25 - 31 October 2001
Issue No.557
|
Al-Ahram Weekly Online 25 - 31 October 2001 Issue No.557 |
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Anger rises as bomb drops
The majority of Egyptians continue to be outraged by the US-British strikes against Afghanistan. Rana Allam reports
The death of fellow Muslims in Afghanistan has angered and frustrated many Egyptians who believe there is little they can do to stop what they perceive as unwarranted aggression.
For the third consecutive week, students staged demonstrations on university campuses. Thousands denounced the US-British strikes and also condemned the "weak" position of Arab and Muslim governments.
The largest demonstration took place on Sunday at Ain Shams University. Professors joined about 5,000 students in marching around the campus, demanding an end to the murder of Palestinians and Afghans. The demonstrators set fire to the Israeli and American flags along with effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President George W Bush.
More than 2,000 female students held a peaceful protest march last week in Cairo University, carrying banners condemning "American terrorism" and the "weakness of Arab and Muslim governments." They also waived banners demanding the immediate boycott of US, British and Israeli products, as well as the expulsion of the ambassadors of the three countries from all Arab and Muslim capitals.
Since the start of the attacks on Afghanistan nearly three weeks ago, similar protests have been staged daily by students in Al- Azhar, Tanta, Zaqaziq, Beni Suef, Helwan and Alexandria universities. The demonstrators, of various political leanings, including Islamists, have been protesting under the watchful eye of large numbers of riot police. No violence has been reported.
One banner raised by the Al- Azhar protesters warned about what the future might hold. It read: "Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and then Egypt." Sarcastic remarks were made about the food aid dropped by the Americans to "the people they are bombing."
Although patrons at a coffee shop closely followed a soccer match on TV, the war continued to dominate their conversation. Some argued whether Osama Bin Laden was a terrorist but most agreed that "US terror is indisputable."
In homes, clubs, restaurants and workplaces, rarely did the war not make its way into discussions. The attack on Afghanistan has become a staple of e-mails floating on the Internet and in chat rooms as foreigners and Egyptians trade accusations. Egyptian responses have tended to be defensive. Many Westerners have been lumping Arabs and Muslims as potential terrorists.
Hate mail on the net directed at Muslims and replies from outraged Egyptians have become commonplace. Many web sites have been appearing on the Internet defending Islam; that of Al- Azhar seems to be especially informative.
While the majority of Egyptians were saddened by the 11 September attacks in New York and Washington, they also point out the suffering of Muslims in various parts of the world. Two questions are often raised: "How do you explain the terrorism unleashed against Afghans and what about the Palestinians and Iraqi children?"
During Friday noon prayers, Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, denounced the war. Several professors at Al-Azhar University said they condemned terror in all its forms, pointing out that "what the US and Britain are currently doing is one of the worst forms of terror."
The Egyptian press continues to cover the war extensively, devoting far more space to the strikes than any other news item. Opposition and independent newspapers and magazines have been particularly vociferous, with front page headlines blaring, "Palestine will not die, nor will Afghanistan fall," and "hundreds are murdered against the background of humiliating Arab and Muslim silence."
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
| ARCHIVES Letter from the Editor Editorial Board Subscription Advertise! |
WEEKLY ONLINE: www.ahram.org.eg/weekly Updated every Saturday at 11.00 GMT, 2pm local time weeklyweb@ahram.org.eg |
 Al-Ahram Organisation |
Recommend this page