en 1989, il est élu président de Force démocrate tionale, ainsi que le député européen et ex-journaliste Jean- François Bayrou a aussi plaidé pour une politique de non
Par conséquent, il s'agit d'un véritable partenariat mis en place Marie Cavada.
en 1994. Il préside l'UDF depuis 1998, à la suite de la crise discrimination au bénéfice des jeunes des banlieues qui
entre deux parties pour vendre un savoir-faire et louer un nom. provoquée par l'élection de présidents de région avec les veulent être considérés comme des jeunes tout court. Bay-
La Franchise offre de nombreux avantages : elle est régie voix des élus FN. Il est candidat aux élections européennes Nouvelle démocratie rou, qui se maintient au-dessus de 24% des intentions de
par des règles et des normes claires pour garantir les intérêts de 1999. En 2002, il se présenta à l'élection présidentielle où Certains politologues français disent que Avec Bayrou en vote au premier tour dans les derniers sondages, a déc-
du franchiseur et du franchisé ; elle transmet tout un mode de il rassembla deux millions de voix. Entouré d'une équipe ex- 2007, c'est autre chose. "Nous pourrions assister à une rév- oché quelques flèches en direction de ses adversaires pol-
production ainsi qu'une culture de l'entreprise et du produit périmentée, il défend l'indépendance de l'UDF et le plu- olution tranquille". Une recomposition de la gauche itiques.
dans ses moindres détails. ralisme pendant toute la législature. française sera, au rendez-vous. François Bayrou a parlé
En somme, l'intérêt pour le franchiseur est de s'implanter à d'une démocratie renouvelée, une démocratie de re- Bayrou gagnant au second tour!
l'étranger sans avoir à engager des fonds importants et aussi Candidature surprise sponsabilité, mais aussi une nouvelle décentralisation plus Encore un sondage qui confirme que le candidat et
La candidature de François Bayrou à l'élection prés- claire et plus transparente. Le candidat à la présidence de président de l'UDF François Bayrou l'emporterait au
de partager les risques éventuels avec un partenaire qui dis-
identielle du printemps 2007 a été officialisée le 2 décembre la République a abordé également le thème de l'environne- 2ème tour de l'élection présidentielle quelque soit son
pose d'une connaissance du terrain. Quant au franchisé, son ment, de la dette et des politiques d'emploi, concluant sur la
avantage est qu'il travaille pour lui mais il n'est pas seul. Par 2006 par une annonce à Serres-Castet, dans sa circonscrip- adversaire. Il lui faudra toutefois passer le 1er tour et
tion du Béarn. nécessité d'un rassemblement pour répondre à ces grands pour le moment c'est loin d'être acquis. Dans le détail et
ailleurs, il réalise les investissements nécessaires avec l'avan- défis.
François Bayrou bénéficie à cette occasion d'une grande pour le premier tour, c'est Nicolas Sarkozy qui arriverait
tage qu'il est propriétaire des actifs de l'entreprise franchisée. popularité dans les sondages. Selon le journaliste Serge largement en tête du 1er tour avec 31% des intentions
De plus, il bénéficie d'un nom connu et reconnu, facilitant ainsi Moati, il pourrait devenir une surprise de l'élection prés- Grand ministère sociétal de vote, soit une hausse de 4 points par rapport à la der-
son accès au marché, ainsi que d'un transfert de savoir-faire et identielle de 2007. les sondages estiment aussi que la seule Le candidat centriste, Bayrou a proposé la création d'un nière enquête. Ségolène Royal, candidate du parti so-
d'une assistance continue. véritable alternance résiderait alors dans les extrêmes mal- grand ministère sociétal chapeautant des secrétariats d'Etat cialiste arriverait 2ème avec 24% (en baisse de 1.5
gré les problèmes de ces candidats pour obtenir les 500 sig- chargés de secteurs aussi divers que la jeunesse et les point) et François Bayrou 3ème avec 22% (- 1).
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
"
22.
✂
Watani Francophone Sunday
1 April 2007
Editor-in-chief Managing Editor 23 Baramhat 1723
Youssef Sidhom Samia Sidhom 13 Rabie al-Awwal 1428
YEAR 7
ISSUE 320
Page 5 - 6
Editorial
Forward
with reform
Youssef Sidhom
Happy Palm Sunday
After the public approval of the con-
stitutional amendments proposed by
the president, Egypt now has a mod-
ified Constitution that lays the founda-
tion for a new phase of political and
democratic reform. At the moment,
parties and forces from across the po-
litical spectrum are invited to take part
in this process. I strongly believe that
the major part of the amendment pack-
age could give a forward push to re-
form. Many on the political front are
pessimistic about the future of Egypt,
and have expressed outrage at the
amendments, but it is my belief that
the amendments leave much room for
curtailing the state’s grip—only if na-
tional political currents join forces to
turn this objective into a reality.
The frustration of some Egyptians is
perfectly understandable, since the
amendments fall short of fulfilling as-
pirations, especially in case of mod-
ifying article 2 which stipulates Islam as
the State religion and Islamic ju-
risprudence as the main source of leg-
islation. I am convinced, however, that Today, Christians celebrate Palm Sunday, when Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem and was warmly welcomed by its people.
the new article stressing citizenship val-
ues can translate into laws and regu- The Bible says: "And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and
lations able to realise a harmony with strewed them in the way." (Matt 21: 8) The icon was written by the late Isaac Fanous (1919-2007) who almost
article 2 and prevent the eruption of single-handedly revived the art of the Coptic icon, creating a unique style of contemporary icon art.
conflict between the two articles.
Page 2 carries a story on Fanous’ icons of Palm Sunday and the Passion Week.
Some Copts are disappointed that the
amendments did not specify a quota for
them in the Peoples’ Assembly and Shu-
ra Council—the lower and upper houses
of the Egyptian Parliament—as in the
Copts in the Egyptian press On Journalist Day
case of the women’s quota. Copts how-
Ample place
ever, have now a great opportunity of
playing an active role on the political
arena and getting nominated on electoral
lists, since legislative elections are to be
held according to the slate system.
Nightmare
for improvement
Although the parties’ committee has
been reluctant to license a host of polit-
ical parties over the past few years, those
wishing to found new parties should now
persist in their pursuit. The amendment
scenario
stipulating that no political party may be
established basing upon religion is a Robeir al-Faris Watani begins its read- No non-Muslim patron Maged Samir Yesterday, 31 March, Egypt’s journalists celebrated Journalist Day.
move forward; it was indispensable be- ing of the past month’s Staying with Rose al-Youssef, the daily ran a sto- Rimon Edward But thejournalistspress is all too often in athe newspaper tycoons. The
tween
Egyptian
and their employers,
state of crisis—generally be-
fore the door was to be left open for the Cairo papers with an article by Diana al-Dabae in ry commenting on a talk show that was aired by
foundation of new parties. Thus the Na- the weekly Rose al-Youssef magazine. Under a Journalists’ Syndicate has to cope with repeated demonstrations where
Dream TV, in which the hostess Mona al-Shazli
tional Front Party, headed by a group of headline of "A State school forces Christian girls reporters demand a right to promotion or bonuses and other incentives. Newspaper staff
hosted councillors Magdi al-Garhi and Noha al-
political and intellectual pundits, has an- to don the Islamic veil (hijab)", Dabae wrote frequently denounce the totalitarian rule of their superiors. All this affects press standards.
Zeini, who both objected to Copts being appointed
nounced its platform, on which Watani about a secondary girls’ school in the town of al- as judges. They insisted that judges are ‘patrons’
reports in this issue. The party’s vision Ayaat in Giza governorate where all the stu- who are charged with authority, and that Islam was Swallow your pride
and principles reflect a political imagina- dents—Copts as well as Muslims—were required explicit in rejecting the patronage of non-Muslims Huwaida Mustafa, media professor at Cairo University and a consultant at Al-Ahram
tion that might be attractive to segments to don the veil as part of the school uniform. The over Muslims. Regional Press Institute, points out that journalists may find themselves in the position
of the silent majority, which current po- article did not cite any of the names of the Coptic A number of Coptic judges of the State Council, where their only opportunity is to work for newspapers that adopt lines of thought contra-
litical forces have so far failed to draw girls, since they said they feared retaliatory action. the highest administrative court in Egypt, held a dictory to their personal perspectives. They do not have the luxury of choosing or refusing
into public or political life. This is par- Their remarks, as well as those of their parents secret meeting at the Judges’ Club—the equivalent the tasks assigned to them, since they must be among the permanent staff of a paper in
ticularly relevant, since the success of and church priest, revealed a predominant culture of the judges’ syndicate—in which they demanded order to gain enlistment in the press syndicate.
any new party will be subject to its abil- of subservience. an apology from Garhi; some even demanding his Sometimes reporters have to swallow their pride to please their superiors and get that full-
ity to enhance political participation in resignation as secretary of the club. time contract, and in some cases they do not even have a guarantee to be appointed where they
order to exceed the current shameful 20 School uniform? The enlightened writer Tareq Hassan commented work. Dr Mustafa adds that the low incomes in the press field—public and private—spread a
per cent. If anything, this percentage tru- One of the girls told Dabae: "If I don’t wear the on the issue in his daily column in Al-Ijtihad. He ‘professional syndrome’ which leads either to stagnant reporting or a fusion between
ly reflects the apathy of the majority of veil I am beaten on my hands and feet. We got used wrote that judges were not patrons; patronage, he advertising and reporting. This is bearing in mind that government ministries assign huge
the Egyptians. to wearing it. There’s nothing we can do." A wrote, was only due to the Constitution and the budgets for advertising and thus have a significant sway on the written content.
