Pro Morsi pro sharia faction. Lots of Al-Qaeda, lots of jihad flags
This morning at the presidential palace. (Fairly calm)
Tahrir Sq this morning
More pro Morsi bearded clams
H/T Magic Martin
Category Archives: Egypt
Unknown attackers fire at Cairo protesters, nine hurt
By Yasmine Saleh
CAIRO | Mon Dec 10, 2012 9:05pm EST
(Reuters) – Nine people were hurt when unknown attackers fired at protesters camping at Tahrir Square in central Cairo on Tuesday, according to witnesses and Egyptian media, as opponents and supporters of President Mohamed Mursi’s plans to vote on a new constitution geared up for a day of street demonstrations.
Police cars surrounded the square, the first time they had appeared in the area since November 23, shortly after a decree by the Islamist president giving himself sweeping temporary powers touched off widespread protests.
The attackers also threw petrol bombs which started a small fire, witnesses said. Many of the protesters, awakened by the noise, chanted: “The people want the downfall of the regime.” Recorded recitations of the Koran were played over speakers in the square.
H/T Magic Martin
US sending 20 more F-16s to Egypt, despite turmoil in Cairo
FOX:
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Turmoil in Egypt isn’t stopping a shipment of 20 F-16 fighter jets, including this one – already emblazoned with Egypt’s flag.
Instability in Egypt, where a newly-elected Islamic government teeters over an angry population, isn’t enough to stop the U.S. from sending more than 20 F-16 fighter jets, as part of a $1 billion foreign aid package.
The first four jets are to be delivered to Egypt beginning Jan. 22, a source at the naval air base in Fort Worth, where the planes have been undergoing testing, told FoxNews.com. The North African nation already has a fleet of more than 200 of the planes and the latest shipment merely fulfills an order placed two years ago. But given the uncertainty in Cairo, some critics wonder if it is wise to be sending more top gun planes.
H/T Magic Martin
Morsi gives Egypt’s army police powers, right to arrest
France 24/7
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi on Monday granted the army police powers, including the right to arrest civilians, ahead of a controversial December 15 referendum on a draft constitution that has sparked more than two weeks of protests.
By News Wires (text)
President Mohamed Morsi has ordered Egypt’s army from Monday to take on police powers — including the right to arrest civilians — in the run-up to a divisive constitutional referendum that has triggered mass street protests.
US Admin notices problems with current Egyptian regime
United States Commission on religious Freedom
12/7/2012: U.S. Government Advisory Body Concerned by Draft Egyptian Constitution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2012 | By USCIRF
The Egyptian Constituent Assembly on November 30 approved a draft constitution that includes problematic provisions limiting freedom of religion or belief for all Egyptians.
“The constitution was drafted without a balanced representation of all the Egyptian constituencies; as a result the religious freedom provisions of the draft constitution are deeply flawed. If approved by referendum, the draft would enshrine into law one group’s view of religion that could severely limit religious freedom for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The draft also would undermine the goals of the January 25, 2011 revolution, which many saw as the first step toward a new day for rights and liberties in Egypt after decades of dictatorship,” said USCIRF Chair Katrina Lantos Swett. “The draft text favors an interpretation of one conservative school of Sunni Islam above all others and fails to provide for full conscience protections, for Muslims, non-Muslims, and dissidents. Furthermore, religious communities not considered among the ‘divine’ would be deprived of their religious freedoms.”
Hasty passage of the draft constitution concluded a contentious process. The major Islamic institution in Egypt, Al-Azhar, the Constitutional Court, as well as many liberal, Christian, minority and dissenting representatives abandoned the process, voicing concerns that the process was flawed, the representation not balanced, and the draft not reflective of the principles of freedom. The document is scheduled for a popular referendum on December 15.
“The Egyptian people have a unique opportunity to lay the foundations for a prosperous and stable society that builds upon the talents of all their citizens, regardless of faith or belief,” continued Lantos Swett. “Unfortunately, this draft suffers from many procedural and substantive deficiencies, and if it were to become law would set the stage for more – not fewer – religious freedom violations and sow the seeds of discord among the Egyptian people, as well as future uncertainty, instability, and insecurity.”
For Egypt to achieve lasting stability, it must fully respect the rule of law and comply with international human rights standards including freedom of religion or belief. USCIRF recommended in 2012 that the U.S. government designate Egypt a “country of particular concern” (CPC) because of the particularly severe violations of religious freedom perpetrated or tolerated by the government, such as discrimination, intolerance and violence committed against religious minorities and disfavored Muslims.
For an initial analysis of problematic provisions in the Egyptian draft constitution, go to: http://www.uscirf.gov/reports-and-briefs/special-reports.html.
Excerpts from Channel4 documentary on sexual harassment in Egypt
This is just 5 minutes of the 25 available. For the whole thing click here.
Disrespecting Morsi, too much for youtube?
Magic Martin sent this otherwise unremarkable but amusing video this afternoon of an Egyptian showing his contempt for Morsi which I didn’t think was worth posting till it vanished from youtube hours after it went online.
