Overheard at the museum

Two interesting incidents happened at the museum the other day.

The desk I sit at is next to a large wooden solar boat from the Old Kingdom (not THAT large though). Two men came up to me as I was working, and after looking at the boat intently, asked me with a very serious tone - "Is this Noah's ark?". I didn't really know how to respond, especially since the question couldnt have been more sincere. When they realized it was a 'faroun' boat, they were very disappointed and walked away.

I overheard another group of tourists ask their guide if the Pharaohs were Muslim.

Strange.

Sign petition to stop the prosecution of 49 Mahalla protesters

(Picture by Nasser Nouri)

From Socialist Worker Online:

The US-backed regime of Hosni Mubarak is prosecuting 49 Egyptians in the Emergency High State Security Criminal Court. It is accusing them of involvement in the recent two day uprising in the Nile Delta town of Mahalla.

Egyptian security forces occupied Ghazl el-Mahalla, the biggest textile mill in the Middle East with 27,000 workers, on the 6 and 7 April.

They were attempting to crush a strike in protest against skyrocketing food prices. The workers also demanded a raise in the national minimum wage, which has remained stagnant since 1984.

All the detainees will be tried on trumped up charges and face prison sentences of between six to ten years hard labour.

Egyptian activists have denounced the regime for using the detainees as scapegoats for the uprising. The trial is expected to begin in August.

International solidarity with the Mahalla detainees is urgently needed. Statements of support from trade unions and human rights groups will help put pressure on the Egyptian dictatorship.

For more about the petition: 3arabawy