This document introduces 12-year-old Ali Ahmed from Egypt who displayed insightful political commentary in an interview with an Egyptian news outlet. The interview went viral for his intelligent observations on issues like religion's influence in politics, women's rights, and lack of social justice in Egypt. Although the interview was from last October, his views are now more relevant after the Egyptian military removed President Morsi from office last week. The document provides excerpts from Ali Ahmed's interview where he critically analyzes Egypt's political and social conditions in a mature way that impresses the interviewer.

1. Ali Ahmed, Egypt's Boy Wonder
Gerry Sitjar
In an interview by Egyptian news outlet El Wady, Ali Ahmed displays unbelievably astute
observation and intelligent commentary on his country’s political, social, and religious
condition, considering he’s only twelve years old. TWELVE YEARS OLD! I bet many of our
politicians can’t even spell “fascist theocracy.”
I am awed— I am humbled!—by this kid’s intelligence and cogent observations. This video
has gone viral these past few days.
Although the interview occurred last October, his views are more relevant now than ever,
as the Egyptian military removed from office President Mohamed Morsi last week, a year
after he was elected to office.
The twelve-year-old spoke passionately on topics like religion’s undue influence on politics,
society’s disingenuous treatment of women’s rights, and the lack of social justice.
The kid would put to shame even our country’s current crop of leaders—both political and
religious.
Watch the interview, and weep:
(Note: the interview is conducted in Arabic; English subtitle is provided. If you are wondering
about the accuracy of the translation, and you suspect that the kid is actually discussing Spider-
Man's inclusion in the next Avengers movie, check out this Reddit thread)
Here is the text of the Ali Ahmed interview (you're welcome!):

2. Ali Ahmed: My name is Ali Ahmed, I am in 1st
Grade Preparatory [12 years old]. I’m here today
to help prevent Egypt from becoming a commodity owned by one person and to prevent
the confiscation of the Constitution by one single party. We didn’t get rid of a military
regime to replace it with a fascist theocracy.
Interviewer: Fascist theocracy? I don’t even know what that means.
Ali Ahmed: Fascist theocracy is when you manipulate religion and enforce extremist
regulations in the name of religion even though religion doesn’t command that.
Interviewer: Who taught you all this?
Ali Ahmed: I just know it.
Interviewer: How did you know it?
Ali Ahmed: I listen to people a lot, and I use my own brain. Plus I read newspapers, watch TV,
and search the Internet.
Interviewer: So you see that the country is not doing well and has to change?
Ali Ahmed: You mean politically or socially? The social objectives of the revolution are yet to
be achieved—economic empowerment, freedom and social justice…there are still no jobs.
The police still jails people randomly. As for social justice, how can a news anchor get 30
million Egyptian pounds while some people still pick food from garbage? Politically speaking,
where is the Constitution that represents us? For example, women are half of the society,
how come there are only seven ladies in the Constituent Assembly, six of whom are
Islamists?
Interviewer: So you think they are going to manipulate the Constitution?
Ali Ahmed: What is built on falsehood is false itself. Even if the Constitution is nice but the
assembly that drafted is bad, we will end up with something bad. Don’t bring me eighty
good articles and twenty bad ones that will ruin the country and then tell me this is a
Constitution.
Interviewer: Did you read the Constitutional draft? [Ali nods] Where on the Internet?
Ali Ahmed: Yes. For example, they say that women are equal to men in all matters except in
matters that contradict Islamic law; but then Islamic law allows men to discipline their wives.
This can’t work in society.
Interviewer: Why not? What’s the problem?
Ali Ahmed: The problem is that it’s outrageous. I can’t beat my wife and almost kill her and
tell you this is discipline. This is not discipline; this is abuse and insanity. All of this political
process is void because the Parliament in the first place is void—popularly and
constitutionally void. Some parties based their campaigns on mixing religion and politics.
Mosques were mobilizing voters. They distributed sugar and cooking oil to the voters and
many other things like that…
Sugar and cooking oil? Interesting. In the Philippines, politicians do it with rice, a can of
sardines, and instant noodles. The Catholic priests just threaten voters with eternal
damnation, should these voters vote for politicians who do not toe the Catholic line.
You know your country is in trouble when a twelve year old boy makes much more sense
than your country's elected leaders. The world needs children like Ali Ahmed.
With more kids like these, maybe there would still be hope for the planet.