Dozens of people were beaten and arrested yesterday by Egyptian riot police during an anti-police brutality demonstration in downtown Cairo (who said irony was dead?).
The protest was one of many following the murder of Khaled Said, the Egyptian man allegedly beaten to death by police after shooting a video of police officers involved in a drug deal.
Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's (slightly belated) labor day speech yesterday was billed as his office as a "major address." Aides said the president would address all of Egypt's major political issues -- though, given the timing, the speech mostly focused on the economy.
The stagnant economy has been a major flashpoint for years; the boisterous labor protests of the last few weeks are merely the latest in a series of more than 3,000 demonstrations since 2004.
Shadi Hamid sent along a link to his latest essay, in the Christian Science Monitor, which explores what he calls "Bush nostalgia" in the Arab world. The title is certainly provocative (Angry Arab had a less charitable take); Hamid's basic premise is that the Obama administration has backed off too far from democracy promotion in the Middle East.
The Kuwaiti government deported four more Mohamed ElBaradei supporters yesterday, on top of the 17 already expelled on Saturday.
All of the detainees were members of a pro-ElBaradei Facebook group; this was to be the group's first in-person meeting in Kuwait City. Three members were arrested at their places of work on Thursday; another 30 were detained on Friday while meeting at a restaurant outside of the capital.
Odd story out of Kuwait, where police deported 17 Egyptians for trying to organize a local chapter of Mohamed ElBaradei's National Association for Change.
They were part of a larger group of 20 to 25 people arrested yesterday, according to wire reports; it's not clear what happened to the other detainees. Kuwait's Al-Watan newspaper says the Egyptians were detained for gathering without a permit (عربي).
The Kuwaiti government declined to comment on the arrests, as did Egypt's foreign ministry, which said only that it heard about the deportations "through the media."
It's unclear whether this has anything to do with Kuwait's government trying to curry favor with Egypt's, or whether Kuwait is simply unhappy about foreign workers organizing political groups (particularly reformist-minded ones).
Egyptian riot police violently broke up a reformist demonstration in downtown Cairo today, assaulting protesters with batons, rounding up journalists and smashing their equipment.
The demonstration was organized by Egypt's April 6 youth movement (the group organized a general strike on April 6, 2008, hence the name). Demonstrators gathered in front of the Shura Council -- the upper house of the Egyptian parliament -- to demand constitutional reforms, the kind that would make it easier for opposition candidates like Mohamed ElBaradei to run for president.
Mohamed ElBaradei has stepped up his public outreach in Egypt over the last few days -- releasing a video, delivering a speech in Mansoura province, attending Easter services at a Coptic church in Cairo.
He's been greeted by boisterous crowds at every stop -- and while state security is always present, the Egyptian government hasn't tried to prevent ElBaradei from speaking or mingling with supporters.
Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a potential candidate for the Egyptian presidency, released a video on his Facebook page on Saturday urging citizens to join his new National Association for Change. Supporters of political reform in Egypt hope that ElBaradei, 67, challenges 81-year-old incumbent Hosni Mubarak in next year's election, and it seems as though ElBaradei is willing to flirt with the possibility.
My Arabic isn't nifty enough to offer a translation for the video (after the jump), but we'll work on it, and in the meantime, our Arabic-speaking readers should feel free to offer their thoughts in the comments:
Here's a good sign that the Egyptian government is a bit rattled by Mohamed ElBaradei: The state-run Al-Gomhuria, last seen proudly defending the Gaza barrier, published this cartoon today unveiling Hosni Mubarak's 2011 campaign promises (h/t Arabist).
As you can see, Egypt's future includes nuclear power and clean air. And giant stalks of wheat.
Mohamed ElBaradei issued his first statement in about a week yesterday: A list of proposed electoral reforms (عربي) which he says would ensure the integrity of Egypt's next presidential election -- and, presumably, which serve as prerequisites for an ElBaradei presidential run.
The list (bulleted after the jump) contains the changes ElBaradei has discussed for months in media interviews: end the emergency laws, lift restrictions on presidential candidates, etc. Taken together, they would be a significant overhaul of Egypt's electoral system.
A follow-up to my earlier post on the ElBaradei campaign and political reform: Issandr El Amrani was kind enough to respond via e-mail, and asked if I would post his response here. It's copied in full after the jump.
