Mubarak's health

Mubarak's deteriorating health has been the talk of the town for days now after he missed a number of important public appearances(and sent Jimmy instead). He has however made a reappearance, and was pictured touring the industrial site of Burg al-Arab this last Wednesday. Al-Badeel newspaper has published an article that looks into the nation's obsession with the President's health and his seemingly immortal rule, and how this reflects on the state of Egyptian politics today. New 'rumors' have also sprung up about how top Egyptian businessmen are sending their hefty millions abroad to secure banks in neighbouring gulf states - all this in anticipation of the vacuum that will be left by the ailing president and the consequent clashes that will undoubtedly erupt between opposition groups, namely the Brotherhood, and Jimmy when he eventually takes over from his father and extends the Mubarak dynasty.

Sudan’s right watchdog urges release of Nubian archaeologist

From the Sudan Tribune:

The Organization condemns in the strongest terms possible the Government’s repressive treatment of the Sudanese scientist Jalal, including intimidating dictates to force him to abandon all public or personal support to the national popular campaign against the Kajbar Dam.

Archaeologist Jalal is a human rights activist who has been critically voicing the deep irrevocable protest of the Kajbar (Kajabar) people in the Northern Province of Sudan against the government’s dam construction in the area that will inevitably destroy the national treasures and all sites of the ancient Nubia archaeology, as well as forcing a new Diaspora for the natives of the area; thus disrupting the social fabric of the whole population.

The authorities’ repression of the Kajbar movement included recent attacks by armed security force resulting in deaths and injuries of innocent citizens (SHRO statement: June 19, 2007 copied below) to intimidate the protesting campaigners that have been gaining continuous momentum all over the world versus the government’s poor constitutional performance.

For more information about the archaeology of the region, read here.

Why aliens did NOT build the pyramids

A great post from an Egyptologist's blog for those of you out there who still advocate the aliens theory. I met 3 Egyptian friends the other day who were challenging me to disprove the aliens theory - and they were actually serious, saying there is no way Egyptians could have built the pyramids! Even the discovery channel has gone nuts (ad to the left).

Delta being washed away

Interesting, and actually scary story, about how the Delta could be on the path to oblivion if nothing is done about it soon - people's lives, crops and archaeology are all under threat. And el-hukuma nayma tab3an.

Middle East Christians Association

I recently read about the Middle East Christians Association in several Egyptians newspapers, and usually under headings linked to arrests and other delightful things carried out by our Egyptian government. This was especially so in relation to the association's controversial book, called The persecuted that looks at the plights of Coptic Christians in Egypt. Naturally since I am skeptical of anything the government does, this group immediately caught my attention and I thought it would be interesting to learn more about them. Initially I thought it was an encouraging sign that there was an organization that was fighting for the rights of Christians in the Middle East, whether Copts in Egypt or elsewhere, especially amid today's growing Wahabisim that seems to be gradually taking over our societies. However, I was quite disappointed to find out that this group certainly does not practice the same tolerance it preaches as this link found on their website and entitled "Islam - the largest cult in history" makes all too clear. This growing intolerance from the faiths that make up the Egyptian fabric will never serve anyone any good anywhere - except maybe the current Egyptian government - and it is depressing to see how widespread it has become - even within international organizations.