Issue 88 on judicial supervision of elec- mother said: "Our daughters are maltreated if we law. Judges are there to execute the articles drawn
tions and issue 179 on combating terror- complain. We have enough problems on our hands; by the Constitution and the law, and no one on Press honour
ism triggered much outrage and induced we really didn’t need this one too." As for Father earth, Hassan wrote, was entitled to deprive an Journalists’ Syndicate Council member Gamal Fahmi says access to information is a critical
a segment of Egyptians to boycott the Makari of Ayaat church, he said: "There are much Egyptian—no matter of what gender or religion—the issue. A newspaper’s publishing policy has the upper hand in deciding what and how
referendum. Yet it should be realised that more important issues than what the girls are forced Constitutional right to a public post. information is presented to readers. National newspapers serve mainly to publicise the policies
the amendments covering these two ar- to wear. At least they’re doing no wrong." of governing regimes. Mr Fahmi furthermore believes that private or independent papers do
ticles are not the end of the process. The The school director, Magdi Fikri, did not deny not differ much from national ones; there is rampant absence of democratic performance.
notorious articles should translate into The peril under the skin
forcing the Copts to wear the veil. He said these The daily al-Masri al-Youm celebrated its 1000th Many newspapers fall into the trap of raining heated arguments on one another to prove their
laws and regulations, and Egyptians were instructions the school had to enforce, since credibility. As writer and novelist Youssef al-Qaeid explains, this could end up with a list of
must ultimately persist in giving the ju- issue by printing a special issue of which two
the veil was part of the school uniform. On the pages, headlined "Sectarian conflict: The peril un- accusations from both sides blaming the other party. Mr Qaeid stresses the activation of the
diciary the upper hand and preventing other hand, Mohamed Abdel-Wanis, head of the ‘press honour covenant’, which should be strictly applied throughout the Journalists’ Syndicate
any other authority from manipulating der the skin" and edited by seven journalists, were
Education Ministry’s teaching directorate of concerned with the Coptic question. One article in cooperation with the specialised committees in the Supreme Press Council (SPC). Shawqi
legislation. Ayaat, strongly denied that the veil was part of al-Sayed, a member of the Shura Council and the SPC, says that the Journalists’ Syndicate law,
Constitutional articles have never been discussed the issue of equality between Muslims
State school uniforms. Ironically, Dabae’s story and Copts, with Cairo University’s political science which encompasses a number of disciplinary procedures starting with a warning notice and
the power governing peoples’ lives. The reported of another school in the village of ending in banning the offender from the Syndicate, is not applied.
Constitution is but a symbol of the or- professor Mustafa al-Sayed asserting that there is
Metania, Giza, which also forced its students to veil. not one Coptic university president in Egypt, that
ientations guiding a society, forming the When Dabae contacted education minister Yus- Settling predicaments
foundation of the laws and provisions there are State apparatuses—such as the security
ri al-Gamal on the issue, he was extremely upset, apparatus—which exclude Copts from their ranks, Al-Qahira (Cairo) newspaper editor-in-chief Salah Eissa has acclaimed the syndicate’s
which establish the relationship between and categorically denied that the ministry en-
the State and the public. that school curricula ignore Coptic history, and that decision to form the Press Honour Covenant as a step to settle predicaments with news-
forces it. Hijab, he said, was banned by the min- the religious address transmitted by Muslims fre- paper establishments.
With all its positive and negative as- istry in primary schools, and was only allowed in
pects, the last constitutional amendments quently portrays Copts as infidels. On the other Sami Harak, a lawyer, says the government owns the largest newspapers and calls them
preparatory and secondary schools upon a writ- hand, Islamic thinker Mohamed Selim al-Awa said ‘National Press Institutions’. It plays a major role in shaping public opinion by choosing the
should not be the end of the road. Rather, ten request from a girl’s parent. He said a mini-
they are the beginning. We therefore that Copts and Muslims are equal before the law, kind of information its newspapers publish. Mr Harak adds that the government has the right to
sterial committee was then investigating the and that churches were open 24 hours a day. prevent any information from being on hand according to a 1936 law which can ban any for-
have much to keep us busy in the up- incident, and promised that the ministry would
coming period. I believe that regret, con- One of the most important articles in the two-page eign publications from circulation. The same law gives the right to the Interior Minister to pro-
take disciplinary action against whoever was coverage was a scenario entitled "The nightmare" hibit any foreign publication if it aims at defaming religion or promoting promiscuous action.
demnation and protest will do more harm responsible for the enforcement.
than good, and I am convinced that we written by Osama Anwar Okasha, one of Egypt’s
Two weeks later the daily al-Masri al-Youm foremost writers, dramatists and screenplay writers. Dissemination of knowledge
can make a great leap forward out of reported that the ministerial committee in- Mr Harak proposes the formation of a committee of law experts, parliamentary members
these constitutional amendments if they Okasha, whose realistic works frequently depict
vestigated the issue and that, accordingly,a Coptic characters enmeshed as they are within the and judges from the Higher Constitutional Court to revise all Egyptian laws pertaining to
materialise into progressive laws. If we decision was taken to move the school director. the dissemination of knowledge. This committee, he says, would have to define vague,
manage to deal with this process in a fabric of the Egyptian society, predicted a dark
The paper wrote that the school administration future scenario of Islamic and Coptic militias fight- confusing expressions such as ‘the general system’, ‘general ethics’, ‘national security’,
constructive way, we can lay the ground- forced the girls to demonstrate against the move, and ‘the welfare of the state’.
work for a new phase of other constitu- ing one another and Islamic movements seizing
and that the ministry promised to go back on its power, only for a third, unknown and unnamed Mr Harak also calls for the abolition of the position of Media Minister, which he claims is a
tional amendments in the future. decision. To date, the matter remains suspended. remnant of autocratic rule.
movement to declare its entitlement to rule Egypt.
N More bird flu
A three-year-old girl from Aswan has tested
round of the Cairo International Fair (CIF),
with more than 2,000 Egyptian, Arab and
decreasing customs and liberalising the cur-
rency exchange rate, which, he said, resulted
ing returned to Egypt with the help of Arnold
who is senior curator at the Metropolitan Mu-
Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities
(SCA). An inventory of the Saqqara store-
E positive for the H5N1 virus. Hagar Mohamed
Awadallah is thus the 27th human avian flu
foreign companies participating. Syria was
chosen as this round’s guest of honour. The
in a rise in the value of the Egyptian pound
against the dollar. The bank is now focusing
seum in New York. The Metropolitan was at
one point considering the acquisition of these
house showed that they were indeed missing,
and careful checking confirmed the identifica-
W case in Egypt since the virus was first detected
two years ago. Thirteen people have since died
fair runs for ten days. on combating all forms of corruption, he said. ducks—one of which was then with Chris-
ties’s of New York, and the other with Rupert
tion of the Christie’s and Wace ducks as Ar-
nold’s ducks. When apprised of the situation,
S of bird flu, 12 recovered, while two cases are
still hospitalised. Awadallah, who was
Finance for nuclear energy
"The bank is ready to finance Egyptian
Antique ducks
Egypt will soon be retrieving two food al-
Wace Ancient Art Gallery of London—but
was not satisfied with their authenticity and de-
Christie’s immediately removed the first duck
from auction and turned it over to the US De-
L admitted to hospital suffering from high fever,
is now stable. A health ministry spokesman
peaceful nuclear energy ventures if the gov-
ernment asks for it," World Bank Executive
abaster cases in the shape of ducks, which had
been excavated by Dr Dieter Arnold from the
cided against buying them. Arnold was in-
trigued by them, though, as he knew they must
partment of Homeland Security. It will be re-
turned to Egypt soon. The Wace Gallery re-
I said she contracted the virus because of direct
contact with infected poultry.
Director Mohamed Kamel Amr has said.
"Egypt’s status with the World Bank is strong,
pyramid complex of Amenemhat III at Dah-
shur, south of Giza, back in 1979. They had
be royal and, together with his assistant, Adela
Oppenheim, continued to study photographs of
turned the duck in their possession to its
current owner in Paris, PIASA, and informed
N Fair days
and the country possesses the potential to win
any of the bank’s loans," he added. Amr said
then been restored and taken to Saqqara for
storage, after which they were obviously
these ducks and realised that they were, in fact,
the same ducks he had excavated in 1979. He
them that the object was stolen. The SCA con-
tacted the Parisian owners, who immediately
E Last weekend saw the opening of the 40th Egypt had complied with the bank demands of smuggled out of Egypt. The boxes are now be- informed Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of agreed to return it to Egypt.
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
✂
23.
1 April 2007 Watani International 3
Celebrating the Boring Miracle of the European Union Jihad Everywhere
gether the EEC, the European Coal and Steel Com- layer of bureaucracy defies efforts to improve ef-
Charles Hawley munity and the European Atomic Energy Com- ficiency. And the single foreign policy «phone Terrorists Shatter Peaceful Thailand
munity in 1967. The first enlargement followed number» that US Secretary of State Henry
in 1973, when Denmark, Ireland and Great Brit- Kissinger famously yearned for in the 1970s has and regional - as well as endless cross-border dif-
One gets the impression that the gigantic Euro-
Greg Sheridan ficulties with Burma and Cambodia. It had gener-
ain joined the EEC. yet to materialize.
pean Union 50th birthday bash last weekend was From there, the European Monetary System was Not only that, but the Union even has trouble ally been highly effective in its own territory. Now
a lot like the institution itself. Hundreds of work- Two weeks ago, gunmen stopped a small passen- its performance in the south could hardly be worse.
established in 1979. Greece joined in 1981. Spain agreeing on how to toot its own horn. Negotia-
ers have spent the cold, wet week in the German ger van in the street. They forced all of its occu- It is spasmodically brutal and generally ineffec-
and Portugal became members in 1986. Austria, tions on the final text of the “Berlin Declaration”
capital Berlin setting up stages, booths and tents pants out and on to the roadside. The gunmen then tive, with poor intelligence and little ability to pro-
Finland and Sweden came on board in 1995. The — to be ceremoniously signed on Sunday — will
right in the heart of the city. shot all nine of them dead. Three of the passen- vide protection to leading moderates or security
common currency, the euro, was officially intro- likely continue up to the last possible moment.
