Religion meets Politics

[Muslimwoman]

This is what happens when religious leaders decide to dabble in politics :

Inquiry and Analysis Series - No. 404

[Tao_Equus]

Its a real shame that Mubarak seems to take Egypt away from its liberal outward looking recent history and seems to want to embrace Shari'a law to suit his personal ambitions.
Reading the article it is good to see that there are progressive scholars out there, just a shame they are being hounded out with barbaric punishments for daring to speak out against the nutters.

Tao

[flowperson]

Salaam MW...
What a sad state of affairs in Egypt. IMHO, this trend of snatching progress away from the jaws of reality began with the assassination of Sadat. Here was a man who had taken a critical step over the line in securing peace with a belligerent neighbor, and who paid for that single act with his life as a warning and example to those who might tread such a "foolish" path in the future.

In that one single action, those who would strive to take the hopes of progress from the people took over, and what you posted is but another episode describing the corruption and ignorance at very high levels which continues to feed that dark process.

My hopes are with you for a joyous reunion in your desert home and with your family awaiting you there. Keep us up to date my sister.

flow....

[Muslimwoman]

Salaam

My husband arrives here tomorrow and we fly back in 2 weeks. I long o be back home but am worried what I will find there.

Mobarak is losing so much support, particularly since he jailed the high court judges, so he is frequently now turning for support to the radicals.

Over this summer the price of bread has doubled and my husband tells me our town is rapidly turning into a ghost town. I shall see when I get home.

I agree with your analysis Flow, Sadat was a turning point. My father in law can't speak of Sadat without crying. He was a strong leader and had the best interests of Egypt at heart. He made plans to divert Nile water to the desert and irrigate the land but nothing has been done with it.

Egyptians are becoming more unsettled, the gap between rich and poor is widening and corruption is rife (my husband tells me the cost of a UK visa has gone up to 150,000 le - about £15,000 or $8,000 - which is paid directly as a bribe to Embassy staff (Egyptian of course).

I fear for Egypt.

Salaam
MW