Now its interesting.
H/T Magic Martin
Morsi Fans the Flames of Hatred in Egypt
Der Spiegel:
By Matthias Gebauer in Cairo
AP
Muslim Brotherhood supporters carry the bodies of three dead into the Al-Azhar Mosque Friday.
In the end, Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi took all of 35 minutes for his nationally televised speech Thursday night. And his intention was clear. During the entire day leading up to the appearance, Morsi’s advisors had repeatedly explained that the president wanted to explain himself and his policies to the people of Egypt and to inject calm into what has become the most severe crisis since the revolution against his predecessor Hosni Mubarak.
And it was certainly entertaining. Originally, the palace had announced that the speech would take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, but then the “Address to the Great Egyptian Nation” kept getting pushed back until finally, at 10:30 p.m., Morsi turned up on national television in front of an Egyptian flag.
He need not have made the effort. The Islamist president didn’t accomplish a single one of his goals with his address, nor did he really try. Instead, his flowery rhetoric served merely to further deepen the deep divide between his supporters and the political oppositionfrom the youth movement, the left-leaning and secular parties and even the judiciary.
There wasn’t a hint of real concessions to the opposition. Even the BBC abruptly shut off its live broadcast of the speech after seven minutes because it offered nothing new.
Morsi made no overtures to his opponents, instead repeating that he would not budge from the decrees he issued at the end of November, granting him broad authority and removing checks on his powers from the judiciary. He even said that he would stick to the December 15 date for the referendum on the hastily composed Islamist constitution.
Muslim Brotherhood inherits U.S. war gear
So, the US government under Obama/Clinton assisted a much smaller revolution against Mubarak which led to a far more totalitarian government let by the Muslim Brotherhood/Al Queda, and now the US assists the MB to hold power against a far far larger revolution of the Egyptian people for making himself a far more powerful and more totalitarian dictator.
If I am wrong, and I well could be, someone please straighten me out in the comments.
Eeyore.
H/T Magic Martin
Washington Times:
Egyptian army tanks secure the perimeter of the presidential palace while protesters gather chanting anti president Mohammed Morsi slogans, in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Dec. 7, 2012. Egypt‘s political crisis spiraled deeper into bitterness and recrimination Friday as thousands of Islamist backers of the president vowed vengeance at a funeral for two men killed in bloody clashes earlier this week and large crowds of the president’s opponents marched on his palace to increase pressure after he rejected their demands. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Muslim Brotherhood and Egyptian President Morsi supporters carry a body one of six victims who were killed during Wednesday‘s clashes during their funeral outside Al Azhar mosque, the highest Islamic Sunni institution, Friday, Dec. 7, 2012. During the funeral, thousands Islamist mourners chanted, “with blood and soul, we redeem Islam,” pumping their fists in the air. “Egypt is Islamic, it will not be secular, it will not be liberal,” they chanted as they walked in a funeral procession that filled streets around Al-Azhar mosque. Thousands of Egyptians took to the streets after Friday midday prayers in rival rallies and marches across Cairo, as the standoff deepened over what opponents call the Islamist president’s power grab, raising the specter of more violence.(AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
For Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood-dominated government, more battle tanks and jet fighters are on their way from the United States.
Cairo’s military link to Washington has remained intact, meaning the U.S. will continue to modernize the biggest military in Africa — even as President Mohammed Morsi has decreed near-absolute power for himself and his supporters and opponents battle outside his palace.
Analysts say Egypt’s military buildup presents risks for Washington — and Israel — with the growing influence of the Brotherhood, whose overriding goal is to establish Shariah, or Islamic, law worldwide.
A Pentagon statement to The Washington Times on Thursday said: “We are always reviewing our foreign assistance to make sure foreign assistance advances U.S. objectives and is being used for the right purposes.”
For now, Egypt is due 200 M1A1 Abrams battle tanks, the same mechanized firepower manned by American soldiers, bringing Egypt’s inventory to a robust 1,200.
Dec 7. Cairo Egypt. Large number of people break through barriers, climb on tanks.
A Magic Martin tip
Inside the Muslim Brotherhood’s Torture Chambers
H/T EDL Buck
Front Page Mag:
Does the Muslim Brotherhood have its own torture chambers? Well it wouldn’t be a proper totalitarian movement if it didn’t. In the Middle East having your torture chambers is like an American politician getting his own handicapped parking sticker, it’s a sign that you have real power now.
Al-Masry Al-Youm spent three hours Wednesday night in a Muslim Brotherhood torture chamber at the presidential palace. The central chamber was located at the gate of the palace in front of Omar bin Abdel Aziz Mosque on Merghany Street. The chamber was cordoned by iron barriers and Central Security Forces, who only allowed this reporter access after a colleague from Misr 25 satellite channel, owned by the Brotherhood, intervened.
Police officials in uniform were present inside the chamber, as were plainclothes officers from the Nozha police station. Fifteen Brotherhood members were also present, supervised by three bearded men who decided who should be there. They could order anyone out of the room.