On tap? Booklets illustrating the ins and outs gers were women, one was a young girl. to the population at large, the supreme bad com-
duced in 1999 and physically launched in the form Europe has spent the last week arguing about
of German and European Union politics. Free beer Just another day of Baghdad carnage, you say. bination in counter-insurgency.
of banknotes and coins in 2002. whether the euro should be mentioned as a major
and sausage to go with food from around the 27- But no, this was Thailand, traditionally a peace- Zacahry Abuza, the US-based terrorism analyst
The European Union has brought many ben- EU achievement, whether Europe’s Christian roots
member club. Music from Joe Cocker and the Big ful, prosperous and stable Southeast Asian state at who has perhaps the most detailed knowledge of
efits to the continent — but is widely seen as bor- should get a shout out, and whether the word “con-
Band der Bundeswehr. the heart of the Association of Southeast Asian the Thai insurgency, identifies six trends in south-
ing. And in 2004, 10 new countries - many of them stitution” should see the light of day — especially
In other words, a day of comfy boredom punc- Nations, a formal treaty ally of the US and a close ern Thailand since last September’s coup.
formerly part of the Soviet Union’s sphere of in- given France and the Netherland’s rejection of the
tuated by moments of energetic mediocrity. Eu- trade and diplomatic partner of Australia. * While most people are still killed by guns, the
fluence - bumped the member total to 25. The ac- document in 2005. The Schengen Agreement was
rope in miniature. But the truth is that a savage, terrible and number of deaths caused by bombs is rising, and
cession of Romania and Bulgaria at the beginning also mired in controversy, as was a possible men-
Of course there are other entertainment options. appallingly bloodthirsty insurgency is under way the size, sophistication and lethality of the bombs
of this year seemed almost an afterthought. tion of the European social model.
The 27 European leaders met in Berlin and gath- in southern Thailand. It is the third great insur- is consistently increasing. In 2004, most bombs
But Europe is more than just numbers. The By now, many of those questions had been an-
ered for a bit of Beethoven at the Berlin Philhar- gency in the world today, after Iraq and Afghani- were under 2kg. In 2006, they were generally 4kg-
Schengen Agreement from 1985 means Europe- swered. As the Associated Press pithily put it: “The
monic. Saturday night saw Berlin’s Museum Is- stan. More people are dying in horrific violence in 5kg. Now they are frequently 15kg in size and
ans can travel through much of the continent with- euro’s in. God and the constitution are out.” But
land open until well after midnight. After that, DJs southern Thailand than in Palestine or the south- detonated by an increasing variety of methods,
out having to even slow down at the borders. Like- Merkel was able to convince EU leaders to com-
and musicians from all across the continent helped ern Philippines, or in the ethnic strife in some of from mobile phones to digital watches and timing
wise, most EU citizens can choose where they wish mit to an overhaul of European structures by 2009,
young Europeans bump and grind the night away the outlying islands of Indonesia. devices.
to live and work, largely free of bureaucratic hur- paving the way for a two-year battle as to what
at EU member-themed parties in the city’s re- Neither the Thai Government nor the interna- * The insurgent attacks are becoming more sav-
dles. Since 1987, more than 1.5 million European the future of the EU will look like.
nowned clubs. tional media quite wants to admit the horrible truth age and provocative. There has been an increase
university students have taken advantage of the It was, in short, a uniquely European discus-
But it will be difficult for revellers to get around at the heart of the increasingly surreal sadism and in beheadings. Women and children are frequently
Erasmus European exchange program. And this sion - full of disagreement and culminating in the
Europe’s salient characteristic: It is a huge, not- violence in southern Thailand. This is an Islamist targeted. The insurgents have three times attacked
year, the EU agreed to far-reaching climate change prosaic. Not exactly the best possible way to pre-
always-transparent, somewhat humdrum bureauc- insurgency. While it is organisationally independ- royal entourages. A successful attack on any part
measures and took steps toward unifying its en- pare for this weekend’s party. But even if the en-
racy. Difficult to love. Hard to celebrate. But it’s ent of al-Qa’ida or Jemaah Islamiah, it fits into the of the Thai royal family would be an escalation in
ergy policy. tertainment in Berlin was wanting, even if it’s hard
blandness is exactly what makes it the most shock- global pattern of Islamist insurgency. itself and a further humiliation for the Thai state.
Nice but boring: Lately, though, it has become to love a massive collection of bureaucrats housed
ingly successful alliance in Europe’s history. It is an insurgency restricted to the four Muslim * Schools and teachers, because they are agents
clear that success is boring. More than six dec- away in Brussels, it is difficult to find a better ex-
“Europe is becoming normal,” German Chan- provinces in southern Thailand. It is true that they of secularisation and assimilation of Muslims into
ades after the last shots of World War II were fired, cuse to celebrate than the 50th birthday of the
cellor Angela Merkel said when asked by the are poor, but other provinces are poorer and have the broader Thai society, are increasingly targets.
peace and prosperity have become such a fact of European Union.
German tabloid “Bild Zeitung” why nobody paid nothing like this savagery. It is true there is a good The insurgents want to force Muslims out of gov-
life in Europe that finding fault has become some- The successes of the bloc, as Time Magazine
attention to the accession of Romania and Bul- deal of criminal smuggling over the border to ernment-run schools, or even government-sup-
thing of a continental pastime. writes this week, may not seem like much: “But
garia at the beginning of the year. “When the Malaysia, which goes beyond any Islamist ideol- ported Muslim schools, which teach a mixed cur-
And there are plenty of things to complain for anyone old enough to remember the European
Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957, World War II ogy. But smuggling is even bigger across the Bur- riculum. For many Muslims it is only safe now
about. The amount of money handed out to farm- misery out of which the Treaty of Rome took
was only 12 years in the past. Just prior to the mese and Cambodian borders and criminality there for their children to attend private Muslim schools.
ers in the 27 member states is scandalous. Subsi- shape, it is a stunning miracle.”
signing, Germany and France were still consid- has not led to the gruesome acts of insurgency seen * Abuza sees a rise in sectarian attacks and eth-
dies for questionable projects are off the charts. ___________________
ered arch-enemies. Nobody remembers that any in southern Thailand. nic cleansing. Although most of the insurgents’
Transparency is an ongoing project. Layer upon Der Spiegel (abridged)
more, fortunately. Today, Europe is in many ways The difference is the Islamist ideology of the victims have been Muslims - partly because of the
just like run-of-the-mill domestic politics and thus shadowy insurgents. Increasingly the insurgents insurgents’ wide definition of collaborators - they
not always so exciting.” are killing women and children. The arc of vio- have succeeded in pushing 15 per cent of the Bud-
The European Union turns 50. In other words, lence has got consistently worse. The best estimates dhist population out of the affected provinces.
the European Union has become so taken for are that since January 2004, about 2100 people * There are more concerted attacks on economic
granted that it has become part of the political have died violently in the insurgency in southern targets, a trend Abuza identifies as beginning in
background. And that is one of the union’s great- Thailand. 2005.
est successes. Indeed, in 1945, the continent was Last September, Thailand’s military ousted the * There is increasing civil disobedience, often
emerging not just from years of bloody warfare, elected prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, in a involving women and children. Despite the Thai
but from a centuries-long cycle of self-destruc- typically bloodless coup. The justification was the forces’ occasional episodes of brutality, people are
tive violence. There was nothing at all to indicate corruption of Thaksin’s government and its heavy- more frightened of the insurgents than of the sol-
that anything was about to change. handed and counterproductive efforts in the south. diers. The insurgents also undoubtedly have a de-
But it did. The Marshall Plan injected the cash. The head of the Thai army, General Sonthi gree of popular support, despite their savagery.
NATO provided the muscle. But the founding of Boonyaratglin, is a Muslim and the new military Thus civilians, especially women and children,
the European common market in the Palazzo Government said it would be more conciliatory in will demonstrate at police stations to demand the
Senatorio on March 25, 1957 applied the deci- the south. It would follow a political strategy. It release of particular suspects.
sive diplomatic glue to hold together the longest would enhance dialogue. It would offer conces- Analysts believe the insurgents’ short-term goals
continuous era of peace Europe has enjoyed in sions. But the result of all this is that killings have include making it impossible for the Thai state to
recorded history. increased to their highest rate yet: up to four deaths function in the southern Muslim provinces; pro-
A modest beginning: At the beginning, it was a day. The violence has just got worse and worse. voking heavy-handed responses from the security
small. Just six countries joined the EU precursor I find it strange that this conflict has not received forces in order to increase alienation and mistrust
known as the European Economic Community, greater international media attention. Perhaps Thai between the people and the state; to begin impos-
which was established by the Treaty of Rome: governments have tended to play down internal ing informal sharia law in the region; and to si-
France, Italy, Belgium, West Germany, Luxem- security problems, in part so as not to discourage lence or co-opt any political alternatives within
bourg and the Netherlands. Soon, though, the com- tourism, which is so important to Thailand’s the Muslim community. The long-term goal is as-
munity began flexing its muscles, creating a com- economy. Thai tourism benefited from the Islam- sumed to be an independent Muslim state under
mon agricultural policy in 1962, then merging to- ist violence elsewhere in Southeast Asia as Thai- full sharia law.
land’s image, previously an accurate one, is of a There was a series of mysterious explosions in
Europe: The Good, the Bad and …the French Buddhist haven of peace and hospitality.
