Egypt Islamists defiant over Christian governor

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110418/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_egypt_islamists;_ylt=Am5p37wKgVyPGfzoC0Q_itdvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTJuaGw0ZzdtBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwNDE4L21sX2VneXB0X2lzbGFtaXN0cwRwb3MDNgRzZWMDeW5fYXJ0aWNsZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA2VneXB0aXNsYW1pcw--

CAIRO – Protesters led by hardline Islamists in southern Egypt held their ground Monday, saying they won't end their campaign of civil disobedience until the government removes a newly appointed Coptic Christian governor.

The protesters, many from the ultraconservative Salafi trend of Islam, have been sitting on train tracks, taken over government buildings and blocked main roads in the southern city of Qena, insisting the new governor won't properly implement Islamic law.

Attempts by the newly appointed interior minister, who hails from the same area, to defuse the crisis were rebuffed and protesters insisted their sit-in, which began Friday, would continue.

Since the Feb. 11 ousting of President Hosni Mubarak in popular protests, Islamist groups have have been flexing their muscles and are vowing to take a more active political role as Egypt is still drawing its transition to democracy.

The prominent role of these ultraconservative Islamic movements, which were once politically quiescent, has worried many, including the secular activists and youth groups that were the driving force behind the uprising.

Egypt's Coptic minority, which makes up about 10 percent of the country's 82 million population and have long complained of discrimination in the country, have also been deeply unsettled by the developement.

The new governor's predecessor was actually a Christian and a former police general as well, but he was appointed by Mubarak and was much reviled for his incompetence, security background, and close ties to the regime, enabling the Salafis to draw on local dissatisfaction in their current campaign.

"They started out by camping at the local government's office. Then they set up a tent on the railroad tracks," said local resident Wafy Nasr. "They also tried to block the road and stopped buses to separate men and women passengers."

He said tensions were so high that the local Christian residents had to stay inside and couldn't go to church to celebrate Palm Sunday.

A video posted on the YouTube website showed a speaker telling a crowd at the government office: "This won't work. A Copt won't implement Islamic law." According to the constitution, Islamic law is supposed to be the primary source of legislation in the country.

The civil disobedience campaign prompted Egypt's top security official, Interior Minister Mansour el-Eissawi, to visit Qena to try to defuse the situation, but he wasn't able to sway the protesters.

"When there is a decision to change the governor to a civilian Muslim, we will end the strike and life will return to normal," said Sheik Qureishi Salama, the imam of the local mosque, questioning why their impoverished province kept getting Christian governors.

"Why is Qena becoming a testing ground for Christians?" he asked. "We aren't guinea pigs."

Diaa Rashwan, an expert on Islamic groups and a native of Qena, said for the majority of residents, the problem with the new appointment was that it continued the trend of installing former police generals as governors.

"The Salafis mobilized many people, many of them religious by nature," he said.

The fall of Mubarak and the opening of the political system has prompted an explosion of political activity in Egypt.

The country's most organized political opposition group, the long-banned Muslim Brotherhood, has also become more vocal about its plans, drawing on its large network of social groups and followers, which it had for long to operate under strict security oversight from the Mubarak regime.

A senior group leader caused an uproar after he was quoted in local papers as saying his group seeks to establish an Islamic state, imposing Islamic punishments — including amputating hands for theft.

"We can't sleep anymore, so we give room for this religion to thrive in Egypt. Don't let us waste this opportunity," Saad al-Husseini, a Brotherhood leader, said, according to the daily Al-Masry Al-Youm.

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[Samoray 165]

That's one of many things that will change by the new constitution, that the governor to be elected and not hired by the prime minister

also this government is a transitional government temporarily running the country until the presidential elections in September 2011.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

That's one of many things that will change by the new constitution, that the governor to be elected and not hired by the prime minister

also this government is a transitional government temporarily running the country until the presidential elections in September 2011.

Reality is that it's going to be a so called "democracy" just like Iran. Egypt was better off with Mubarak.

[Samoray 165]

Reality is that it's going to be a so called "democracy" just like Iran. Egypt was better off with Mubarak.

The reality is that, this has been going on even during Mubarak's regime, But seriously it was never better during Mubarak's for anybody, Except Israel of course.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Reality is that it's going to be a so called "democracy" just like Iran and its eastern neighbour Pakistan. Egypt was better off with Mubarak.

What happened in Egypt was roughly akin to what happened in Pakistan in 1969 (one autocratic out-of-touch dictator replaced by another--and in Pakistan's 1969 case, far stupider).

My prediction: Hatami will declare "extension" of martial law in 2011, and things will quiet down for a time.

[Samoray 165]

What happened in Egypt was roughly akin to what happened in Pakistan in 1969 (one autocratic out-of-touch dictator replaced by another--and in Pakistan's 1969 case, far stupider).

My prediction: Hatami will declare "extension" of martial law in 2011, and things will quiet down for a time.

I don't think another dictator can happen again in Egypt, when you practice freedom it hard to give it up, i mean if i was talking like that on the internet during Mubarak's, i would've been already in jail with no trial whatsoever.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

The reality is that, this has been going on even during Mubarak's regime, But seriously it was never better during Mubarak's for anybody, Except Israel of course.

How about Mubarak's relatives/cronies?

[_Simpson_ 250]

I don't think another dictator can happen again in Egypt, when you practice freedom it hard to give it up, i mean if i was talking like that on the internet during Mubarak's, i would've been already in jail with no trial whatsoever.

Yes and in light of what happened in Egypt and other parts of the world that who ever comes to power will know that people are a force to be reckoned with. I believe things are going to get better in Egypt.

[Samoray 165]

How about Mubarak's relatives/cronies?

Actually his brother was on TV, a week after he stepped down and said he never helped anybody from his side of the family, all the attention was given to Mrs Mubarak's family, and other people in his government that most of them are on trial right now for charges of corruption and using their positions to gain millions of dollars.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Yes and in light of what happened in Egypt and other parts of the world that who ever comes to power will know that people are a force to be reckoned with. I believe things are going to get better in Egypt.

Or better yet explain that post. How are things going to be better in your opinion ? Enlighten me.

[Samoray 165]

It won't happen over a night and every conflict and problem will be solved, but we're on the road to that just like it took years after a civil war in the US and years for Serbia, Ukraine and Georgia and other countries that were once part of a communist dictator soviet union, even until this day, there are conflicts going on there after all these years of striving, so for Egypt yeah it can happen, it will happen.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

It won't happen over a night and every conflict and problem will be solved, but we're on the road to that just like it took years after a civil war in the US and years for Serbia, Ukraine and Georgia and other countries that were once part of a communist dictator soviet union, even until this day, there are conflicts going on there after all these years of striving, so for Egypt yeah it can happen, it will happen.

The odds of Egypt becoming an Islamic state are looking better and better. We both know what that will mean for Egyptians if that happens yes ?

[Samoray 165]

The odds of Egypt becoming an Islamic state are looking better and better. We both know what that will mean for Egyptians if that happens yes ?

Egypt is an Islamic state already right now, cause the second article of the second chapter of the present Egyptian constitution states that Islam is the Religion of the State. Arabic is its official language, and the principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence (Sharia). but do you mean if the Muslim brotherhood won the next elections ?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

but do you mean if the Muslim brotherhood won the next elections ?

Exactly.

[Samoray 165]

Exactly.

I really don't want them to win not because if they took over they're gonna wipe any non-Muslim or something but because they have been already in power not through the president but through the parliament even while they used to be even banned, they would run their candidates as independents and we need some new blood to run this country someone with new perspective.