Issandr El Amrani has a thoughtful essay on his blog about the potential impact of a Mohamed ElBaradei presidential campaign in Egypt. I agree with most of his points -- particularly his observation that some of the ElBaradei criticism is "cynicism, a position that is hardly constructive and offers no solutions" -- but I want to highlight one item that concerns me.
Furthermore, ElBaradei's pseudo-candidacy may have already forced one alternative to a Gamal candidacy in 2011, if this report (عربي) that Hosni Mubarak is likely to run again in 2011 is to be believed.
This "Hosni will run again" talk is catching on: Al-Quds Al-Arabi this morning quotes unnamed Egyptian sources (عربي) who say Hosni will almost certainly run again next year, and will announce his decision publicly after parliamentary elections this autumn.
This is a guest post from Laura Kasinof, a freelance journalist based in Cairo.
A crowd of pro-democracy Egyptians gathered at Cairo International Airport this afternoon to welcome Mohamed ElBaradei -- former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, potential contender in Egypt's next presidential election, and the newest beacon of change for much of the country's liberal opposition movement -- to his home city.
ElBaradei's announcement last December that he will consider running for president in 2011 -- given the stipulation of a free and fair election -- sparked a popular movement in the country in support of an ElBaradei candidacy. In the days leading up his return to Cairo, no one knew whether or not the Egyptian government would allow the predicted "thousands" of ElBaradei supporters to rally together outside the airport in such a public affront to the Mubarak regime.
Seriously. Baradei's Now, Get Elected or ElBaradei Tryin', Take Me Down to Baradei City... I've got nothing.
In any event, in case you haven't heard, the former IAEA chief-slash-possible presidential candidate returns to Egypt for a visit on Friday -- and his countrymen are planning quite the welcome. The Egyptian opposition newspaper Ad-Dustour printed his flight information (عربي; he lands shortly after noon) and reports that thousands of people will gather at Cairo International Airport to welcome him. Supporters are hoping ElBaradei will deliver a quick speech at the airport.
Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak said in an interview that any candidate "who can bring benefit to Egypt and its people" can take part in the 2011 election.
Mubarak did the interview with the official Egyptian police magazine (in honor of Police Day). I can't find the interview online, but Al-Masry Al-Youm (عربي) and Al-Ahram (عربي) both summarize the highlights. The long-serving Mubarak pledged "free and fair" elections that reflect the will of voters.
Former IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei did a five-and-a-half hour interview (!!) with el-Shorouk about democratic reform in Egypt, the country's mounting social and economic problems, and -- of course -- his possible bid for the presidency.
The interview is published in Arabic in three parts -- one, two, three -- and Boursa Exchange has translated the first part into English. The whole thing is an interesting read; ElBaradei has been teasing a presidential bid for months, but this is really the first time he's outlined his thoughts on Egyptian politics.
Amr Moussa -- the Arab League secretary-general and rumored 2011 Egyptian presidential candidate -- did a lengthy interview with Magdy el-Galad, the editor-in-chief of Al-Masry Al-Youm, in which he appears to rule out a run (عربي) for office.
The folks over at Meedan are collecting and translating reactions to Mohamed ElBaradei's possible presidential run. The reactions are predictable.
Mohammad Al-Saadani attacks ElBaradei (عربي) in the state-run Al-Ahram, saying he "strayed into an area where he doesn't belong." Ayman Nour, who undoubtedly feels threatened by ElBaradei, criticizes (عربي) his "vague position" and says ElBaradei likely won't run. Reformist papers are far more supportive.
Egypt will not return its ambassador to Algeria until the latter apologizes and pays compensation (عربي), legal affairs minister Mufid Shehab said today.
Shehab said Egypt is not interested in permanently cutting diplomatic ties with its North African neighbor, but demanded a public apology and compensation for injuries and for damage to Egyptian businesses. He also said his government has submitted a dossier to FIFA detailing violence against Egyptian citizens.
Former IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei says he might run for president in his native Egypt, as reporters have been speculating for months.
ElBaradei says his decision hinges on whether there are "guarantees of fairness," and whether the 2011 elections are transparent and subject to U.N. monitoring and judicial review.
If he's serious about those requirements, don't get too excited about an ElBaradei candidacy...