Regional security analysts believe the failure of
Bangkok on New Year’s Eve. Most analysts don’t
think they were the work of the southern insur-
Preparations for the European Union’s big 50th more mature player, Europeans will have to pull ments to inflate their way out of trouble. the Thai Government to grasp the nature and enor- gents but represent some manifestation of intra-
birthday party last weekend in Berlin quickly de- their weight in the likes of NATO. Europe’s diversity and growing size are also mity of the task they face has led to insufficient elite conflict. While the insurgents have so far
generated into a petty brawl over the wording of Fortunately, the EU’s power of attraction has strengths. For each dysfunctional Italy, there’s a resources going into the problem and the continu- made a strategic decision not to target Bangkok
the declaration for the occasion. Some countries been effective closer to home. What begun as a booming Britain or Estonia or Denmark showing ation of crippling inter-agency rivalries between or Phuket, this could change at any time. This
the police and the military and the various secu-
Techno
wanted to push the bloc’s stillborn constitution,
others the euro, still others Christianity. What a
club of six has grown to 27. From Greece, Spain
and Portugal in the 1980s to the new members
how market-friendly policies pay dividends. In a
wider Europe, good ideas squeeze out the bad. The rity and intelligence agencies involved in the south.
whole disastrous situation is the most urgent se-
curity challenge in Southeast Asia today.
fitting tribute to the EU’s achievement. from the old Warsaw Pact, the EU has smoothed Eastern Europeans have popularized low and flat The Thai military had dealt in its history with _______________________
We’re not kidding. Such intramural trench war- the path from authoritarianism to free-market de- taxes. Boom-town London is home to hundreds several serious insurgencies - communist, Muslim The Australian (abridged)
fare, be it over joint statements or milk quotas, is mocracy. of thousands of Poles and Frenchmen, whose de-
blessedly far removed from the wars that charac- The bloc’s economic record is mixed. This is parture is an electoral issue in their native coun-
terized the five decades before the EU’s birth. still a Europe of wasteful farm subsidies, low tries, where politicians are realizing they must Humor
Whatever its shortcomings, the EU can justly growth and high unemployment, with rising pro- compete to keep their brightest at home.
claim credit for helping bring peace and prosper- tectionism and a regulatory zeal unmatched any- On the edges of the Continent, a half-circle run- Etiquette: Mind Your P’s and Q’s and Teas
ity to the Continent’s 490 million citizens. where in the free world. Yet the bad ideas tend to ning from Spain to Ireland to Finland and down Marjabelle continued to smile at me with radi-
The EU’s seeds were planted in 1950 by the come from bad leaders. When the Brussels bu- to Eastern Europe is a zone of strong economic Dave Barry ant politeness.
Franco-German statesman Robert Schuman. His reaucracy and dreams of creating a super-state are growth. In the middle, the big powers of France,
proposal for pooling strategic resources—coal and Next, we had our tea and our tea sandwiches,
checked by a vigilant media and national govern- Italy and Germany cry out for deeper overhauls. Recently, I took part in a High Tea, which is a ritu-
steel—among a core of European countries would, which are cute sandwiches too small to be seen
ments, the Europe construct itself can be market As long as those economies are weak, voters will alistic British type of light meal involving a large
in his words, “make it plain that any war between by the naked eye, although you still have to make
friendly. In the past two decades, the EU on bal- be anxious about global competition and, in turn, quantity of etiquette.
France and Germany becomes not only unthink- them last two bites, according to Marjabelle. Also,
ance has done more to open the door to greater skeptical about opening Europe further. This ex- Generally, I do not get involved with any level
able but materially impossible.” The Schuman you need to lift your teacup in a certain way so as
competition than provide a back door, as Margaret plains the current unease about further EU enlarge- of tea, even Low Tea.
Declaration led to the European Coal and Steel to indicate that you are a classy individual.
Thatcher feared, for welfare policies. ment, particularly to Turkey, and the backlash Generally, when I am in the market for an after-
Community in 1952, which in turn paved the way While we ate, we discussed current events.
Why? Most crucially, the 1957 Treaty of Rome against freeing trade in services and cross-border noon beverage ritual, the one I select is Cold Beer.
for the 1957 Treaty of Rome that created a Euro- Marjabelle told me that a medical journal recently
was inspired by free-market principles. The EU is takeovers. But in this case I had High Tea, because I was in-
pean Community, later christened “Union.” had reported that “people with beautiful manners
the world’s largest zone for the free movement of The Continent’s leaders could do worse than use vited by famous etiquette expert Marjabelle Young
Though it won’t be widely noted in Berlin this don’t get colds.” As she explained it, “It’s the im-
goods, capital and people. When individual coun- their Berlin party this weekend to send the mes- Stewart, who is on a lifelong crusade to get Ameri-
weekend, the Union would not exist without the mune system that’s affected. It drains out, and
tries have tried to blunt those freedoms, Brussels sage that Europe’s traditional openness—to trade, cans to use good table manners and, for God’s
U.S., which gave its strong backing from day one. they don’t get colds!”
has often fought back with vigor. The euro, the people, new countries—is the cornerstone of a sake, take off their baseball caps indoors. She
The Marshall Plan assisted the Continent’s post- I asked her what she thought of the
world’s most successful currency union, has low- half-century of success. These first principles from had come to Miami to promote her book,
war economic recovery, and an American mili- movie “Titanic.”
ered interest rates, promoted internal trade by re- 50 years ago are still worth fighting for. ‘’The New Etiquette’’ (St. Martin’s Press).
tary umbrella has since kept it safe. Whatever the “It was a great etiquette lesson,” she
moving exchange-rate risks and—especially in the ______________________________ I got to know Marjabelle in 1989, when
trade or foreign policy disagreements, Washing- said.
Latin countries—made it impossible for govern- The Wall Street Journal, editorial she released her annual survey listing
ton hasn’t wavered in its support for a stable, rich I asked her how she handles rude mo-
the Top Ten Most-Polite Cities, and
Europe. torists.
be 28 million surplus Chinese men and 31 mil- the No. 3 city was - get ready - New
“If they give you a bad signal - you
This success has sometimes gone to European
heads. Some in Brussels truly believe they have
Nuggets lion surplus Indian men. York. This surprised me, because I
know, that naughty thing they do - you just
Both governments are becoming more and more have lived in New York, and I know
created a soft-power utopia that can talk its way blow them a kiss and drive on,” she said.
worried about the psychological and social con- for a fact that during rush hour you can-
out of any trouble, such as a nuclear Iran or Is- Laila Farid “I don’t think in Miami you should
sequences, not to mention the sheer criminality not get into a subway car without the aid
lamic terrorism. In reality, its peace has always blow them a kiss,” observed Dorel.
of it. As one Indian commentator remarks, the most of a machete. So I called up Marjabelle to ask
depended on the will to spend blood and treasure, ‘BBC Arabic Service I asked Marjabelle what she thought
dangerous period of a woman’s life is her first few her, politely, if she was out of her mind. But
often American. Others, especially the French, Anti-Western’ was the biggest problem facing the na-
months in the womb. she turned out to be a perfectly sane, relent-
imagine Europe as a check on the U.S. tion.
The BBC’s Arabic language service operates a lessly cheerful lady who believes in saying
“hyperpower.” Both delusions have helped keep “I still think it’s the way we hold the knife
separate editorial system to the rest of the corpo- Virginia Is First State to Apologise nice things about everybody, including New
the EU a small fry in foreign affairs. To become a and fork,” she said, and she was not kid-
ration that is “anti-Western and anti-democratic”, for Slavery Yorkers, and who believes that the most
ding. She gave me a detailed lesson, and I
an American academic said. Virginia has become the first of the US states for- important thing in the world is good man-
found that I have many problems with my
Frank Stewart, a Middle East expert, said that mally to apologise for slavery, expressing its “pro- ners. Do you remember the plane that
technique. Among other things, I’ve been using
the World Service’s Arabic radio service has been found regret” for its role. It also apologised for crashed in the Andes, and the survivors had no
the shovel method, and making my turn way too
consistently hostile to the US and British govern- exploiting Native Americans. food? I’m not saying that if Marjabelle had been
early; I also tend to saw the food, rather than stroke
ments while treating Arab leaders with kid gloves. The resolution was the latest step in a series there, those people would not have eaten their de-
it.
He cited various examples, including a pro- of moves that Virginia has made to address its seg- ceased fellow passengers. But I am saying that they
Knife and fork usage turns out to be an extremely
gramme about torture which, he said, discussed regationist past. In 1989 it became the first state would have used the proper utensils.
complex topic. The main thing to remember is:
only one specific allegation from the head of an to elect a black governor. I met Marjabelle for High Tea at a restaurant in
Whatever way you’re doing it now, it’s wrong.
organisation representing Saudis imprisoned by the Marriott Hotel in downtown Miami. When I
At the end of our High Tea, Larry Kenny, the
the US at Guantanamo Bay. arrived, Marjabelle was busily instructing the staff
Jewels for The Crown chef who had prepared our sandwiches, came out
Prof Stewart alleged that the Arabic Service not on how to set up the table. The key ingredient turns
The Duchess of Cornwall’s jewellery collection to see how everything was. We got to talking, and
only shielded Arab leaders from criticism, but out to be doilies. I estimate that there were 300
has been significantly boosted by the generosity Larry told us that he also plays blues harmonica,
avoided topics - such as human rights, and cor- doilies of various sizes deployed on the table, un-
of the Saudi Royal Family. and he’s trying to market a pilot TV show called
ruption - that they might find embarrassing. derneath a vast array of teapots, little plates, cups,
She was presented with three stunning neck- “Larry Kenny’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Kitchen.” The idea
saucers and spoons.
laces: ruby, emeralds and sapphires. For Prince is that each week he would have guest musicians
The Calamity of Asia’s For all I know, Marjabelle was also sitting on a
Charles the Saudi’s main gift was that of an Ara- perform songs and prepare their favorite dishes.