Dec 7 Cairo: Live Updates: Tens of thousands of anti-Morsi protesters cross wires at presidential palace on Friday evening
H/T Magic Martin
Ahram.Eg
Hundreds of thousands take to streets in Cairo and cities around Egypt to pressure President Morsi to reverse recent decrees; Salvation Front says leader lost legitimacy and reject dialogue
Bel Trew, Nada El-Kouny, Yasmine Wali, Salma Shukrallah, Friday 7 Dec 2012
Views:9149
Anti-Morsi demonstrators stage a protest outside the presidential palace in Cairo December 7, 2012. (Reuters)
19:40Ahram Online’s Salma Shukrallah reports at the presidential palace.
“Tens of thousands are celebrating entrance past the barbed wires, cheering with drums and singing “the revolution is back again,” she said.
“Fireworks have also been shot into the air as protesters continue chanting ‘the people want the fall of the regime,’ ‘leave [Erhal]’ and ‘free revolutionaries will finish their path’.
“Ultras songs are also chanted on drums. Republican guard and tanks center the crowds peacefully.”
19:20 Journalist Caroline Kamel confirms to Ahram Online that hundreds of protesters in the the industrial city of Mahalla in the western Delta governorate of Gharbiya have broken into the city council.
Some notes about the video.
The google translation says:
Published on Dec 7, 2012
“Monitoring and vigil in front of Media Production City to cleanse the media in the presence of Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, former candidate for the presidency”
What I do notice is the white flag of jihad which as far as I understand it means that the bearer believes himself to be in ‘Dar al Islam’ or Islamicly controlled areas or a territory that is under the sharia and controlled by a calif or something similar in contrast to the Al Rey, or black flag of jihad which Muslims brandish to show they are in a territory not yet controlled by Islam and are at war with it. Also the large number of brain damaged zebiba heads in the crowd has to be some kind of new record. The zebiba is the bruise on the forehead where muslims who feel its not enough to be devoted, dress like they are devoted, speak like they are devoted and arse-lift in devotion also smack their heads down so hard and do often on a hard surface in order to create a bruise on their skulls so everyone can see just how irrational they really are.
Personally I think those kinds of signs of outward religiosity are rather sanctimonious and therefore, in a sense, counter-religious although perhaps, ‘counter spiritual’ might be more accurate. In any case, deliberately cultivating a physical mark to prove ones degree of fervor would be akin to Christians marking themselves with fake stigmata if in fact, the stigmata was not a sign of self sacrifice for the benefit of others and actually a sign of loathing and contempt for them.
Dec 6 2012 Anti Morsi protestors try and breach the barbed wire.
Here you can see distinct use of green lasers to blind soldiers protecting the presidential palace to where Morsi has returned. The google translate is a bit incoherent but in point form it appears to say:
Soldiers show great restraint
People upset by Morsi speech today
Anti Morsi people tried to storm the palace and cross the barbed wire but no go.
H/T Magic Martin. Please check back in this post. More to come
Presidential palace surrounded by people throwing molotov cocktails
I can only surmise what is taking place below. It seems that the soldiers are quite reluctant to defend Morsi. In the conversation between a protestor and the military here, the military seems quite unhappy with his post and sympathetic. But the protestors take apart the barricades anyway
Attempt to storm the palace:
Today’s riots are a reaction to a speech Morsi made defending his Caesar like power grab. Here is RT on that
Headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Moqattam area of Cairo :
Egypt protesters torch main Brotherhood HQ
H/T Magic Martin
Daily Star:
CAIRO: Egyptian protesters set fire to the Muslim Brotherhood’s main headquarters in Cairo on Thursday after storming the large villa, a spokesman for Islamist movement told AFP. “Two hundred thugs went to the headquarters. Security tried to prevent them, but some got through the back door, ransacked it and set it on fire. It is still burning now,” Brotherhood spokesman Mahmud Ghozlan said.
Egyptian protesters chant anti Muslim Brotherhood and Egyptian President Mohammed Mosri slogans outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
Tanks on the streets of Cairo after seven people die in violent clashes over Morsi’s bid for absolute power
H/T EDL Buck
Daily Mail
- Seven killed and hundreds injured as rival supporters clash outside palace
- Military move in but vow not to oppress demonstrators
- Bloodiest battle since last year’s uprising that brought down Hosni Mubarak
- Opponents of President Morsi say his rule is ‘no different’
By Steve Robson
PUBLISHED: 09:23 GMT, 6 December 2012 | UPDATED: 17:20 GMT, 6 December 2012
The Egyptian army was today patrolling the streets of Cairo after deadly clashes between supporters and opponents of the country’s Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi.
Seven people have been killed and almost 500 injured as the tension which has building since the President assumed near total powers over the country threatens to erupt.
Supporters of Mr Morsi attacked his opponents who had gathered to protest outside the presidential palace overnight.
Moving in: An Egyptian Army tank deploys near the presidential palace to secure the site after overnight clashes between supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi
Peaceful: Egyptian Army generals have promised that they have moved in to keep the peace between rival groups who have clashed outside the presidential palace
Video from Magic Martin: