Al-Ahram Weekly | Egypt

		3 - 9 October 2002 Issue No. 606 Home news	Current issue Previous issue Site map
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Recommend this page

US regulations

THE FOREIGN Ministry warned Egyptian citizens wishing to visit the US of the implementation of new security procedures, urging prospective travellers to apply for their visas much earlier than their scheduled departure date, reports Soha Abdelaty. Minister Plenipotentiary Mohamed Farid Moneib also cautioned travellers to allow for a three-hour transit period between connecting US flights to provide ample time for US officials to follow new procedures.
Beginning this month, the United States has decided to implement new regulations to be enforced for visitors entering the country. Under the new system, some visitors will be digitally fingerprinted and photographed upon arrival in the US. They will also be subject to questions by US immigration officials. These visitors also have to register with the nearest US Immigration Service Office if they are residing in the US longer than 30 days. Any changes to their place of residence, employer or educational institution, must also be reported to immigration officials. "These new measures have been adopted as part of the United States' continuing efforts to make America more secure after 11 September," read a press statement by the US Embassy in Cairo.
Prison notebooks

DESPITE his incarceration and deteriorating health, sociologist Saadeddin Ibrahim is writing his memoirs and preparing research papers, reports Jailan Halawi. Ibrahim, 63, was sentenced in July to seven years in prison on charges that include defaming Egypt. International human rights groups described the trial as "politically motivated," since Ibrahim has been active in democracy and human rights advocacy work.
Recently, according to Barbara, Ibrahim's wife, her husband was "simply walking" when he lost his balance and fell, breaking his ankle. Ibrahim suffers a neurological disorder that prevents sufficient oxygen from reaching deeper recesses of the brain. The cast he wears to support his broken ankle also increases his risk of blood clots. However, Barbara told Al-Ahram Weekly on Tuesday, following a brief visit to Ibrahim in prison, that she found her husband "very solid". She also said he was keeping a diary to use in writing his memoirs and he was preparing academic papers for various commitments he had accepted before he was sentenced.
New home for Ramses

THE QUESTION of where to relocate the statue of Ramses II that has occupied Ramses Square in central Cairo since 1955 has finally been answered, reports Nevine El-Aref. After six years of heated discussions between the Ministry of Culture and concerned authorities, Al-Remaya Square, near the Pyramids, is to be the new home of the famous statue. Ramses's move now awaits a decree by Prime Minister Atef Ebeid, at which point a date for his trip can be set.
Referring to the Al-Remaya Square location, Culture Minister Farouk Hosni said, "This is the best place for the statue, and [its relocation] will end its 46 years of suffering." He explained that at Al-Remaya Square, the environmental conditions are much better than those in Ramses Square.
Ramses currently looks over the square that is home to Cairo's main railway station, a major metro stop and the convergence of a number of major thorough-fares. "These environmental conditions might affect the statue in the future due to high vibrations resulting from intense traffic," said Hosni.
Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said that sufficient studies have been conducted to ensure that the statue will have a safe trip. "The Ramses II statue will be transferred as it is, in one piece," Hawass said.
Since 1997, numerous decrees have been issued for the statue's transfer. Many locations have been suggested including the Mit-Rahina area, -- the original home of the statue which is 30 kilometres from the Giza plateau -- while others suggested putting it in Al- Remaya Square, the site chosen for the new Egyptian museum.
The granite statue of Ramses II, originally found at the Great Temple of Ptah, weighs 90 tons and is 12 metres tall. Ramses II ruled Egypt in the 16th century BC.
Prison for hopeful prophet

A STATE security court on Saturday sentenced Sayed Tolba to three years of hard labour and his female aide to one year after convicting them of blasphemy and promoting ideas contrary to Islamic principles.
Nineteen others, including four women, a doctor, state employees, businessmen and students were given one-year suspended terms for having followed Tolba, a 48-year-old employee of the state Atomic Energy Authority.
Prosecutors said Tolba claimed to be a messenger of God and to have received revelations from angels. The court also found he claimed to possess powers to heal the sick and tell the future. Tolba allegedly described himself during his questioning by the prosecution as "the prophet of our era" and claimed to have special powers to heal "incurable illnesses".
When arresting him at his office on 21 March in Cairo's Nasr City suburb, police confiscated 33 letters bearing what Tolba claimed was the God's signature as well as a videocasette in which he claimed to speak to angels.
The court ruling was criticised by the Egypt Organisation for Human Rights which expressed its "concern" over the verdict. The group also took the security court to task for "depriving the accused of his rights, notably to make an appeal".
The state security court's decision cannot be contested, and only President Hosni Mubarak has the power to cancel its judgements.
ABTA in Egypt

CAIRO will play host to a major international tourist congress of the Association of the British Travel Agents (ABTA), which will be held from 18-21 October at Cairo International Conference Centre (CICC), reports Rehab Saad.
The congress, which is expected to attract more than 1,500 participants representing top British travel agencies and tour operators, is considered the second biggest tourism conference after that of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA).
Tourism experts predict that British tourist traffic to Egypt will increase by 15 to 20 per cent following the event.
Egyptian travel agencies will be given the chance to participate in the exhibition that will be held by British travel agencies alongside the congress.
A special committee, headed by Minister of Tourism Mamdouh El-Beltagui, was formed to prepare to host the conference. During the committee's last meeting El-Beltagui said that Prime Minister Atef Ebeid will inaugurate the congress on 18 October.
El-Beltagui highlighted Egypt's recent successes in hosting tourism conferences, mentioning events for ASTA, the French Travel Agents Federation (SNAV), the Italian Travel Agents Federation (FIAFIT) and the Latin American Travel Agents Federation (COTAL). "Egypt has succeeded in attracting such an important congress after staunch competition with several countries including European countries," he said.

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