Lost Women doily, although, of course, I was too polite to ask.
bian stallion. (“On today’s show, Ozzy Osbourne will show us
Marjabelle introduced me to her friend, Dorel
Asia is estimated to suffer from up to 100 million There are strict rules governing the receiving of how to make Roast Head of Bat.” )
Eaton, and we chatted about Miami. Marjabelle
missing women - aborted as foetuses or murdered gifts by members of the Royal Family. They can Marjabelle, who thinks pretty much everything
said Miami had come “pretty close” to making her
in infancy because of their sex. be worn and used but they cannot be sold or ex- is wonderful, said she thought this concept was
1998 most-polite-cities list. I said I thought that
In Pakistan, a surplus of disaffected men with changed, and will eventually become part of the wonderful. So do I; if you are a TV producer, I
was pretty bizarre, unless the key criterion was
no prospect of ever finding a partner is a threat to Royal collection. urge you to contact Larry and take him to lunch.
cleanliness of handguns. Dorel agreed with me.
stability. _______________________________________________________ Make sure there are plenty of doilies.
She said to Marjabelle: “I think the people here
In today’s China, there are 119 men for every Sources: The Daily Telegraph, The Observer and _________________
are mean-spirited.” Then she said: “Ouch!” Then
100 women. It is estimated that by 2020, there will The Independent The Miami Herald
she said to me: “She pinched me under the table!”
24.
2 Watani International 1 April 2007
Isaac Fanous’ Passion Week
Some time around noon today, the Coptic Church’s celebrations of Palm Sunday—Jesus Christ’s entry into Mary Mansour Roman soldier appears. Fanous apparently wished to focus attention on Pilate and his wife, Claudia, who
Jerusalem—end, and Passion Week, which ends on Easter Day with the Resurrection, begins. stands behind him, her eyes a sea of wonder and confusion, trying to warn him of the dream she had seen
Watani is presenting a vivid panorama of the story of the Salvation as seen through the icons of inter- (Matt 27: 19).
national artist Isaac Fanous, most of which hang in the Coptic Orthodox Church of the Holy Virgin Mary in Los
Angeles, California. The Cross
The icon "Bearing His Cross" (John 19:17) induces an important question; "Why did the artist not depict the crown of
Form and inspiration thorns over Jesus Christ’s head?" Jesus’s head is bathed in a luminous halo on which a cross is outlined. With a hard-
The icon "Palm Sunday" is rich in both form and inspiration. Fanous symbolises the love of the people for Jesus featured Roman soldier as the only other person in the icon, Jesus cuts a lonely figure, obviously by whom alone Salva-
by depicting the buildings of Jerusalem from a distance, confirming that they could not wait for Him to arrive but tion was possible. The two figures in the icon clearly depict the cruelty and depravity of mankind on one hand, and the
went out to receive Him—as a great King—outside the town. They greeted Him with tree branches and spread their sacrifice and mercy of the Lord on the other. The eyes of Jesus seem to agonisingly gather a long line of memory from
clothes in His path. Adam’s original sin to the end of the journey—the Crucifixion.
Fanous was keen to show the Lord in the centre of most of his icons as an indication that "All eyes are upon You". In The icon "The Cross" is written in the major part using geometric lines, such as a triangle at the top and the bottom to
the icon of "Judas’ Kiss", the eyes and face of Judas express betrayal while kissing the Master. On the other hand, Jesus symbolise the Trinity. A skull under the Cross refers to Adam, confirming that through Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrec-
Christ’s eyes and body language reveal pain at the betrayal of one of His disciples. He appears as though blaming Judas: tion, He stepped over death, giving us the eternal life.
"Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:48). Fanous wonderfully revealed that Jesus Christ was the only connection between earth and heaven. He said, "I am the
In the icon "The Trial"—which took place in the judgment hall of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate—only one way, the truth, and the life."
The Coptophile Column
John H. Watson As a major journalist on Middle Eastern affairs and as a
significant academic writer, Rosy frequently created key
pieces for the Financial Times, the Middle East Journal,
Out of Place: A Memoir (Granta Books, London 1999) is the International Journal of Middle Easter Studies and the
an intensely moving account of Edward W. Said’s child- Encyclopaedia of Islam. She published a range of studies
hood and youth, which he has described as ‘an essentially concerning Saudi relations with the Gulf States; the itiner-
lost or forgotten world.’ He was born in Jerusalem in 1935 ary, by land and sea, from the Mediterranean to the Red
and spent some of his youthful years in Cairo and the Leb- Sea and on to the Indian sub-continent; Anglo-American
anon. Palestine became Israel. The Lebanon was afflicted rivalry in the ‘Persian’ Gulf and the socio-economic im-
by twenty years of civil war. The monarchy in Egypt van- pact of the early oil concessions.
ished in 1952. Edward Said was an Arab-Christian, an An-
glican by birth, but he finally left the Middle East and be- Rosemarie Said married Tony Zahlan, a Palestinian ac-
came the holder of an American passport. Out of Place is ademic from Haifa. She was a committed Anglican Chris-
an excellent memoir but is above all a record of his fami- tian and became an American citizen, but Palestine was in
ly. Edward Said died in New York on Thursday 25 Sep- her heart, and she brought her intellect to a very careful
tember 2003 (Watani 2 November 2003; 7 November, analysis of every detail of negotiations, political in-
2004). His sister, whom he called ‘Rosy’, was born in fighting, and of the western policy, which the vast major-
1937. She died in England on 10 May 2006. ity of Middle Eastern Christians would like to see
changed. She remained committed to the struggle for jus-
Rosemarie Said Zahlan was the wife of Tony Zahlan, tice in Israel-Palestine and was a patron of the Palestine
sister of Jean, Joyce and Grace. Her brother was one of Solidarity Campaign. Rosemarie and her husband were
Palestine’s greatest intellectuals and a major scholar at Co- committed to founding and working for the Gaza Library
lumbia in New York. Rosy was also a leading researcher Project, which campaigned to send books to Palestine. Her
and thinker, and one of the foremost academic historians brother was also strongly committed to collaboration with
of the Gulf States. Although Edward Said refused Chris- his close friend Daniel Barenboim. Before 2003 both Ed-
tian burial, his family were Anglicans. He had been con- ward and Daniel have spent a month running workshops
firmed and took his first Holy Communion in July 1949 at in Seville with young Palestinian and Israeli musicians
the Anglican cathedral of All Saints in downtown Cairo. who play in the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Said and
The cathedral was later knocked down and moved to Zei- Barenboim founded the orchestra six years ago. They
toun. Rosemarie Said Zahlan died aged sixty-eight. Her wanted to bring young Jews and Arabs together—not only
funeral service took place on Wednesday 17 May 2006 at to make music but also to build cultural bridges. Ba-
St George’s Anglican Parish Church, Camden Hill in Lon- cents and dress were slowly altering; my terms of refer- end and has not ended. renboim often remarked that Said had ‘that rare qual-
don. Her burial was at Kensington cemetery. ence in school and, later, college were different; my ity—moral authority—and he provided me with in-
speaking and thinking were undergoing a radical change After her Musicology degree at Bryn Mawr, she moved tellectual stimulation like no other human being.’
There are sad, even tragic elements, in the Said family that took me far beyond the comfortable certainties of back to Cairo and taught there, then she moved on to the
memoir. It must have meant a lot to be a Palestinian, Cairo life. I regarded my sisters’ existence at the English Lebanon, giving significant courses on cultural history at Rosemarie and Edward are two of a kind. Indeed, both
driven from the family home, with the property stolen School, for example, as utterly remote and alien." In fact, the American University in Beirut and at the Beirut Col- of them have taught many of their readers how to see be-
from them by Israelis. The sadder elements include Ed- Rosy and Edward were both deeply musical. Her first de- lege for Women. Rosy’s sisters Jean and Joyce both lived yond the struggles and the pain, which both of them have
ward Said’s journey to the USA and his consciousness of gree at Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania was in Musicology, in the Lebanon and have remained there for decades. She known only too well. In Edward Said’s own final sentence
alienation and separation. "When I was a Princeton soph- though a serious car accident broke several vertebrae and has often travelled to Beirut to visit her sisters though she from his unforgettable memoir, "With so many dis-
omore", he writes, "My oldest sister (Rosemarie) came to stopped her playing the piano. The two might meet mu- lived in London for over thirty-six years. Rosy moved on sonances in my life I have learned actually to prefer being
attend college in the United States, I felt the difficulty of sically, but in the fields of politics, history and phi- to London and took her doctorate at the School of Orien- not quite right and out of place."
communicating and of relating to her acutely. But by losophy there may have been differences. But wherever tal and African Studies at London University. Her thesis
then I had already realised that both my family and what they lived both were fixed upon, and struggling with, was written on the eighteenth century history of the Red The Revd. Dr. John H. Watson is an Anglican priest
used to be my native environments in Cairo and Lebanon their Palestinian identity. Rosemarie Said Zahlan was af- Sea route to India, and its British pioneer, George Bald- who has been writing the fortnightly Coptophile Column
were no longer available to me. My years in the United fected from an early age by the terrible experience of win. Rosemarie Zahlan was writing his biography when for Watani International since 2002. He is the author of
States were slowly weaning me away from Cairo habits – cousins, aunts and uncles, friends and close family driv- she was taken ill and died after three weeks of intensive several books including Among the Copts (2000), Chris-
of thought, behaviour, speech and relationships. My ac- en from their homeland in 1948. The Israeli terror did not care in London. tians Observed (2004), and Listening to Islam (2005).
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4 Watani International 1 April 2007
Pope Shenouda III Nawal al-Saadawy
Spiiriituall Miiniistry & the
Sp r tua M n stry & the
Spiritual Minister (5)
How to teach
How to teach
dogma to variious
dogma to var ous
Unsubdued
age brackets
age brackets
Translated by: Dr Wedad Abbas
1. Primary Stage is a stage of hand- working miracles. The suffering comes
ing over: later, when a child will have known the
A child in this age accepts whatever concepts of love, giving, and sacrifice.
doctrines he/she receives without ar- 3. The cross in the curriculum:
guing or inquiring. Therefore this age is But can this postponing of explaining
fit for implanting and establishing the the suffering of Christ deprive a child
dogmatic basis away from discussions. from the talk about the cross and its bless-
Many dogmas may be handed over ing? Nay, for a child in the first class
through memorising. A child mem- learns to make the sign of the cross. In the
orises without understanding, which second class a child learns the use of the
comes later. cross, and in the third learns the power of
2. Preparatory Stage is a stage of the cross in the life of the saints. Then
teaching and explaining: comes the story of the crucifixion, How
In this stage the mind will begin to should we introduce it? First, we should
grow and can accept explanation. In- mention the Lord’s power when they
tellectual basis may also be established came to arrest Him, the falling down of
in a positive way that introduces ev- the people and the healing of the servant’s
idences, proofs and reasons. ear. Then we mention His power during
3. Secondary Stage is a stage of argu- the crucifixion: the earthquake, the dark-
ment and discussion: ness, the division of the temple’s
Argument is fit for teenagers who are veil…etc, then, finally, the story of the
characterized also with doubting. Church crucifixion. A little girl born in 1931 in Kafr-Tahla, a small village outside Bassant
Education will have prepared them for 4. When and how we should teach the Moussa Dr Saadawy said that every age had its generation of geniuses and
Cairo, and raised in a large traditional household with eight broth- philosophers. The problem was that, under the totalitarian regime
such a stage through what is implanted biographies of the martyrs? ers and sisters, grew up to be a psychiatrist and writer who gave the that ensued after the 1952 Revolution, writers were obliged to fol-
within them in childhood and through A small child should know that God is Arab World some 45 novels, plays, short stories, autobiography, and sci- low countless restrictions. No longer free to express themselves, some writers
the teaching and explanation provided the source of all good, and that whoever entific and intellectual studies. But more conspicuously, Nawal al-Saadawi, left the country, others refrained from tackling serious topics, and some others
them in the preparatory stage. In this follows Him will be happy. Therefore we whose works have served the cause of women’s—and men’s—liberation, and refrained from writing altogether. The measures of sound intellectualism
stage it is fit to discuss the opposing cannot say in the early stage of a child’s have been translated into thirty languages, has raised unprecedented con- changed and those who satisfied the authorities were the days’ superstars, not
viewers and refute them. life that those who believed in Christ troversy because of her challenge of widely-held, religious-based dis- the real intellectuals.
Curriculum for the preparatory were killed, stoned, crucified, burnt, or
stage: had their body members cut off! Nay. criminatory notions and traditions. Nawal Saadawy has always been known to admire Gamal Abdel-Nasser and
This stage is best suitable for im- This may be introduced later when a The latest attack against Saadawi is being waged by the authorities of Al- attack Anwar al-Sadat, and when asked why she said that Nasser, even though
planting dogmas and principles. child is trained to give and sacrifice for Azhar—considered the highest authority on Islam—because of her play God a dictator in his time, stood up to the extremist religious movements while Sa-
In this stage the child will be more ma- God’s sake. resigns at the Summit Meeting published in Cairo last January, which is ac- dat opened the doors to them. Mr Sadat, she said, mixed religion with politics
ture than in the primary stage, but less However, to postpone this, does not cused of apostasy and disrespect for Islam. and that was why she criticised him so often.
mature intellectually than in the sec- means that we deprive a child from the bi-
ondary stage, with less desire for chal- ographies of martyrs. We rather can tell a Between a man and his creator Double standards
lenge and argument. child some miracles worked by the mar- Dr Saadawi, who is currently Visiting Professor at the Department of African Her novel Fall of the Imam, which was, among others of her books, con-
In the primary stage teaching is giv- tyrs, some wonders which God did by Studies at the University of Michigan, told Watani that religion is a private fiscated by al-Azhar, is about a leader who is killed standing among his peo-
en merely by handing over.+ their hands, and the honor God has given matter between a person and the creator, and should not affect politics and ple. His illegitimate daughter, whom he did not acknowledge when he be-
We introduce faith and dogma, and the them. Then we go further to tell some sto- State affairs in any way. She had repeatedly called for dropping the article in came president, is accused of the murder. The novel reflects the double
child accepts them without arguing. ries of suffering, beginning with such mir- the Egyptian Constitution which states that Islam is Egypt’s official religion. standards of behaviour of Arab leaders. Dr Saadawy says the novel does not
Therefore the minister does not need to acles that happened during their per- She rejects the belief that Copts live under the happy shelter of their fellow touch religious principles but criticises behaviour that exploits religion for its
explain nor to give evidence. secution. In the curriculum of the third Muslims, on the grounds that all patriots share the same rights and duties and own objectives. She disapproves of al-Azhar’s interference in intellectual af-
In the preparatory stage teaching is year, for instance, we have the biography should not live under one another’s cover. Dr Saadawy, who described ex- fairs, and thinks that it should direct more attention towards religious matters
given with some explanation.+ of St. George. We tell the children how tremist religious parties as "manslayers murdering everyone who disagrees such as books on Islam that foster fanaticism and terrorism.
We expound the subject in a positive they gave him the cup of poison to drink, with their views", mentioned that her name, along with those of other in- To prove that men and women are equal, Nawal Saadawy had applied in
way, and prove it without addressing the and how he made the sign of the cross on tellectuals, figured on a long death list drawn up by extremists. But, she says, 2005 to stand for the presidency. "Women in our society have lost a lot of
opposing views. It is a stage of es- it and it did him no harm. Also we tell anyone who disagrees with her can freely criticise—or ignore—what she their rights through being subdued by men: fathers and husbands," she
tablishing a positive basis. them how they led him to offer incense to writes; he does not have to kill her. concluded.
In the secondary stage we give room the idols and how all the idols were de- Dr Saadawi is married to Sherif Hetata, also a doctor, whom she met early
to discussion and answers. stroyed because of his prayers, and how Latter day intellectuals on in her career, and they have two daughters. Dr Hetata shares his wife’s
Since it is the adolescence stage, a stu- the queen and many others believed be- Answering a question about the whereabouts of this era’s great intellectuals, leftist views, for which he had been imprisoned for 13 years.
dent can accept only the information that cause of him. Then we speak finally about
convinces and satisfies his/her mind. the suffering of the martyrs and the mir-
Also refuting opposing views will satisfy acles worked by them.
some of his/her intellects.
Take for instance a lesson on Bap-
tism:
We introduce this lesson to the child in
the primary stage as an introduction to
5. Including in the curriculum the
miracles of raising the dead and casting
away demons.
Such stories are frightening to children.
So we did not include them in the cur-
Sunset oasis
Christian faith. So, it is fit to explain the riculum of the first three classes, but men-
baptism ritual, and it will be better if sat- tioned them later gradually. The prominent Egyptian novelist Baha’ Robeir al-Faris to marry a senile old man who could be older
isfactory audio visual aids are used, such The slightest of the three miracle of Taher presents a new experience in his latest than her grandfather, but when he dies she
as a video film or slides. Children also raising the dead is that of raising the work Sunset Oasis, while at the same time nothing but boredom and the agwad gath- is—according to local mourning tradi-
may be asked to memorize one or two daughter of Jairus, since she was a child exposing the burdens of a nation that his erings—meetings headed by the older mem- tions—disgraced and called "the Ghul", and
verses to prove the theological concept. asleep at home, this is introduced to the heart has borne for so long. The story mixes bers of the tribes of the eastern and western confined in her room for 50 days. But Malika
In the preparatory stage, the same child in the fourth year primary. In the the first and third person in an alluring, spon- parts of Siwa, both areas in constant conflict in the eyes of Taher is not a girl who could
subject of baptism may be explained fifth we introduced the miracle of raising taneous narrative style which blends the mys- with one another. Yet both Easterners and easily give up her entity and be lost in the
from the dogmatic and ritual aspects in- the daughter of the widow at Nain. From tery of the past with the challenges of the Westerners agree on one point, they share a abyss of a male-dominated society.
dicating also the symbols and ex- the dead, because she was the way. In the present, incarnating history as a flamboyant hatred of Mahmoud, the newcomer or par- In her few appearances in the novel, Malika
plaining the depth of them. Some bib- sixth year a child can know about the mirror of the present and future. asite. Mahmoud is regarded as the govern- serves as a gleam of light that defies the
lical texts—longer and more most serious miracle, that is, raising Laz- ment’s face in Siwa because he is responsible backwardness and hostilities in Siwa tribal
inclusive—may be memorized. We can arus from the dead, for Lazarus was Dark areas for collecting taxes, and for this reason the community. She runs away from her home
give deeper explanation and indicate wrapped in the burial cloth inside a tomb The place is somewhere remote on Egypt’s agwad had plotted against killing the former seeking "the other", which manifests itself in
the dogmatic and liturgical differences, closed with a huge stone. yellowish map: more specifically it is Siwa Police Commissioner and entered a war with the foreigner, Catherine. Malika fails to make
analyzing them in a satisfying way. We The stories of casting away demons are Oasis. The main characters emerge from two the government. oral communication with her because of the
can also read some biblical passages likewise introduces in later years. different cultural backgrounds, but yet the language barrier, and in her attempt to
and refer to some references. 6. A child loves the stories of angels: search for identity becomes their sole and un- Gleam of light reach for her throughout physical contact,
Idealism and heroic models: As we avoided the stories about de- conscious quest in a vast, dreary desert that Sheikh Yehia stands for rationality and wis- Catherine misinterprets her intentions and
The second stage is characterized by fo- mons, we, at the same time, have filled the holds nothing except the history and traces of dom. His enchanting and beautiful young hits her. When the people in the oasis hear
cusing the emotions and views on images curriculum with stories of angels and their forefathers. Throughout this vague jour- niece, Malika, is repressed in the tradition of about the Malika scandal, her having come
of heroes, models, superman, or an ideal heaven, for a child likes such a type of sto- ney into the heart of the desert, former army a male biased society. Not only is she forced out of her house before , they conspire to
which a young woman or a young man ries that may satisfy his spirit and imag- officer Mahmoud Abdel-Zaher—who once kill her in case they themselves are cursed for
may consider his/her hero for the future or ination. played a key role in the 1881 Orabi her ‘evil’ action. As the dagger
an ideal or example to follow. But such a Some other incidents are included that Revolution, but withdrew within penetrates Maliks’s tender heart, all
model may be a worldly model. may satisfy a child’s imagination, like the himself and gave up his nationalist hopes of bridging the gaps among
That is why since the preparatory miracles of the Lord’s Transfiguration, struggle after Egypt’s occupation by humanity fade with her.
stage we begin to introduce good ex- the Lord’s ascension unto heaven, and the British forces in 1882—finally rec-
amples from the biographies of saints, ascension of Elijah in a chariot of fire. ognises the dark areas in his con- Ghosts of the past
heroes of faith, and characters from 7. Including feasts in the curriculum: sciousness that he has been trying to Fiona, Catherine’s sister, pays a
the Scripture. It is a very important factor to include evade for so long. Mahmoud could visit to the oasis in search of a dry
Curriculum for the primary stage feasts in the curriculum. This will attach a be viewed as suffering from ex- climate as a cure for a chest illness.
1. God’s love is introduced first be- child to the church with its rituals and istential apprehension. He believes Shiekh Yehia agrees to help her de-
fore punishment and judgment: prayers. Many feasts are included for each he is fated from the day he is born. spite his hatred of Mahmoud and his
It is not fit at all to begin with intro- year: The new Coptic Year Feast (Nai- He has not chosen his parents, his foreign wife, but her state of health
ducing God to the child in this early age rouz); the Feast of the Cross; the Nativity education or the punishment he re- deteriorates even after he gives her a
through stories of punishment and judg- Feast; the Feast of the Apostles; the Vir- ceived in office. This personality, so herbal remedy. With the heat of the
ment that may frighten the child and gin’s Feast; the Feast of the Church Pa- full of contradictions, finds it hard to scourging sun, the coldness, stub-
make him not like God. Therefore we tron Saint or the Class Patron Saint. Other bring his idealist inclinations in line bornness and hostility of the people
did not recommend any mention of such feasts may also be added, such as the An- with reality. His superiors order him standing as aspects of doom, Mah-
matters in the curriculum for the first nunciation Feast, and the Pentecost. The to be transferred to Siwa to take up moud finally decides to end his fear,
three years. We rather focused on stories contents of the lessons on each of these the post of a police commissioner. anxiety, the mistakes and mean-
showing God’s care for the righteous feasts are distributed among the six years inglessness of his life by blowing up
Noah and saving him, without referring of the stage, to avoid boring repetition. the pharaonic temple at Umm Abai-
at all to the causes of the flood. God’s 8. The dogma, rituals, and faith doc- Tortured background
Mahmoud travels with his Irish dah with dynamite, and himself
care and love are a repeated factor in the trines: with it. For him the past was the
curricula of all classes of this primary We start teaching them in a simple way, wife, Catherine, who has a passion
for archaeology and is an avid re- ghost that haunted his present, and
stage. God’s care and love are intro- sometimes practical, such as teaching the to free himself he blows up every-
duced supported by stories from both child how to make the sign of the cross searcher into the history of Al-
exander the Great. She too is a prod- thing related to the past. The nar-
Old and New Testaments and from the and how to use it. This may also be intro- rative technique adds to the density
biographies of saints. Punishment comes duced through a song, like that of the uct of a tortured background, having
married Michael who was in love of the story as it unfolds.
later to show God’s goodness and how cross or of the bells, the "Korban", or the Baha’ Taher was born in Cairo in
He hates sin and loves a sinner, seeking "Kandil", or through memorising as in the with her sister Fiona but asked for
her hand instead. Catherine’s first 1935 and graduated from the Fa-
his correction. Lord’s Prayer. culty of Arts 1956. He worked a di-
2. The power of Christ is introduced Then we give some introductory les- marriage was a disaster; nothing
could save her from the clutches of rector and radio and TV announcer,
first before mentioning His passions. sons, like those of the love of church, and was attached to the United Na-
Some ministers may wrongly teach a rules of attending prayers in the church, her savage husband except his death.
She decided then to pay a visit to tions in Geneva from 1981 to 1995.
small child the suffering of Christ and revering the clergy, candles, lights, pic- Among his published literary
the insults and troubles He faced. But a tures, and icons. Egypt where she met and married
child should first be sure of the power The latter years of this stage are years of Mahmoud, and despite her hus- works are Sharq al-Nakhil (An
and divinity of Christ. Therefore we faith, where a child receives everything band’s moody nature and flirting East of Palms), al-Hob wal Man-
gave the child in this stage a clear idea with trust without discussing it. Therefore manner she felt more stable and se- fa (Love and Exile), and Khalti Sa-
about the power of the Lord from all as- we included—in a simple way—some les- cure with him. fiya wel Deir (My Aunt Safiya and
pects before any mention of His suf- sons about the Church Sacraments and In Siwa things change. There is no the Monastery), which was award-
fering. We show the Lord’s power over Rituals, some faith doctrines on the cru- city bustle. Nothing is more vivid ed the Italian prize for the best
nature and His power of healing and of cifixion redemption…etc.. than the solemn dry air that carries translated novel.
1 April 2007
Watani International 3
$
26.
"
Watani Francophone 1er Avril 2007
6
L'entrée
de Jésus à Jérusalem
L 'entrée à Jérusalem est un prélude joyeux et glorieux aux douloureuses humiliations que con-
naîtra Jésus. Cette foule est heureuse d'accueillir celui dont elle a appris tous les bienfaits à l'égard
des malades, des infirmes, et même à Béthanie, à l'égard de Lazare qu'il ressuscita. Cette fête com-
mémore en effet à la fois deux événements qui semblent bien contrastés: l'entrée solennelle de Jé-
sus à Jérusalem, et d'autre part sa passion et sa mort sur la croix. Aujourd´hui Dimanche des Ra-
meaux, dont le nom liturgique est "Dimanche des Rameaux et de la passion" est le début de la
"Semaine sainte". En y participant, nous aurons conscience d'entrer dans la grande semaine qui est
tendue vers la résurrection du Seigneur. . Jésus organise son entrée en envoyant deux disciples
chercher un âne. Il entre à Jérusalem sur une monture pour se manifester publiquement comme le
messie que les juifs attendaient. C'est une monture modeste comme l'avait annoncé le prophète pour
montrer le caractère humble et pacifique de son règne. Une foule nombreuse venue à Jérusalem
pour la fête l'accueille en déposant des vêtements sur son chemin et en agitant des rameaux de
palmier pour l'acclamer en criant aux portes de Jérusalem :
Hosanna au Fils de David !
Béni soit Celui qui vient au nom du Seigneur !
Hosanna au plus haut des cieux !
Jésus accepte l’ovation qui lui est faite et se réjouit des cris poussés par les enfants qu’il associe à Icône Adel Nassif
ce verset de psaume : "Dans la bouche des enfants, des nourrissons, Tu as mis la louange" (Psaume
8,3). Jésus entre triomphalement dans la ville sainte, mais il sait qu’il va à sa mort volontaire.
Vive les fleurs, charme des
plus anciennes époques!
Saad Zaghloul Mansour cuivre contenant des lotus. Avec son bassin d'eau qui carrés", a dit Ramsès III, comme nous le révèle le pa- toire de Senouhi nous parle d'un de ces jardins qui
mesurait plus qu'un kilomètre de longueur et 300 pyrus de Harsest. Ramsès III était considéré comme était planté dans le désert, loin de n'importe quelle
mètres de largeur, le parc qui entourait le château du étant l'ami des vergers tellement il les aimait. Le plus source d'eau. Les gerbes et les couronnes funéraires
Des narcisses, des lis, des marguerites, des am- roi Amenhotep III était parmi les plus beaux et plus
célèbres parcs remontant à cette époque. Aussi fau-
célèbre étant celui de Damsis au Delta. étaient parmi les œuvres les plus importantes du jar-
dinier. Une collection des plus belles médailles qu'ils
bres, des pavots, des lotus et des papyrus étaient par- drait-il citer le parc du château d'Akhnaton qui, avec ont fabriquées à l'aide de plusieurs genres de feuilles
Aux cimetières
mi les fleurs découvertes dans les tombeaux de nos son passage menant jusqu'au port du bateau royal, sur- d'arbre et qu'ils ont décorée de fleurs variées se trou-
Les pharaons ont gardé la coutume de planter des
ancêtres. Aussi celui qui observe les murailles de leurs plombait directement le Nil. vent actuellement au Musée Britannique de Londres
petits jardins près des cimetières essayant d'apaiser
temples découvrirait des illustrations de plantes, de et au Musée Agricole du Caire.
l'air maussade qui se trouve dans ces régions. L'his-
fleurs et de jardins. Le jardin de Hatchepsout
Comme la coutume était d'en-
Des fleurs pour tous tourer chaque temple d'un jardin
Poussé par sa passion pour la nature et les plantes, et de planter à son milieu un ar-
l'ancien Egyptien a toujours été très vigilant à bien plant- bre sacré, la reine Hatchepsout à
er ses jardins. Il plantait des arbres fruitiers comme le son tour, en bâtissant son temple,
figuier, le dattier et l'olivier. Il plantait aussi d'autres gen- y a aménagé un très beau jardin
res d'arbres sous l'ombre desquels il pouvait se reposer. où elle a très soigneusement
Les pharaons offraient les fleurs à leurs dieux et sou- planté des fleurs. C'est l'eau du
vent ils les présentaient à leurs invités comme signe de Nil qui, à l'aide de tuyaux, arrosait
courtoisie et ils les employaient de même pour orner ce jardin. La reine Hatchepsout a
leurs tombeaux. Le roi même, en dirigeant ses troupes pu procurer à son jardin des ar-
en guerre, devait avoir sa voiture enjolivée de fleurs. bres de myrrhe ainsi que d'autres
Les jardins, étant d'une telle importance pour les pha- plantes à l'entrée du temple où on
raons. Ces derniers lui ont choisit un dieu dénommé peut trouver quelques branches
Khnoum et une fête célébrée par tous: " La fête des jar- pétrifiées.
dins ". Celle-ci marquait le début du printemps, comme
Cham El Nessim de nos jours; les fleurs jaillissaient et La passion de Ramsès III
les fruits florissaient, tous les Egyptiens célébraient ce Comme les vergers étaient plan-
jour en chantant, dansant et s'amusant. tés par les rois pour gratifier un
bon arôme aux dieux, aussi des
…et des parcs charmants ruches étaient établies au sein
Autour des maisons des pharaons, les riches surtout, des ces vergers dans le but d'of-
de très beaux jardins étaient plantés. Une vigne s'y trou- frir le miel fourni par les abeilles
vait en plus d'un petit kiosque qui servait d'abri pour le aux dieux.
maître de la maison, ainsi que pour toute sa famille. Le "Je t'ai bâti un verger où j'ai planté
musée "Metropolitain" de New York expose une très des acacias et des palmiers. En lo-
belle maquette d'un de ces jardins ayant un bassin en tus et papyrus je t'ai décoré ses
Des voix toutes puissantes
Musique. Un gala qui associera les plus fameux chanteurs d'opéras internationaux, Nuccia Focile, Eugènie Grunewald
et Réda Al Wakil, sera donné le 3 avril, à 20h, dans la grande salle de l'Opéra du Caire.
agenda Névine Lameï Cavalleria Rusticana de Mascagni.
Quant à la fameuse soprano italienne Nuccia Focle, elle ex-
to Kinen, et les concerts de gala au Costa Rica.
La soirée sera clôturée par l'opéra le Così fan tutte de Mo-
Colloque
" La mort des sultans", qui sera tenu, à 18h30, à l'auditor- P our la première fois en Egypte, un gala associera les plus fa-
cellera dans Edgar, Madame Butterfly et Manon Lescaut de Puc-
cini et La forza del destino de Verdi. Nuccia Focile est bien con-
nue pour son interprétation de plusieurs des vedettes de Mozart.
zart. Cet immortel chef-d'oeuvre de noir marivaudage où, sous
la frivolité et la légèreté, se cachent l'amour et ses déborde-
ments, la simple vie dans ses vertigineuses interrogations ?
ium du CFCC, est un colloque qui sera donné par Nicolas meux chanteurs d'opéras du monde, à savoir: le baryton égyptien
Vatin, historien, spécialiste de l'histoire ottomane, Directeur Réda Al Wakil, la soprano italienne Nuccia Focile, la mezzo so- Pourtant son répertoire se concentre également sur le Puccini, le Opéra d'écervelés aussi, car les protagonistes, dans un Jeu de
de recherches au CNRS, Directeur d'Etudes à l'Ecole Pra- prano américaine Eugenie Grunewald. Ces voix réputées par leur Verdi et le chant de bel aussi bien que des rôles de Tchaïkovski et l'Amour et du Hasard d'une cruauté infinie, découvrent qu'en
tique des Hautes Etudes, membre du Centre d'Histoire du puissance et leur richesse, seront accompagnées de l'orchestre de de Janacek. Sa voix charnue de soprano lyrique donne au per- ces domaines rien n'est jamais acquis ni définitif et que les prin-
Domaine Turc, EHESS. Colloque en traduction simultanée l'Opéra du Caire, sous la direction du maestro égyptien qui a ét- sonnage sensualité et fragilité. Nuccia Focile est apparue avec cipes ne servent à rien.
français-arabe. Le 3 avril au CFCC de Mounira. udié à Genève, Nader Abbassi, directeur artistique et chef d'or- plusieurs des théâtres mondiaux de l'opéra comprenant entre au- Que le concert soit réussi et qu'il réussisse à remporter l'es-
chestre de l'Opéra du Caire depuis 2002. Ce dernier est connu par tres: l'Opéra national de Gallois, le théâtre de l'Opéra royal, le jar- time d'un public amateur de musique classique, c'est ce qui im-
ses célèbres compositions d'opéras tels que: Between Dusk and din de Covent, l'Opéra métropolitain, l'Opéra de Paris, l'Opéra de porte en fin de compte pour le chef d'orchestre Nader Abbassi
Francophonie Dawn, un ballet moderne composé en avril 2000 pour le Grand Philadelphie, la Hambourg Staatsoper, le Teatro Massimo, le qui doit à sa facilité d'improvisation et sa sensibilité aux rythmes
Après le succès réalisé l'an dernier par cette forme d'ex- grand Opéra de Palerme, l'Opéra de Houston, l'Opéra de Dallas, les plus divers, sa position d'accompagnateur et sa réputation
Théâtre de Genève et inspiré par les crimes de Raya et Sékina,
pression inédite en Egypte, le Centre français de culture et l'Opéra De Monte Carlo aussi bien que le chant au festival de Sai- d'excellent interprète.
Mémoire à l'Orient, Raqsa masriya (Danse égyptienne), Banat Al-
de coopération a invité de nouveau le " Collectif 129 H ",
Nil (Les Filles du Nil). Autant de compositions marquées par des
en partenariat avec le Lycée français du Caire. Le " slam "
thèmes et des rythmes parfaitement orientaux. Nader Abbassi a
(d'un verbe anglais signifiant " faire claquer") donnera à
pris maintes fois la charge de la direction de plusieurs orchestres
tous la possibilité de déclamer de la poésie en public, que
internationaux, tel que Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Or-
ce soit en langue française ou en langue arabe. La forme
chestre Philharmonique de Marseille, Philharmonisches Orchester
peut-être rimée ou libre, récitée ou improvisée, l'essentiel
Heidelberg, Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, Orchestre des
étant de scander un poème dans un temps limité. Le " Col-
Richard Strauss Konservatoriums München, Chaliapin Festival Or-
lectif 129 H " est composé de trois jeunes " slameurs " pa-
chestra, Orquesta Sinfonica de Guanajuato et Orchestre de la
risiens, LYRO, NEOBLED et ROUDA, qui animent ré-
Swiss Romande. Maestro dynamique, Abbassi accompagnera,
gulièrement des ateliers d'écriture et se livrent à des
lors de la soirée du 3 avril, l'orchestre de l'Opéra du Caire qui joue-
performances en France et à l'étranger. Ils se sont notam-
ra des morceaux choisis d'opéras internationaux. Citons entre au-
ment produits au Festival international de Saint-Malo, "
tres: Adio mio dolce amore, Madame Butterfly, Manon Lescaut de
Etonnants voyageurs " et au Festival international de la
Puccini, Cavalleria Rusticana de Mascagni, Mefistofele de Boito,
Poésie de Marrakech en 2005. Le 3 avril, à 20h30, à l'au-
Aida , Don Carlo, Il Trovatore et La forza del destino de Verdi, Eu-
ditorium du CFCC, Mounira.
gene Oneguine de Tchaïkovski, Les Contes d'Hoffmann de Of-
fenbach et Cosi fan tutte de Mozart, Mefistofele de Boito et La Gio-
Musique conda de Ponchielli. Ses fameux opéras seront interprétés et
Dans le cadre d'une programmation réalisée en par- répartis à tour de rôle, par le fameux baryton égyptien Réda Al Wa-
tenariat avec Citizen Jazz et l'un de ses fidèles chron- kil qui excellera dans La Gioconda de Ponchielli et Mefistofele de
iqueurs, Bob Hatteau, qui offrira un visage vivant du jazz : Boito. Quant aux rôles d'opéras dramatiques de Verdi et de Wag-
concerts, expositions, conférences et films présentant les di- ner, ils seront interprétés par la fameuse mezzo-soprano amér-
verses facettes d'un monde fascinant en mouvement per- icaine Eugenie Grunewald, notoire pour ses capacités dram-
manent. Au programme le film " Accords et désaccords ", de atiques aussi bien que son art vocal. Grunewald chante
Woody Allen, avec Sean Penn qui traite d'une comédie qui régulièrement de principaux rôles avec des compagnies im- A gauche: La soprano Nuccia Focile
présente le parcours d'un musicien de jazz qui vénère par- portantes des Etats-Unis telles que l'Opéra lyrique de Chicago et
A droite: Le chef d'orchestre Nader Abbasi
dessus tout le très grand guitariste Django Reinhardt. Le 2 l'Opéra de San Francisco, et en Europe, dans des théâtres tels
avril à 20 h, au CFCC, Héliopolis. que ceux de Barcelone et de Hambourg. Pour la soirée du 3 avril,
elle excellera dans les opéras Il Trovatore, Don Carlo de Verdi et
"